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ImmigrationProf Blog
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Immigrant of the Day: D.J. Mbenga (Zaire)

By immigrationprof

Act_dj_mbenga Didier Ilunga Mbenga, also referred as D.J. Mbenga (born December 30, 1980), is a professional basketball player. He is currently a reserve center for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.

Mbenga was born in and raised in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When a new regime took over power, Mbenga’s father, a worker for the former government, was imprisoned.  Mbenga fled to to Belgium, where he received asylum.

While living in a refugee center, Mbenga was discovered by Belgian basketball legend Willy Steveniers, who eventually served as Mbenga’s personal basketball mentor. After playing a few years in the Belgian league, Mbenga joined the NBA. Mbenga was signed by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2004-05 season and played for the Mavericks and later the Golden State Warriors.

In January 2008, Mbenga was signed to a 10-day contract by the Los Angeles Lakers and later signed for the rest of the 2007-08 season.  He has been a Laker since and is on the roster for the NBA Finals this year.

Mbenga speaks five languages: French, Portuguese, limited English, and two dialects from the Congo and runs a blog.

KJ