| Name |
D.j. Mbenga |
| Height |
7 ft 0 in |
| Naionality |
Belgian |
| Date of Birth |
30-December-1980 |
| Place of Birth |
Kinshasa, Zaire |
| Famous for |
Basketball Player |
D.j. Mbenga is a Belgian professional basketball player. He has also played for the Belgian national basketball team. Mbenga was signed by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2004–05 seasons. He continued through the 2005–06 seasons with the Mavericks but when the season ended, Mbenga became an unrestricted free agent. Mbenga extended his contract with the Dallas Mavericks for three seasons for an approximated US$2 million a year.
In the 2006 playoffs he was suspended 6 games without pay for entering the stands. He saw Coach Avery Johnson's wife being disturbed by some fans, and reportedly went into the stands with owner Mark Cuban to help usher Mrs. Johnson to the locker room. Regardless of his intentions, the NBA's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson maintained a hard line against players entering the stands (a direct result of the infamous Pacers–Pistons brawl of 2004), suspending him for six games without pay. When asked about watching the Finals from home, Mbenga remarked, "Sometimes, I can't watch. When I start watching, especially when Diop or Erick have foul trouble, I get mad. I might shoot the TV." On March 6, 2009 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mbenga scored a career high 10 points on 4–5 shooting with 4 rebounds and 5 blocks in just 17 minutes. On June 14, 2009, Mbenga won his first NBA Title with the Los Angeles Lakers.
With starting forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum injured, Mbenga made his first start for the Los Angeles Lakers on November 6, 2009 against the Memphis Grizzlies Two days later, Mbenga recorded his first career double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds in addition to 4 blocks against the New Orleans Hornets. On April 9, 2010 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mbenga set a new career high by scoring 11 points. On June 17, 2010, Mbenga won his second NBA title after his Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
