Rumors

After playing for the World Team last year representing Jamaica and Congo, AJ Dybantsa told HoopsHype at last year’s Hoop Summit that the plan was to suit up for USA at this Hoop Summit, which was exactly what he did. The game comes easily to him, as he reads and reacts to defenses at ease. The BYU commit got to the rim at will and will continue at the college and professional level with his natural ability to showcase an array of offensive moves partnered with his advanced footwork for his age. His jumper has improved from last year’s Hoop Summit, which will make him even more lethal in the halfcourt.

HoopsHype

Dushawn London: NEWS: Congolese big man Paul Mbiya will declare for the NBA draft his agent tells @247sports. Mbiya will also consider the college route and is in the process of setting visits to NC State, Kansas and Kansas State.

Twitter

Biyombo is puzzled as to why the U.S. would abandon policies that helped millions of Congolese, including placing about 200,000 people on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) established by George W. Bush in 2003. "I don't like to get into politics, but I like to get into the human aspect of life," Biyombo said. "Where is humanity? How can we not overlook this?"

San Antonio Express-News

Biyombo's teammates applaud his commitment to the Congo. "Bizzy is unbelievably selfless," said Chris Paul, who also played two seasons with Biyombo in Phoenix from 2021-2023. "He is always looking out for others." Said Harrison Barnes, "Biz has always been intentional about giving back to his home. It's commendable what he's doing on the continent in terms of bringing awareness and donating resources. They need it now. He's been phenomenal in that regard."

San Antonio Express-News

The Democratic Republic of Congo is calling on the NBA, Formula 1 and major international soccer clubs to end multimillion-dollar deals with Rwanda's autocratic government. The NBA, whose recent Africa expansion is centered in Rwanda, was the latest to receive a letter from Congo officials. Soccer teams Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain and racing's Formula 1 received similarly worded pleas in recent weeks.

ESPN

The Democratic Republic of Congo is calling on the NBA, Formula 1 and major international soccer clubs to end multimillion-dollar deals with Rwanda's autocratic government. The NBA, whose recent Africa expansion is centered in Rwanda, was the latest to receive a letter from Congo officials. Soccer teams Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain and racing's Formula 1 received similarly worded pleas in recent weeks. In her letter Thursday to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner questioned the NBA's morality, calling on Silver to consider whether the league's "commitment to social justice and respect for human rights" aligns with its business ties to Rwanda, which the DRC blames for a surge in violence in its country. The letter asked Silver to sever the league's dealings with Rwanda, "If not for your own conscience, then at least in solidarity with the innocent victims of Rwandan aggression."

ESPN

Throughout much of his first six years in the league, Mutombo spread the word that he was determined to build a hospital in his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo. As he barnstormed through the NBA, famously wagging his finger at blocked shots, Mutombo would pull aside colleagues and tell them of his vision. “Even before I became his teammate, I knew of his ambition to build that hospital,’’ Corbin said. “That was his passion and he let everyone know it. He wanted a hospital that was open to everybody in the Congo. And when he became a teammate, we all learned about every detail — the lack of access, how important it would be to the people, what needed to be done.’’

New York Times

Andy Larsen: Jazz two-way player and Congolese Oscar Tshiebwe talks about how he reacted when he learned his countryman Dikembe Mutombo passed away... and also does a great impression of a phone call he received from him. (Jazz fans will love Oscar.) pic.x.com/ZT3KnIw3Jp

Twitter

Serge Ibaka: You paved the way for me and for many Congolese and African youth with your legendary basketball career and charitable actions. You are an @NBA legend and an African icon and that will inspire the many coming generations. Rest In Peace Dikembe Mutombo.🙏 @NBA_Africa

x.com

Former NBA star Tony Parker continued his sports development tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday (September 19), visiting a Kinshasa arena to engage with local athletes. Parker, who met with President Felix Tshisekedi the previous day, toured the facility and shot free-throws with wheelchair players, demonstrating his commitment to inclusive sports.

ABS-CBN News

Real Madrid and Serge Ibaka have already outlined an agreement for the center to join the club, as confirmed by various sources to our website this Saturday. With only the final details remaining, the Spanish-Congolese player will sign for one season and will replace Poirier, who is moving to Efes. Following the signings of Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Andrés Feliz, which our website reported in recent days, we can now announce the Ibaka deal.

Encestando

“Coming straight from Congo to a different country, I didn’t know 20 people at the time,” the 21-year-old Kuminga told The Post while at his first National Basketball Players Association clinic in Manhattan on Wednesday. “Trying to figure it out at the very young age, not knowing so many people. … It was tough. I mean, there is always ups and downs in life … but just moving from city to another city, it was a challenge.”

New York Post

As for his international ambitions, Zaire hopes to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo and honour the origins of his name. The DRC was known as Zaire from 1971-1997 after gaining independence from Belgium, before reverting back to its original name. His ambition to represent the DRC is a recent development: "That [intending to play for the DRC] came after wanting to play in BAL actually. "That would be a huge opportunity, but just to be able to play in BAL, because my biggest thing is you've got NBA eyes and you've got FIBA eyes. And no other league really gives you that attention from both. "So me potentially getting a dual citizenship [with DRC] that would really allow me to continue my career, so it's a good opportunity."

ESPN

The forum featured former NBA stars like Congolese-American Dikembe Mutombo, WNBA sensation Chiney Ogwumike who is of Nigerian origin, and current Toronto Raptors power forward Pascal Siakam, a Cameroonian who caught the attention of scouts at a Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa.

Yahoo!