Bismack Biyombo facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Bismack Biyombo
Free agent
Biyombo with the Charlotte Hornets in 2019
Center
Personal information
Born	(1992-08-28) August 28, 1992 (age 32) Lubumbashi, Zaire
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Pro career	2009–present
Career history
2009	Fuenlabrada-Getafe Madrid
2009–2011	CB Illescas
2011	Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
2011–2015	Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets
2015–2016	Toronto Raptors
2016–2018	Orlando Magic
2018–2021	Charlotte Hornets
2022–2023	Phoenix Suns
2023–2024	Memphis Grizzlies
2024	Oklahoma City Thunder
2025	San Antonio Spurs

Bismack Biyombo Sumba (born August 28, 1992) is a professional basketball player from Congo. He last played for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bismack was chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He was then traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, which are now known as the Charlotte Hornets. Biyombo has also played for other NBA teams like the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Bismack Biyombo's Early Life and Career

Bismack Biyombo was born in Lubumbashi, which is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His parents are François and Françoise Biyombo. He has three brothers named Billy, Biska, and Bikim. He also has three sisters named Bimeline, Bikelene, and Bimela.

Starting Basketball in Africa

When Bismack was 16, he played for a team called Lupopo. This was in the top basketball league in Africa at the time. A coach named Mário Palma discovered him at a youth tournament. Bismack's playing impressed Coach Palma. This led to Bismack getting a chance to train in Spain.

Playing in Spain

Biyombo started his 2009–10 season with a team called Fuenlabrada-Getafe. They played in Spain's fourth-tier league. Later, he moved to CB Illescas in the third-tier league. In January 2011, he joined Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, a team in Spain's top league.

Bismack Biyombo's Professional Basketball Journey

Playing for Fuenlabrada (2011)

Bismack made his first appearance in the Spanish ACB League when he was 18. This was on January 9, 2011, with the team Fuenlabrada. In one game, he scored 5 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in just 13 minutes. He also blocked shots against famous players.

At the Nike Hoop Summit in 2011, Biyombo played for the World Select Team. He achieved a "triple-double" in that game. This means he got 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks. It was the first time anyone had done this in the Summit's history!

Time with the Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (2011–2015)

Biyombo with the Charlotte Hornets in 2014

The Sacramento Kings picked Biyombo seventh overall in the 2011 NBA draft. But his rights were quickly traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. In December 2011, Biyombo signed a multi-year contract with the Bobcats.

For his first two seasons, he averaged about five points per game. However, in the 2013–14 season, his playing time and points went down. This was because he wasn't playing as much under coach Steve Clifford.

The Bobcats changed their name to the Hornets before the 2014-15 season. Biyombo started the 2014–15 season playing much better. When their main center, Al Jefferson, got injured, Biyombo became a starter. In June 2015, the Hornets decided not to keep Biyombo, making him a free agent.

Joining the Toronto Raptors (2015–2016)

On July 18, 2015, Biyombo signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. He played for Team Africa in the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. He played his first game for the Raptors on October 28, scoring 7 points and getting 5 rebounds.

Biyombo started in 18 games when Jonas Valančiūnas was hurt. In December, he had 18 rebounds and 7 blocks in one game. A few days later, he got a career-high 20 rebounds in a win against the Dallas Mavericks.

In March 2016, Biyombo scored a career-high 16 points. He also set a team record with 25 rebounds in a win against the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors had a great season, winning 50 games for the first time ever.

Playoff Success with Toronto

The Raptors finished second in their conference. In the playoffs, Biyombo helped them win their first series. In Game 7 against the Miami Heat, he scored 17 points and had 16 rebounds. This helped the Raptors reach the conference finals for the first time! In Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Biyombo set another Raptors playoff record with 26 rebounds. The Raptors eventually lost the series.

Biyombo wanted to stay with the Raptors, but they didn't have enough money to sign him again.

Time with the Orlando Magic (2016–2018)

Biyombo (right) with the Orlando Magic in 2017, defended by Markieff Morris

On July 7, 2016, Biyombo signed a four-year contract with the Orlando Magic. He missed the first game of the season due to a suspension from the previous playoffs. He made his debut for the Magic on October 28.

In January 2017, he scored a season-high 15 points. He matched that score in February. In March, he grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds.

On January 1, 2018, Biyombo had 13 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. On January 12, he scored a career-high 21 points. In April, he had 12 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high five assists in a win.

Returning to the Charlotte Hornets (2018–2021)

On July 7, 2018, Biyombo was traded back to the Charlotte Hornets. In January 2019, he scored a season-high 16 points.

