The Sunday Mail
FOR Los Angeles Clippers power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, the term “journeyman” doesn’t even begin to describe the mileage the 30-year-old Cameroonian has trekked in his nine years in the NBA.
During this time, the six-foot-eight Clippers’ basketball player has featured for five franchises across the United States: Wisconsin (Milwaukee Bucks), California (Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers), Minnesota (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Delaware (Philadelphia 76ers).
Before that, the Cameroonian spent time in Florida and California for high school and college at Montverde Academy and the University of California Los Angeles.
His travels, starting in Yaoundé, are nothing compared to the record shared by the trio of Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson and Joe Smith, who each played for 12 different NBA teams during their careers.
But these travels are not evidence of him being a fringe player as Mbah a Moute remains highly regarded by his peers.
Now the journeyman has found his way to Zimbabwe – 14 321km cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Mbah a Moute is here for a week-long visit during which he will do a little research on the state of the sport in Zimbabwe and – hopefully – lend a helping hand in talent identification and skills management and development.
“I just want to see the lie of the land, try find out where the country stands in terms of basketball development and progress,” said the former UCLA Bruins forward.
“I have been doing similar basketball camps in the Cameroon for a long time now, and have built partnerships with other coaches and countries in Africa. I have decided to come here and try find ways I can help the country and help the sport grow here.”
Should the trip prove to be a success, Zimbabwe could see more NBA players visiting the country.
“That is the goal,” said Mbah a Moute. “I am coming in as the eyes and trying to see what has been done, what needs to be done and how we can help.
“Hopefully, by the time I leave here we would have come up with a plan, or program, and I will go back and talk to some of the other guys in the NBA and bring them here.”
Mbau a Moute’s visit is a collaborative effort of the iBelieve Sports Academy and Fundamentally Astute Athletics, and is set to be the inaugural edition of what will be called the Luc Mbah a Moute Top 50 Basketball Camp.
The annual meet will see Zimbabwe’s top 50 Under-18 players converging in Harare for a three-day coaching clinic with the 30-year-old LA Clippers forward.
The first leg of his visit wraps up today at Eaglesvale Senior School in Harare, after which he is expected to spend five days visiting high-density suburbs, rural areas and children’s homes.
