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Bismack Biyombo travels to Middle East for Right to Play

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo is making the most of his summer, giving back to where he came from. Biyombo is in the Middle East as part of Right to Play.

Bismack Biyombo’s journey to basketball and the NBA is a long and heartbreaking story.

Biyombo grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not the most stable of places. He traveled to Qatar, where he was temporarily detained on his journey for not having proper travel documents, to begin his professional basketball career before settling in Yemen. His play there got him a contract in Spain and a path to the NBA.

Every year since arriving in the NBA, Biyombo has returned to his home in the Congo to donate his time and money to growing basketball in the region and sharing his experience with children in the area. Biyombo has helped build the first indoor basketball court in his home country and helped establish programs to serve children in the area.

Biyombo will return there later this summer and he will participate in the NBA’s second Africa Game in July.

But he began his summer taking a special journey to the Middle East, joining Right to Play to visit refugees in the Jordan and connecting with Palestinian children in the West Bank in Israel.

Right to Play is a global organization that uses a play-based approach to improve the lives of children and youth affected by conflict, disease and poverty. It works in some of the most impoverished and war-torn areas in the world, including Jordan, the Palestinian Territories in Israel (where Biyombo is visiting) and Rwanda among many other locations.

Right to Play named Biyombo a global athlete ambassador as he prepared to take his trip to the Middle East this week.

According to his itinerary, Biyombo will visit children for a play day at refugee camps in Jordan, participating in empowerment education programs and meeting with basketball dignitaries in the countries.

This is all part of Biyombo’s overall goal of being a great global citizen. He has given a lot in charity during his first year with the Orlando Magic. And he will undoubtedly do more not only in Orlando but around the world as his summer begins.

"“When I retire, I want to say I played basketball and I was proud to do this on the court, but I’m mostly proud about doing things off the court impacting lives, not just where I’m from but in different entities where it is needed,” Biyombo told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “We kind of get lost because some people want to just go back to where they are from and help. I always believe we are all connected, and I want to connect with as many people as I can. Only the Lord knows how many people I will be able to reach when I finish playing basketball.”"

Biyombo will be part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders efforts in Africa later this summer, including the Africa Game, an exhibition game played in South Africa. And Biyombo will have his own independent projects to explore too.

Biyombo certainly gives back with his time to various causes.

This will also not be the NBA’s only trip to the Middle East. The NBA will host its Basketball Without Borders camp in Israel later this year, hoping to bring cultural understanding through basketball to one of the most divisive and embattled areas and countries in the world.

The NBA is not quite in full offseason mode yet. But Biyombo is not one to waste time. He is getting involved in causes that matter to him and giving back all over the world.