COD - Biyombo joins 'His Airness' in America

NEWARK (NBA) - Bismack Biyombo has been riding a rollercoaster of emotions the past several months.

The Congolese-born power forward/center who is 2.04m in height and has a wingspan of 231.14cm is just 18 years old and was a surprise call-up by Fuenlabrada this season.

Biyombo proved he merited the call-up with some dynamic performances off the bench but saw his stay in the top flight of the ACB come to an end when he elected to play in the NIKE Hoop Summit instead of heeding the warnings of his coach not to leave the team while they chased a place in the play-offs.

Fuenlabrada promptly dropped him from their senior team.

Biyombo nevertheless shone in Portland for the World Select against the United States and on Thursday saw his meteoric rise to prominence continue when he was selected seventh in the NBA Draft by Sacramento.

The Kings then traded his draft rights to the Charlotte Bobcats, the team owned by Michael Jordan.

"This is the happiest day of my life," Biyombo said.

"I'm going to play in the NBA, in Michael Jordan's team.

"I met Jordan on Wednesday and he told me he would do everything possible to select me because he had heard great things about me.

"When Jordan told me that, I was thrilled.

"There is nothing better in the world than the best player in the history of basketball says something like that to you.

"This is what I have been working for."

FIBA