Mbenga's Journey to the NBA

Mamba · Mar 4, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant just calls him "Congo."

Pau Gasol thinks he's funny but isn't sure what else to think of him.

Josh Powell, who has been teammates with him here and in Dallas, is asked if he knows — really knows — DJ Mbenga.

"I would say," Powell answers, "somewhat."

Poised mostly in silence, near the end of the Lakers' bench, sits what could be the Lakers' loudest story.

Yet, Mbenga, a member of one of the most microscopically analyzed teams in the NBA, one of the most blogged about groups in all of sports, remains largely unknown.

Even his name is a bit of a mystery, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga referred to as DJ in some places and D.J. — with periods — in others.

You could start his story at Day One, Mbenga born in Zaire into a family with money and clout. "That movie 'Coming to America,' it was like that," he says. "I was living like that."

Or you could start with the judo, Mbenga a black belt. Asked if he could seriously injure, say, a sportswriter, at this exact moment, Mbenga smiles and says, "If I wanted to, yes."

Or how about starting where he didn't, with basketball? Mbenga, 28, didn't play the game until he was 17. Only seven years later, he was in the NBA, where, quite clearly, remarkable happens.

But, no, his story can rightly start only one place, in prison, with the father who was strong enough to spare his two sons but didn't possess the power to save himself.

"My teammates ask me about it sometimes," Mbenga says. "Some of them understand and some don't. You really have to see things with your own eyes to understand."

His father worked for the government in the Congo, that side of Mbenga's family well off. He grew up in want of nothing, explaining, "I was born with, how do you say, sugar in my mouth? I was blessed."

When Mbenga was a teenager, a new regime assumed power and immediately began rounding up those who had worked for the previous leaders. Mbenga's father was jailed. Soon, so were Mbenga and his only brother.

He says he was 16 or 17 at the time and that he and his brother were imprisoned for only a brief period, until their father negotiated their release. A short time later, Mbenga's dad was dead.

Mbenga prefers not to provide more details, in part because the safety of his family still living in the Congo could be compromised.

"I hope you understand," he says.

This is a story Mbenga has told only on occasion in public, despite the fact he's better equipped than every other Laker to share. Mbenga, see, could tell his story in any one of seven languages.

Along with English, he also speaks three dialects from the Congo, French, Portuguese and a limited amount of Flemish.

He tries to help children back in his homeland. A few years ago, the Dallas Morning News reported that Mbenga was aiding as many as 60 kids. One of his dreams is to build a school there.

"When I talk to kids here, I try to make them understand what a blessing they have, what great opportunities they have," Mbenga says. "They need to take advantage of it. What we like to say is, 'Every day isn't Sunday.' Every day has a reality you have to deal with.

"That's the message I try to give. And it's not just with the kids but the grownups, too. I tell these guys around here that."

Freed from jail, Mbenga eventually fled to Belgium, where he received asylum and, while living in a refugee center, discovered basketball. Imagine, though, a 17-year-old with long limbs and, at the time, a 6-foot-10 body who never once had dribbled a ball.

The sport didn't exactly come naturally, either. During one of his first games, unaware of how basketball worked, Mbenga walked off the court to discuss something with his coach while play was ongoing.

"It was crazy," he says. "It was funny. Everything was happening so fast. I didn't even understand the rules. I don't know anything."

Just a year later, Mbenga was playing professionally in Belgium. The Mavericks took an interest as he developed and signed him as a free agent. His NBA debut came in 2004.

Since then, Mbenga has been dunked on by the likes of Vince Carter and Alonzo Mourning, suffered a season-ending knee injury and received scant playing time.

Last January, while he was a member of the Golden State Warriors, a headline in the Contra Costa Times read, "Mbenga might be around for a while." That very day, he was waived, a move that cost him about $460,000.

The truth is Mbenga's status with the Lakers never has been better than shaky. Though he has been used more lately, he played three minutes total in November, December and January.

Not that he's worried. He knows worse. He understands. He has seen it.

Told the story of Mbenga's father, Josh Powell says, "I'd never heard anything about all of that."

Now he has. Now we all have.
Click to expand...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mbenga-says-one-2324360-story-father#

Mamba · Mar 4, 2009

Re: Mbenga's Jounrey to the NBA

This dude is awesome. He's faced so much in his life, it is a miracle he is alive. I love how he helps out the Congo, as well. The team really likes him and they get excited when he does well. I want the Lakers' to win it all, and I want him to be a part of it. He's come a long way in life.

Dacos!

Moo2K4 · Mar 4, 2009

Way to misspell the thread title before I fixed it, lol.

Mamba · Mar 4, 2009

LOL what did I post?

Master Shake · Mar 4, 2009

That's awesome. Feel good story and he's a great person.

La Bomba · Mar 4, 2009

Great that he is helping out Congo and wanting to a build a school there and everything. Feel good story.

Moo2K4 · Mar 4, 2009

Black Mamba said: ↑

LOL what did I post?
Click to expand...

Mbenga's Jounrey to the NBA

Way to misspell journey, douche, lol.

First the hair thing in the Bynum thread, now this, damn dude, it's just not your day, is it? LOL

Mamba · Mar 4, 2009

I'm trying to have a day like Shape did the other week.

Moo2K4 · Mar 4, 2009

Black Mamba said: ↑

I'm trying to have a day like Shape did the other week.
Click to expand...

God, I remember that day. Shape was completely off his game that day, lol.

Master Shake · Mar 4, 2009

I was scared that day. I wrote up a will and everything.

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Mbenga's Journey to the NBA

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Mbenga's Journey to the NBA

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Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Master Shake young phoenix

La Bomba The Future

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

Master Shake young phoenix

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