Biyombo giving back in Africa
NBA AFRICA GAME, SAT., 11 P.M., ESPN2
Bismack Biyombo regularly donates large sums of money and time to helping children from his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Orlando Magic center has created scholarships for youngsters to study in the United States, helped children attend better schools back home and has helped build schools and basketball courts in his home country. He’s helping even now. Not only is a brand-new school set to open in early next month in Goma, a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he’ll also play Saturday in an exhibition game with other NBA players in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In the past few days, he’s interacted with youngsters who are participating in a Basketball without Borders camp in Johannesburg.
“It means the world to me,” Biyombo said on a conference call Thursday with reporters. “When I started this program back home, I never thought it would grow massively to the point where I would get to the point to build a school for these kids. But also, at the end of the day, it’s just about transforming the next generation and making sure that these kids are well-educated.”
While Biyombo has helped out others this offseason, the Magic have reshaped their front office and their roster. Among the additions: a new president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, who worked as the Toronto Raptors’ assistant general manager when Biyombo played for the Raptors during the 2015-16 season.
Weltman has signed several veterans this offseason: Arron Afflalo, Shelvin Mack, Jonathon Simmons and Marreese Speights.
Speights, a center known for his scoring and shooting, potentially could take playing time away from Biyombo.
But Biyombo said he’s liked the Magic’s moves.
“I’ve known Jeff for a little while now, and obviously I’ve had a chance to talk to him and kind of [am] understanding the mindset of the way they want to shift this whole organization and program,” Biyombo said.
“But at the end of the day, the moves they make, I think, was needed for us. We need some more fighters and people that really understand, and care about, winning. And I think they did that. You’ve got to build a winning culture, and we have got to continue to improve. And I’m sure all of the players at the end of the season were disappointed, but you take that in the summertime to improve and prepare yourself for the season.”
Last summer, the Magic signed Biyombo to a fouryear contract worth $17 million per season.
The Magic faltered, posting a 29-63 record.
Biyombo said he thinks the new veterans can help.
“From the get-go, we need everybody on the same page and everybody understanding what winning is,” Biyombo said. “We can talk as much as we want about experience, but at the end of the day, it’s just about having fighters within the locker room, people that really want to fight . ... I look forward to the season. I feel like I’m well-prepared.”