DJ Mbenga
#117,527 Most Popular
About
Belgian NBA center who won back-to-back NBA Championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
Before Fame
He had to escape from Zaire to Belgium at a young age. He then lived in a refugee center after his father was imprisoned when a new regime took power over Zaire.
Trivia
He became fluent in five languages: English, French, Lingala, Portuguese and Tshiluba.
Family Life
His father was a government employee for their native Zaire, which became the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was captured after the new regime took over.
Associated With
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to back-to-back titles while Mbenga mostly rode the bench, but he saw some court time when the Lakers blew out opponents.