The Most Famous
BASKETBALL PLAYERS from Democratic Republic of the Congo
This page contains a list of the greatest Congolese Basketball Players. The pantheon dataset contains 1,757 Basketball Players, 6 of which were born in Democratic Republic of the Congo. This makes Democratic Republic of the Congo the birth place of the 24th most number of Basketball Players behind Estonia, and China.
Top 8
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Congolese Basketball Players of all time. This list of famous Congolese Basketball Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Dikembe Mutombo (1966 - 2024)
With an HPI of 47.07, Dikembe Mutombo is the most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 42 different languages on wikipedia.
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (June 25, 1966 – September 30, 2024) was a Congolese-American professional basketball player. He played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Mount Mutombo" for his defensive prowess, he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest shot-blockers and defensive players of all time. Outside of basketball, he was known for his humanitarian work. A 7-foot-2-inch (2.18 m) center, Mutombo moved to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at age 21 to attend Georgetown University with the hope of eventually earning a medical degree and returning to the DRC to practice medicine. Those plans changed when John Thompson, coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, recruited him to play college basketball. Mutombo played three seasons for Georgetown, establishing a reputation as a tenacious defender. In 1991 the Denver Nuggets chose him with the fourth overall pick of the NBA draft. During his NBA career, he played for six teams, in the NBA Finals for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001 and for the New Jersey Nets in 2003. He received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times, tied with Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert for the most awards. He led the NBA in blocked shots three times, led the league in rebounds twice, and was named to eight All-Star teams. As of the 2023-2024 NBA season, he ranks second among NBA career leaders in blocked shots. At the conclusion of the 2009 NBA playoffs, Mutombo retired and his number 55 jersey was retired by the Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
2. D. J. Mbenga (b. 1980)
With an HPI of 34.58, D. J. Mbenga is the 2nd most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.
Didier "D. J." Ilunga-Mbenga (ben-ga; born December 30, 1980) is a Belgian-Congolese former professional basketball player. He has also played for the Belgian national basketball team as he is a dual citizen of both his native countries.
3. Bismack Biyombo (b. 1992)
With an HPI of 30.69, Bismack Biyombo is the 3rd most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.
Bismack Biyombo Sumba (born August 28, 1992) is a Congolese professional basketball player who last played for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings and subsequently traded to the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets). Biyombo has also played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies.
4. Christian Eyenga (b. 1989)
With an HPI of 28.97, Christian Eyenga is the 4th most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Christian Eyenga Moenge (born June 22, 1989) is a Congolese professional basketball player for Lobos BUAP of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). Eyenga was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 30th pick in that year's 2009 NBA draft. When drafted, he played for the Spanish Third Division club Prat, an affiliate of the ACB club DKV Joventut.
5. Charles Kahudi (b. 1986)
With an HPI of 28.37, Charles Kahudi is the 5th most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Charles Lumbahe Kahudi (born 19 July 1986) is a Congolese-French professional basketball player for LDLC ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague.
6. Jonathan Tabu (b. 1985)
With an HPI of 27.73, Jonathan Tabu is the 6th most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Jonathan Tabu (born 7 October 1985) is a Belgian professional basketball player who last played for Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Serie A2. Tabu also represents Belgium in international competition.
7. Jonathan Kuminga (b. 2002)
With an HPI of 27.34, Jonathan Kuminga is the 7th most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.
Jonathan Malangu Kuminga (born October 6, 2002) is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A consensus five-star recruit and the top small forward in the 2021 class, he chose to forgo his college eligibility and reclassify to the 2020 class to join the NBA G League Ignite. Kuminga finished his high school career at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey. The Warriors selected Kuminga with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. During his rookie season, he won an NBA championship with the team.
8. Emmanuel Mudiay (b. 1996)
With an HPI of 23.01, Emmanuel Mudiay is the 8th most famous Congolese Basketball Player. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Emmanuel Kabeya Mudiay (born March 5, 1996) is a Congolese-American professional basketball player for the Piratas de Quebradillas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played high school basketball for Grace Preparatory Academy and Prime Prep Academy in Texas, where he gained much of the media's attention. He committed to play for the SMU Mustangs men's basketball team on August 24, 2013, but later made the decision to forgo college and joined the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China. After an injury-riddled season in China, he was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets.
People
Pantheon has 8 people classified as Congolese basketball players born between 1966 and 2002. Of these 8, 7 (87.50%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Congolese basketball players include D. J. Mbenga, Bismack Biyombo, and Christian Eyenga. The most famous deceased Congolese basketball players include Dikembe Mutombo. As of April 2024, 2 new Congolese basketball players have been added to Pantheon including Jonathan Tabu, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Living Congolese Basketball Players
Go to all Rankings
D. J. Mbenga
1980 - Present
HPI: 34.58
Bismack Biyombo
1992 - Present
HPI: 30.69
Christian Eyenga
1989 - Present
HPI: 28.97
Charles Kahudi
1986 - Present
HPI: 28.37
Jonathan Tabu
1985 - Present
HPI: 27.73
Jonathan Kuminga
2002 - Present
HPI: 27.34
Emmanuel Mudiay
1996 - Present
HPI: 23.01
