By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-04-02 05:15:11
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
圣安东尼奥马刺队的俾斯麦·比永博（18号）与金州勇士队的乔纳森·库明加（00号）交谈。摄于2025年3月30日，金州勇士队对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队的比赛，地点在霜冻银行中心。
丹佛 –
去年九月，篮球名人堂成员、掘金队传奇球星迪肯贝·穆托姆博因脑癌去世，NBA总裁亚当·萧华赞扬了他作为球员和人道主义者的卓越贡献。
“在球场上，他是NBA历史上最伟大的盖帽手和防守球员之一，”萧华说。“在场下，他倾注了所有的心血来帮助他人。”
俾斯麦·比永博并不像穆托姆博那样是一位伟大的球员，但这位马刺队中锋决心成功地沿着他已故的同胞和导师开辟的道路，为刚果民主共和国（DRC）提供援助。
“他为我们制定了蓝图，”比永博在谈到穆托姆博对当今非洲球员的影响时说。“他让我们相信，我们可以达到这个水平，然后回馈社会，影响我们的社区。”
比永博来到了丹佛，这座穆托姆博在他18年职业生涯的前五个赛季所效力的城市，但他心中所想的远不止抢篮板、盖帽和挡拆。
这位进入联盟第14个年头的职业球员，准备好在周三晚上的比赛中帮助马刺队战胜掘金队，此前他在周二以116-105输给奥兰多的比赛中，出场26分钟，得到11分、5个篮板和2个盖帽。
但是，由于他的祖国正面临一场人道主义危机，这场危机是由于长达数十年的冲突造成的，而特朗普政府解散美国国际开发署（USAID）及其众多援助刚果的项目，使情况更加恶化，因此比永博有超越篮球的担忧。
“我认为目前有超过两百万的难民，”32岁的比永博在谈到刚果民主共和国东部的危机时说。“我拜访过他们，也看到了他们所处的环境。情况非常危急。而这还是在他们接受了很少的援助的情况下。现在想象一下，如果没有那一点点援助，情况会变成什么样。”
迪肯贝·穆托姆博，在2008年结束他在火箭队五个赛季后的退役新闻发布会上，是一位在场内外都具有超凡影响力的人物。
非洲持续时间最长的战争之一——自1996年以来，这场冲突已导致约600万人死亡——在1月份急剧升级，当时卢旺达支持的M23叛军占领了戈马，这座拥有78.2万人口的城市被美联社称为“一个拥有数万亿美元矿产财富的地区的中心，这些矿产财富在很大程度上尚未开发，但对世界上的大部分技术至关重要”。
然后在2月份，唐纳德·特朗普总统上任后迅速采取行动，终止了美国国际开发署（USAID），该机构拥有约400亿美元的年度预算，用于资助关键的对外援助项目，因为他的政府认为该机构存在大量欺诈行为，但这一说法遭到了其支持者的反驳。
上周五，美国国务院正式宣布关闭美国国际开发署，此前特朗普政府赢得了一起联邦法院的诉讼，该诉讼挑战了埃隆·马斯克领导的政府效率部门的削减成本行动。美国国际开发署的终结正值刚果民主共和国有2800万人面临严重饥饿之际，联合国上周表示。
全球发展中心是一家位于华盛顿和伦敦的非营利性智库，专注于国际发展，该中心估计，削减美国国际开发署的项目将使刚果民主共和国损失3.87亿美元，其中超过80%用于卫生和人道主义援助。
“这些美国国际开发署的削减将对数百万依赖人道主义援助生存的世界上最脆弱的人们产生直接和毁灭性的影响，”反贫困组织乐施会美国分会的刚果民主共和国国家主任马恩吉·曼贡杜在一份新闻稿中说。
“对于刚果民主共和国东部已经因冲突升级而迫切需要食物、水和住所的50万人民来说，这种影响将是直接且危及生命的。”
俾斯麦·比永博(Bismack Biyombo)感到困惑的是，为什么美国会放弃帮助数百万刚果人的政策，包括通过乔治·W·布什于2003年建立的美国总统防治艾滋病紧急救援计划（PEPFAR），为大约20万人提供挽救生命的抗逆转录病毒治疗。
“我不喜欢涉足政治，但我喜欢涉足生活的人道主义方面，”比永博说。“人道在哪里？我们怎么能忽视这一点？”
特朗普政府还试图关闭美国非洲发展基金会（USADF）。2020年，比永博与他的非洲同胞、现任奥斯汀马刺队助理总经理的戈尔吉·吉昂(Gorgui Dieng)以及塞尔吉·伊巴卡(Serge Ibaka)合作，协助美国非洲发展基金会和球员工会资助帮助非洲的倡议，包括刚果民主共和国的课后青年和技能发展项目。
“我一直在与我们的一些政治和政府人士讨论正在发生的事情，”比永博说。“（美国的援助）至关重要。这就像你开着车，红灯亮了，告诉你，‘嘿，你得加点油了。’美国所做的事情有助于人们避免进入那个红色区域，这就是为什么它是世界上最强大的国家之一。”
比永博希望美国人明白，他国家所遭受的苦难不仅仅是“刚果问题”。
“这是一个人类问题，一个关系到所有人类的问题，”他说。“如果我走在圣安东尼奥的街上，看到一个需要帮助的孩子，我不会因为他来自圣安东尼奥而忽视他。如果上帝让我有能力帮助那个孩子，我会帮助他们。因为最终，这是人道，人道的问题涉及到我们所有人。”
