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'{{Infobox NBA Player |name = Didier Ilunga-Mbenga |profile = dj_mbenga |nickname = D. J., Congo Ca$h |image = |image_size = |league = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] |team = Los Angeles Lakers |number = 28 |salary = 880,658<ref name=roster>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=lal Los Angeles Lakers Roster - 2008-09]</ref> |height_ft = 7 |height_in = 0 |weight_lb = 255 |position = [[center (basketball)|Center]] |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|30}} |birth_place = [[Zaire]] |college = |nationality = [[Belgium|Belgian]]-[[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese]] |draft = Undrafted |career_start = 2001 |former_teams = [[Dallas Mavericks]] (2004–2007)<br>[[Golden State Warriors]] (2007–2008) |awards = 1-time [[List of NBA champions|NBA Champion]]<br><small>([[2009 NBA Finals|2009]])<br> }} '''Didier Ilunga-Mbenga''' commonly referred to as '''D.J. Mbenga''' (pronounced: Benga), (born December 30, 1980) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] professional [[basketball]] player who's currently a free agent. He also plays for the [[Belgium national basketball team]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Belgian Lions eindigen in mineur|url=http://www.sportwereld.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=GR511Q7JJ|publisher=Sportwereld.be|language=Dutch |date=[[2006-09-17]]}}</ref> ==Early life== Mbenga was born in and raised in [[Zaire]], now known as the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], where his father was a government employee.<ref name="nbaaccess">{{cite video |month2=May |year2=2008 |title=NBA Access: Lakers-Jazz |url=http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/nbaaccess/nac_339_b_block.asx |publisher=''[[NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad]]''}}</ref> When a [[Laurent Kabila|new regime]] took over power, it sought everyone who worked for the [[Mobutu Sese Seko|previous leader]].<ref name="nbaaccess"/><!--Probably Sese Seko & Kabila?--> As unrest in the country escalated, Mbenga's father was imprisoned.<ref name="nbaaccess"/> D.J. was always known to have a strong passion for watches, even in is early childhood. Although he was eventually unable to save himself, he did manage to negotiate on behalf of his sons, who were also imprisoned and waiting to be executed. Mbenga fled the country on a plane to [[Belgium]], where he received asylum.<ref name="nbaaccess"/> While living in a refugee center, he was discovered by Belgian basketball legend [[Willy Steveniers]], who eventually served as Mbenga's personal basketball mentor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Poulain van Willy Steveniers tekent contract bij Dallas Mavericks |url=http://www.sportwereld.be/Nieuws/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=G9P783SK|publisher=Sportwereld.be |language=Dutch |date=2004}}</ref> ==NBA career== Mbenga was signed by the [[Dallas Mavericks]] during the [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]]. He continued through the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06 season]] 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.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070813040605/http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs/mavs-news/mavs-con.html Mavericks Contracts and future salary commitments] Archived from [http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs/mavs-news/mavs-con.html the original] on [[2007-08-13]]</ref> Mbenga was then waived by the Mavericks in order for them to sign [[Juwan Howard]]. On November 17, 2007, Mbenga was signed to play with the [[Golden State Warriors]] under the direction of his old coach in Dallas, [[Don Nelson]]. On January 6, 2008 he was waived by Golden State.<ref>{{cite news |first=Geoff |last=Lepper |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Warriors waive backup center Mbenga |url=http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_7902746 |work=Vallejo Times-Herald |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=2008-01-07 |accessdate=2008-01-08 }}</ref> Later that month, on January 21, 2008 he was signed to a 10-day contract by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080121_lakerssignmbenga.html LAKERS SIGN DJ MBENGA], January 21, 2008</ref> On February 11, 2008 the Lakers signed Mbenga for the rest of the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]].<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3241533 After two 10-day contracts, He was a beast so the Lakers sign Mbenga for rest of year], February 11, 2008</ref> On the night of March 6, 2009 playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mbenga scored a career high 10 points with an efficient 4-5 shooting, grabbed 4 rebounds and blocked 5 shots in just 17 minutes of playing time. For the several games prior to the engagement, he has started to become a crowd favorite and he started getting known as Congo Cash . On the evening of June 14, 2009 D.J. won his first NBA Title with the Los Angeles Lakers<ref>http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/03/lakers-110-minn.html Los Angeles Times. 2009. Retrieved on 2009-3-7</ref> ==Player profile== In the [[2006 NBA Playoffs|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 [[2004-05 NBA season|2004]]), suspending him for six games without pay.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/news/mbenga_060601.html Dallas’ D.J. Mbenga Suspended Six Games], June 1, 2006</ref> 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."