Bismack Biyombo

Bismack Biyombo is a center for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Biyombo didn’t see his first basketball game until the age of 12. At the age of 16, he was discovered at a youth tournament in Yemen, which earned him an opportunity to train in Spain. Biyombo played for multiple teams in Spain before being drafted 7th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Off the court, Biyombo is actively involved in philanthropy and humanitarian efforts in his home country. He started the Bismack Biyombo Foundation in 2016, which works to provide education, healthcare, and other resources to underserved communities in the DRC. In 2017, the foundation launched its first major project, the Kivu International School. Located in the vibrant Kivu River Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the school provides everything for its 500 students, including tuition, books, meals, and other learning materials. Because Biyombo remembers the 45 minutes he spent walking each way to school every day, the school also provides free transportation for students so they can focus on their education.

Additionally, the foundation donated $1 million worth of medical supplies to people in Congo to help in the fight against COVID-19. In March 2022, Biyombo announced that he had pledged his entire 2021–22 season salary towards the construction of a hospital in Congo, in honor of his father who passed away from complications due to a COVID-19 related illness.

Biyombo’s achievements on the court and his efforts to improve the lives of others off the court have earned him respect and admiration from fans around the world.