比永博说，世界需要一个稳定的刚果民主共和国，因为“刚果正在造福整个世界”。
“我们拥有世界钴储量的60%以上，”他说，并指出手机和电动汽车电池都是用这种有价值的金属制成的。
“你不能一直从这些人身上索取，甚至不给他们最低限度的东西，”他补充说。
2024年8月16日，一名卫生工作者在刚果东部穆尼吉的一个治疗中心，从猴痘患者、13岁的露西·哈比马纳身上提取唾液样本。
在回馈他的国家方面，比永博效仿穆托姆博，所做的贡献远远超过了最低限度。
2012年，他创立了俾斯麦·比永博基金会，该基金会专注于加强刚果民主共和国的教育、卫生和体育事业。在2021-22赛季之后，他还因捐出他在菲尼克斯太阳队获得的130万美元，用于在刚果建造一座医院，以纪念他的父亲而成为头条新闻。
比永博的捐赠发生在穆托姆博捐赠1500万美元，用于在刚果建造比安巴·玛丽·穆托姆博医院的15年后，这座医院以他母亲的名字命名。
弗朗索瓦·比永博(Francois Biyombo)于2021年8月去世，享年61岁，死于一个月前感染新冠后引起的健康问题。这次磨难让年轻的比永博更加关注刚果民主共和国的医疗保健。
“我认为我们的医疗保健状况良好，因为我们一直在捐赠医疗设备，”他在谈到他的基金会时说。“我们一直在翻新医院和诊所。但是当我的父亲生病时，我才意识到情况有多糟糕。我们不得不开始从外面运进设备来治疗他，但是后来没有更多的设备可以运进，而且没有足够的支持。”
在咨询了几个国家的医生后，比永博和他的家人将他的父亲转移到伊斯坦布尔的一家医院，他的父亲最终在那里去世。2022年4月，比永博宣布他将捐出他在太阳队的薪水来建造一家医院。
“我非常幸运地说，我可以为我的父亲做这件事，他是一个坚信回馈社会，为绝望的人们带来希望的人，”比永博说。
2025年2月11日星期二，在刚果民主共和国戈马的营地里，一名因M23叛军与政府军之间的战斗而流离失所的儿童拿着一顶损坏的头盔。
比永博正在建造的医院位于一个遭受严重医生短缺困扰的国家，在这个拥有1亿人口的国家里，大约每1万人只有一名医生。
“当你观察刚果时，它是自然资源最丰富的国家之一，但也是生活最贫困的国家之一，”比永博说。“当人们因缺乏医疗保健等基本的东西而死亡时，我们就遇到了大麻烦。”
比永博的队友们赞扬他对刚果的奉献精神。
“比齐非常无私，”克里斯·保罗说，他在2021-2023年期间也曾在菲尼克斯与比永博一起效力了两个赛季。“他总是为他人着想。”
哈里森·巴恩斯说：“比齐一直有意识地回馈他的家乡。他在非洲大陆上所做的，无论是提高人们的意识还是捐赠资源，都是值得称赞的。他们现在需要这些。他在这方面做得非常出色。”
比永博说，他只是在效仿穆托姆博的榜样，穆托姆博曾八次入选全明星，四次获得年度最佳防守球员奖，他在1997年创立了迪肯贝·穆托姆博基金会，该基金会专注于改善刚果的健康、教育和生活质量。
“穆托姆博是我的好大哥，”比永博说。“我们建立了非凡的关系。他代表着比篮球比赛更伟大的东西。他影响了世界各地的人们，而不仅仅是非洲。他是一位真正的外交大使。”
当萨克拉门托在2011年NBA选秀大会上以第七顺位选中比永博时，联盟安排了比永博和穆托姆博之间的电话通话。
比永博说，他永远不会忘记这位传奇人物告诉他的话。
“他说，‘无论你走到哪里，当你离开那个地方时，人们必须对你有所好评，’”比永博说。“他不仅仅是说说而已，他用行动证明了这一点。他以身作则。我可以没完没了地谈论他。他对我们的祖国产生了巨大的影响。”
现在，比永博正试图做同样的事情。
“作为一名运动员，我们很幸运能处于我们所处的位置，”他说。“我全部的愿望是，我能否产生一种能让我感觉良好的影响？”
San Antonio Spurs Jeremy Sochan listens to Bismack Biyombo (18)San Antonio Spurs v Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, March 21,2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) celebrates a three-point basket with Spurs center Bismack Biyombo during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris, center, drives to the basket between San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo, right, and guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Detroit.
