Congolese Biyombo a year on

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - One of the youngest players currently playing in the NBA cannot stop making headlines for good reasons.
 
Congolese Bismack Biyombo is doing what most 19-year-olds dream doing in advanced moments of their careers.
 
But the Charlotte Bobcats’ forward is a premature star. With a few months of NBA experience he is a starter for his team, and usually puts in eye-catching performances.
 
Last week, on 6 March, rookie Biyombo returned after a strained left shoulder injury and showed that self-belief is his main trademark.
 
He was matched-up with NBA three-time defensive player of the year, Orlando Magic’s center Dwight Howard. And Biyombo managed his third double-double of the season in a 100-84 home victory, with 10 points and 15 rebounds. He added 7 blocks to his account, one of them over Howard.
 
Three days later, the Congolese made his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds in an 83-74 defeat at the New Jersey Nets.
 
A year ago, Spain ACB league fans were asking who the anonymous Biyombo was while playing Fuenlabrada, while the club’s fans clearly knew he was one of the youth team players.
 
It was his spectacular display against Real Madrid, one of the powerhouses in Spain and the Euroleague, early last year that set his name among the toughest defenders in the ACB League. Biyombo swatted three shots, including a monumental block over Spain international Felipe Reyes that did not go unnoticed.
 
Since then, he has not stopped.
 
At the Nike Hoops Summit he had triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.
 
Therefore, after listening Charlotte Bobcats head coach Paul Silas last week, saying that Bismack “is the hardest worker I have ever seen in his position”, I got really convinced that the Biyombo is the kind of player head coaches dream of.
 
Silas went on: “He is tough. Bis [Bismack] is coming.
 
“It is not exaggeration, when he first came in, he could hardly make a shot. Now he is turning around, making shots, making free-throws.
 
“He really has in his head that he wants to be good, to be the best he can be. He is coming.
 
“A year from now he is going to be unbelievable,” the veteran coach said.
 
It has been interesting following Biyombo’s career, mainly seeing head coaches and opponents praising his hard work and anticipating a successful career.
 
After coming across with his performance while playing for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spanish media last year, I arranged an interview with Biyombo, but later that day he contacted me advising me to call Fuenlabrada’s press office to authorize an interview. The club has never returned to me.
 
Then I decided to speak to then Jordan national team head coach Mario Palma, who is now at the helm of Portugal national team.
 
Palma said he discovered Biyombo in Yemen. At the time Palma said to fiba.com: “He came to talk to me and asked for help.
 
“He said he wanted to play at a high level.
 
“Initially I thought of sending him to Angola, where I have some contacts, so he could progress there.
 
“I thought of Angola because of the cultural proximity to his country of origin.
 
“Then I contacted someone in Spain and everything started from there.
 
“It doesn’t surprise me to see him playing in the ACB as he can go even further,” Palma was right. Biyombo’s self-belief did the rest.
 
“He is not like other boys who disrespect and disregard the hard work,” Palma said.
 
Clearly, Charlotte Bobcats are having a modest season, and Biyombo understands it.
 
“I can complain in a situation where we are, but I am glad in situation where I am because I am learning with the guys.
 
After recording his third double-double of the season, and second against the Howard’s Magic, Biyombo told the press that “it was a big match-up.”
 
“Being a starter means a lot to me. You have to make sure when you step up everything is in the line.
 
“At the end of the game we talked [with Dwight Howard] a little bit. He said to keep playing hard. Good job. Facing players like this [Howard] helps me a lot. It is a learning process.”
 
Speaking of Democratic Republic of Congo’s basketball history, it always comes to mind the legendary Dikembe Mutombo, who had a successful 18-years NBA career, and who represented his country only in youth teams before embarking to the US.
 
However DR Congo-born Belgian international Didier Ilunga-Mbenga put his name to annals of the NBA after winning two with the LA Lakers.
 
Biyombo and Cleveland Cavaliers Christian Eyenga are now DR Congo representatives in the most competitive basketball league in the world.
 
This is a fascinating event for a player, whose native country has played only three AfroBasket tournaments in the last 32 years, and quite often with modest displays.
 
Transiting from anonymity to stardom in just one year has proven that Biyombo is a believer, and perhaps an inspiration to some.

Julio Chitunda

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