In November 2019, Biyombo had a season-high 19 points, along with 9 rebounds and two blocks. In December, he got a season-high 17 rebounds.

Biyombo signed again with the Hornets in November 2020. In February 2021, he scored a season-high 13 points. In April, he had a "double-double" with 10 points and 12 rebounds. In May, he had a season-high five blocks.

Playing for the Phoenix Suns (2022–2023)

After the 2020–21 season, Biyombo became a free agent. He didn't sign with any team in 2021 because he was grieving the loss of his father. On January 1, 2022, he signed a short 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. He played so well that the Suns signed him for the rest of the season.

In January 2022, Biyombo had 17 points and 14 rebounds in one game. A few days later, he scored 21 points, had 13 rebounds, and 5 assists coming off the bench. He even became a starter for a short time when other players were injured. The Suns were undefeated in the 17 games Biyombo played from January to February 2022.

The Suns re-signed Biyombo in July 2022.

Time with the Memphis Grizzlies (2023–2024)

On November 1, 2023, Biyombo signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. However, he was released from the team on January 10, 2024.

Playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder (2024)

On February 10, 2024, Biyombo signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. On March 6, Biyombo had a scary moment when he collapsed on the sideline during a game. He was able to leave the court on his own and was found to be okay.

Joining the San Antonio Spurs (2025)

On February 9, 2025, Biyombo signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He signed another 10-day contract on February 21. On March 3, the Spurs signed him for the rest of the season.

Bismack Biyombo's Personal Life

Bismack Biyombo is Catholic. He enjoys reading and can speak five languages: English, French, Lingala, Spanish, and Swahili. He is able to play for the DR Congo men's national basketball team, but he has not yet played for them.

After fainting during an NBA game in 2024, Biyombo shared that he has been regularly fasting for 13 seasons. This is a personal devotion to his Catholic faith.

Bismack Biyombo Foundation

Biyombo started the Bismack Biyombo Foundation in 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, his foundation gave about $1 million worth of medical supplies to people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In March 2022, Biyombo announced that he would donate his entire salary from the 2021–22 season. This money was used to build a hospital in Congo, in honor of his father.

Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2011–12	Charlotte	63	41	23.1	.464	—	.483	5.8	.4	.3	1.8	5.2
2012–13	Charlotte	80	65	27.3	.451	—	.521	7.3	.4	.4	1.8	4.8
2013–14	Charlotte	77	9	13.9	.611	—	.517	4.8	.1	.1	1.1	2.9
2014–15	Charlotte	64	21	19.4	.543	—	.583	6.4	.3	.3	1.5	4.8
2015–16	Toronto	82*	22	22.0	.542	.000	.628	8.0	.4	.2	1.6	5.5
2016–17	Orlando	81	27	22.1	.526	—	.534	7.0	.9	.3	1.1	6.0
2017–18	Orlando	82*	25	18.2	.520	.000	.534	5.7	.8	.3	1.2	5.7
2018–19	Charlotte	54	32	14.5	.571	—	.637	4.6	.6	.2	.8	4.4
2019–20	Charlotte	53	29	19.4	.543	—	.603	5.8	.9	.2	.9	7.4
2020–21	Charlotte	66	36	20.4	.587	.000	.448	5.3	1.2	.3	1.1	5.0
2021–22	Phoenix	36	3	14.1	.593	—	.535	4.6	.6	.3	.7	5.8
2022–23	Phoenix	61	14	14.3	.578	—	.357	4.3	.9	.3	1.4	4.3
2023–24	Memphis	30	27	23.9	.563	—	.478	6.4	1.7	.3	1.1	5.2
Oklahoma City	10	0	7.3	.583	—	.500	1.8	.2	.1	.3	1.8
2024–25	San Antonio	28	26	18.9	.588	—	.400	5.6	1.1	.6	.8	5.1
Career		867	377	19.5	.537	.000	.551	5.9	.7	.3	1.3	5.1

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2014	Charlotte	3	1	16.0	.600	—	.333	3.7	.3	.0	.7	2.7
2016	Toronto	20	10	25.3	.580	—	.597	9.4	.4	.4	1.4	6.2
2022	Phoenix	9	0	9.5	.647	—	.500	2.1	.6	.1	.2	2.8
2023	Phoenix	8	0	9.8	.563	—	.500	3.4	.8	.0	1.3	3.4
Career		40	11	18.0	.589	—	.559	6.1	.5	.2	1.0	4.6