Spurs center Bismack Biyombo on the court before the game against Golden State on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center. The 14-year veteran is following in the footsteps of Congolese legend Dikembe Mutombo in trying to aid his war-torn homeland as it suffers through a massive humanitarian crisis.
FILE - Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
点击查看原文：Humanitarian crisis in Congo weighs on Spurs' Bismack Biyombo
Humanitarian crisis in Congo weighs on Spurs’ Bismack Biyombo
San Antonio Spurs Bismack Biyombo (18) talking with Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga (00). Golden State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs on Sunday,March 30,2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
DENVER –
When Basketball Hall of Famer and Nuggets great Dikembe Mutombo died from brain cancer last September, NBA commissioner Adam Silver lauded him for his excellence as a player and humanitarian.
“On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA,” Silver said. "Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”
Bismack Biyombo isn’t in Mutombo’s class as a player, but the Spurs center is determined to successfully follow the path blazed by his late countryman and mentor in aiding the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“He made the blueprint for us,” Biyombo said of the impact Mutombo has had on the current generation of African players. “He sold us on the idea we could reach this level and then give back and impact our communities.”
Biyombo arrived in Denver, the city where Mutombo spent the first five seasons of his 18-year career, with a lot more on his mind than just grabbing rebounds, blocking shots and setting screens.
The 14th-year pro entered Wednesday night’s game against the Nuggets ready as ever to help the Spurs win after finishing Tuesday’s 116-105 loss to Orlando with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes.
But with his homeland facing a humanitarian crisis due to a decades-long conflict that has been made worse by the Trump administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its many assistance programs that help the Congo, Biyombo has concerns that go way beyond basketball.
“I think right now there is a little over two million refugees,” Biyombo, 32, said of the crisis in the eastern part of the DRC. “I have visited them and have seen the conditions they are living in. It’s very critical. And that’s with the very little aid they were receiving. Now imagine without that little aid what that is going to do.”
Dikembe Mutombo, at his retirement press conference in 2008 after five seasons with the Rockets, was a larger-than-life figure on and off the court.
One of Africa’s longest wars – the conflict has led to approximately six million deaths since 1996 – escalated sharply in January when Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured Goma, a city of 782,000 the Associated Press called “the hub of a region containing trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that remains largely untapped and is critical for much of the world’s technology.”
Then in February, President Donald Trump moved swiftly after his inauguration to end USAID, which had an annual budget of roughly $40 billion to fund critical foreign aid programs, because his administration believed it was rife with fraud, a claim disputed by its supporters.
Last Friday, the State Department formally announced it is closing USAID after the Trump administration won a federal court case challenging the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-cutting action. The demise of USAID comes at a time when 28 million people face acute hunger in the DRC, the United Nations said last week.
The Center for Global Development, a nonprofit think tank based in Washington and London focusing on international development, estimates cuts to USAID programs will cost the DRC $387 million, with more than 80 percent devoted to health and humanitarian assistance.
“These USAID cuts will have an immediate and devastating impact on millions of the world’s most vulnerable people who depend on humanitarian aid for survival," Manenji Mangundu, DRC country director for the anti-poverty organization Oxfam America, said in a press release.
“For the half a million people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, already desperate for food, water and shelter due to the spiraling conflict, the impact will be immediate and life-threatening."
Biyombo is puzzled as to why the U.S. would abandon policies that helped millions of Congolese, including placing about 200,000 people on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) established by George W. Bush in 2003.
“I don’t like to get into politics, but I like to get into the human aspect of life,” Biyombo said. “Where is humanity? How can we not overlook this?”
