NBA London: New York Knicks star Emmanuel Mudiay takes nothing for granted after escaping war in Congo

There are no straightforward journeys to the top in sport but Emmanuel Mudiay faced more difficulties than most on his path to becoming the New York Knicks’ starting point guard.

Mudiay was born in Kinshasa in Zaire — now the Democratic Republic of Congo — in 1996, at the time of the First Congo War and two years before the outbreak of a second, more deadly, conflict. His memories of war are not ones he wishes to dwell on.

His father, Jean-Paul, died of a heart attack when Mudiay was two. His mother, Therese, did what she could to shield the youngster and his two brothers from the war that raged around them, selling coffee from her home to make a living and growing enough vegetables to feed her family.

By 2001 she knew she had to do something radical to protect her children. Therese left her sons in the care of their grandparents, flew to Dallas with her sister to seek asylum and eventually found a job as a nurse’s aide.

It took a year before the Mudiay family was reunited, ready to forge a new life. It didn’t take quite as long for Mudiay to find his calling.

“When I was six and picked up a ball for the first time I knew I was going to be a basketball player,” he said. “It was just after I’d arrived in Dallas.”

As Therese explained when Mudiay made his breakthrough in 2015: “He was saying, ‘Mom, one day I’m going to go to the NBA’. He was writing on my books and on my notebooks, writing … NBA, NBA, everywhere.”

Mudiay was right and he arrives in London this week as one of the brightest stars at the New York Knicks.

“It’s a blessing and I thank God for it every day,” said the 22-year-old. “I can’t take it for granted, a lot of people would give everything to be in my position. I always give my glory to God [that I’m here]. You can’t forget about where you’ve come from. That’s what has brought me to this point and it’s what’s going to keep making me [who I am].

“Going back on times like that is what keeps you striving. I had my family, as long as I had them and Jesus I was good. Life was tough but I always knew there were brighter days ahead.”

Even after making it to the NBA more challenges came Mudiay’s way. The point guard was selected with the seventh pick in the 2015 draft by the Denver but, like many rookies, struggled with the playmaking responsibilities that come with his position. By the time he was traded to New York 11 months ago his career was on the line but Mudiay has responded in style, remembering that he has come through tough times before.

He added: “Has that given me the fire to deal with setbacks? For sure. You have to be mentally strong to go through the stuff you go through [in this league].”

He has proven to be exactly that, logging career highs in points, field-goal percentage and player-efficiency rating. That has not brought winning basketball to the Knicks — with 10 wins and 33 defeats, they have the third-worst record — but in a season where developing stars of the future is the franchise’s priority, Mudiay is an unquestionable success.

The Knicks were in equally bad shape when they last came to London in 2015 but Mudiay insists: “We’re growing. We’re better than we were at the beginning of the season. We just have to keep improving. These trips are great momentum-changers. It’s always good getting away for a little bit, seeing new things, different cultures.”