<ref>Dallas Morning News Page 5C June 16, 2006</ref> On [[February 7]], [[2007]] against Memphis, Mbenga hurt his knee late in the fourth quarter and limped off the court. It was originally thought that he had only strained his knee and would be back after a week or so, however, later scans found Mbenga had torn an [[anterior cruciate ligament]], which required surgical reconstruction. As a result of the injury, Mbenga missed the rest of the [[2006–07 NBA season|season]].<ref name="acl">{{cite web | authorlink =ESPN.com | title =Knee injury to sideline Mavs' Mbenga for season | publisher =ESPN |date=2007 | url =http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2758873 | accessdate =2007-11-17 }}</ref> Mbenga speaks five languages: [[French language|French]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[English language|English]], [[Lingala]] and [[Tshiluba]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dj_mbenga/bio.html |title=Didier Ilunga-Mbenga Bio Page |work=NBA.com}}</ref> ==Playing career== {| class="wikitable" ! Season !! Club !! Country !! Competition |- | 1999–2000 | [[Antwerp Diamond Giants]] || [[Belgium]] || National Junior Youth League |- | 2000–01 | Antwerp Diamond Giants || Belgium || National Junior Youth League |- | 2001–02 | Spirou Gilly || Belgium || Second Division |- | 2002–03 | Basket Groot Leuven || Belgium || [[Ligue Ethias|First Division]] |- | 2003–04 | [[Spirou Charleroi]] || Belgium || First Division |- | 2004–05 | [[Dallas Mavericks]] || [[United States|USA]] || [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] |- | 2005–06 | Dallas Mavericks || USA || NBA |- | 2006–07 | Dallas Mavericks || USA || NBA |- | 2007–08 | [[Golden State Warriors]] || USA || NBA |- | 2007–08 | [[Los Angeles Lakers]] || USA || NBA |- | 2008–09 | [[Los Angeles Lakers]] || USA || NBA |} == NBA career statistics == {{NBA player statistics legend}} ==== Regular season ==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05]] | align="left" | [[Dallas Mavericks|Dallas]] | 15 || '''1''' || 3.9 || .429 || .000 || .750 || .5 || .0 || .0 || .3 || 1.0 |- | align="left" | [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06]] | align="left" | Dallas | '''43''' || '''1''' || 5.5 || '''.533''' || .000 || .500 || 1.3 || .0 || .1 || .6 || 1.7 |- | align="left" | [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07]] | align="left" | Dallas | 21 || 0 || 3.8 || .313 || .000 || '''.875''' || .5 || .3 || .1 || .2 || .8 |- | align="left" | [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08]] | align="left" | [[Golden State Warriors|Golden State]] | 16 || 0 || '''8.1''' || .391 || .000 || .500 || '''1.9''' || .3 || .2 || .6 || 1.2 |- | align="left" | 2007–08 | align="left" | [[Los Angeles Lakers|LA Lakers]] | 26 || 0 || 7.5 || .492 || .000 || .400 || 1.6 || .2 || .2 || .6 || 2.5 |- | align="left" | [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09]] | align="left" | LA Lakers | 23 || 0 || 7.9 || .474 || .000 || '''.875''' || 1.3 || '''.4''' || '''.4''' || '''1.0''' || '''2.7''' |- | align="left" | Career | align="left" | | 144 || 2 || 6.1 || .472 || .000 || .615 || 1.2 || .2 || .2 || .5 || 1.7 {{end box}} ==== Playoffs ==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | [[2006 NBA Playoffs|2005–06]] | align="left" | [[Dallas Mavericks|Dallas]] | '''7''' || 0 || 3.6 || .333 || .000 || '''1.000''' || 1.1 || .0 || .0 || .1 || .6 |- | align="left" | [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2007–08]] | align="left" | [[Los Angeles Lakers|LA Lakers]] | '''7''' || 0 || '''4.3''' || '''.625''' || .000 || .000 || '''1.3''' || .0 || '''.3''' || .1 || '''1.4''' |- | align="left" | [[2009 NBA Playoffs|2008–09]] | align="left" | LA Lakers | '''7''' || 0 || 2.3 || .167 || .000 || .000 || .4 || .0 || .0 || '''.3''' || .3 |- | align="left" | Career | align="left" | | 21 || 0 || 3.4 || .412 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .0 || .1 || .2 || .8 {{end box}} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *{{NBA-profile|dj_mbenga|name=D.J. Mbenga}} *{{basketball-reference|Mbenga|name=D.J. Mbenga}} *{{espn nba|id=3877}} {{Los Angeles Lakers current roster}} {{Los Angeles Lakers 2008–09 NBA champions}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME=Ilunga Mbenga, Didier |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=D.J. Mbenga |SHORT DESCRIPTION=basketball center player |DATE OF BIRTH=[[December 30]], [[1980]] |PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Kinshasa]], DR Congo |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mbenga, Didier Ilunga}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Belgian basketball players]] [[Category:Belgians of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent]] [[Category:Belgian expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:Centers (basketball)]] [[Category:Dallas Mavericks players]] [[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo basketball players]] [[Category:Expatriate basketball people in the United States]] [[Category:Expatriates from Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:Golden State Warriors players]] [[Category:Los Angeles Lakers players]] [[Category:Undrafted National Basketball Association players]] [[de:Didier Ilunga-Mbenga]] [[es:Didier Ilunga-Mbenga]] [[fr:Didier Mbenga]] [[it:DJ Mbenga]] [[nl:Didier Ilunga Mbenga]] [[ja:D.J.ベンガ]] [[pl:Didier Ilunga-Mbenga]] [[tr:Didier Ilunga-Mbenga]]'