The Trump administration has also attempted to shut down the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). In 2020, Biyombo teamed with fellow Africans and National Basketball Player Association members Gorgui Dieng, now an assistant general manager of the Austin Spurs, and Serge Ibaka to assist USADF and the union in financing initiatives to help Africa, including after-school youth and skills development programs in the DRC.
“I’ve been talking to some of our political and government people about what is going on,” Biyombo said. “(U.S. assistance) is critical. It’s like when you’re driving a car and the red light comes on that says, ‘Hey, you got to put some gas in.’ What the U.S. does helps people avoid going into that red area, and that’s why it’s one of the most powerful countries in the world.”
Biyombo wants Americans to understand the suffering in his country isn’t strictly a “Congolese problem.”
“It’s a humanity problem, a problem concerning all humans,” he said. “If I am going into the streets of San Antonio and I see a kid that needs help, I’m not going to overlook them because he is from San Antonio. If God puts me in the position to help that kid, I’ll help them. Because, in the end, it’s humanity, and humanity’s problems involve all of us.”
Biyombo said the world needs a stable DRC because “Congo is benefiting the whole world.”
“We have over 60 percent of the world’s reserve of cobalt,” he said, pointing out that phone and electric car batteries are made with the valuable metal.
“You can’t keep taking from these people and not even give them the bare minimum,” he added.
A health worker takes a saliva sample from Lucie Habimana, 13, a mpox patient, at a treatment centre in Munigi, eastern Congo, Aug. 16, 2024.
When it comes to giving back to his country, Biyombo has emulated Mutombo in contributing far more than the bare minimum.
In 2012, he started the Bismack Biyombo Foundation, which is focusing on enhancing education, health and sports in the DRC. He also made headlines after the 2021-22 season for donating the $1.3 million he earned with the Phoenix Suns to help build a hospital in the Congo in memory of his father.
Biyombo’s gift came 15 years after Mutombo donated $15 million to build the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, named in honor of his mother, in the DRC.
Francois Biyombo died August 2021 at age 61 from health ailments created after he contracted COVID-19 a month earlier. The ordeal convinced the younger Biyombo to focus more on healthcare in the DRC.
“I thought our healthcare was in good condition because we were making donations of medical equipment,” he said of his foundation. “We were refurbishing hospitals and clinics. But when my dad got sick, that’s when I realized how bad it was. We had to start bringing in equipment from outside to treat him, but then there was no more equipment we could bring in and there wasn’t enough support.”
After consulting with doctors in several countries, Biyombo and his family moved his father to a hospital in Istanbul, where he eventually died. In April 2022, Biyombo announced he was donating his Suns salary to build a hospital.
“I’m extremely blessed to say I could do that for my dad, who was a big believer in giving back and giving hope to the hopeless,” Biyombo said.
A child displaced by the fighting between M23 rebels and government soldiers holds a damaged helmet at the camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
The hospital Biyombo is building is in a country plagued by a severe shortage of doctors, with just roughly one for every 10,000 people in a nation with a population of 100 million.
“When you look at Congo, it’s one of the richest countries as far as natural resources but one of the poorest as far as living,” Biyombo said. “When people are dying of lack of basic things like healthcare, we’re in big trouble.”
Biyombo’s teammates applaud his commitment to the Congo.
“Bizzy is unbelievably selfless,” said Chris Paul, who also played two seasons with Biyombo in Phoenix from 2021-2023. “He is always looking out for others.”
Said Harrison Barnes, “Biz has always been intentional about giving back to his home. It’s commendable what he’s doing on the continent in terms of bringing awareness and donating resources. They need it now. He’s been phenomenal in that regard.”
Biyombo said he’s simply following the example set by Mutombo, an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year who founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, which focuses on improving health, education and quality of life in the Congo.
“Mutombo was a big brother to me,” Biyombo said. “We built a remarkable relationship. He represented something that’s bigger than the game of basketball. He impacted people around the world, not just Africa. He was a true ambassador.”
When Sacramento selected Biyombo seventh overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, the league arranged for a phone call between him and Mutombo.
Biyombo said he will never forget what the legend told him.
"He said, ‘Everywhere you go, when you leave that place, people must have something good to say about you,’ " Biyombo said. “And he didn’t speak it, he lived it. He walked in those shoes. I can go on and on talking about him. He made such a great impact in our homeland.”
Now, Biyombo is trying to do the same.
“As an athlete, we are blessed to be in the position we are in,” he said. “My whole desire is, can I make an impact where I can feel good about myself?”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News