No. 6: D.J. Mbenga
Summary: Between D.J. Mbenga’s physical build and his black belt in judo, you could easily argue for this specimen to be placed higher on the list.
Coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (where his father essentially had to sacrifice himself in order to negotiate for his imprisoned family’s freedom), Mbenga had an adversity-filled upbringing that makes many coming of age stories look like hiccups in comparison.
Using both martial arts and sports to overcome the odds, Mbenga went from playing basketball in his newfound home of Belgium to making his way to a two-time NBA championship Laker team within a 10-year span.
Although some still suggest that his overall NBA career was an underwhelming one considering the standards set, you can’t help but wonder – at an undeniably athletic 7-foot frame that sits just under the heavyweight limit – if Mbenga was, in fact, in the wrong sport after all.
D.J. Mbenga and the art of judo: