National Basketball Association

Mudiay's winding path to NBA unlikely to end in Minnesota

Published Jun. 8, 2015 1:45 p.m. ET

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Emmanuel Mudiay's path to the NBA began in a war-torn African village and has spanned three of the world's seven continents.

There's a slight chance it concludes in the Twin Cities.

The 6-foot-5 point guard ranks among the most unique of prospects. He passed on a season of collegiate basketball at Southern Methodist to earn $1.2 million playing in China, but appeared in just 12 games thanks to an ankle sprain that sidelined him for most of the season. He comes originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and played his first basketball games on the streets of its capital city Kinshasa.

And according to RealGM, he'll be working out with Minnesota on June 20 or perhaps sooner. The Timberwolves are expected to take either Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns with the No. 1 pick in this year's draft but are doing their due diligence and considering all possibilities.

The one involving Mudiay paints a picture of the swift, athletic, 200-pounder running the floor with Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad. But it's also a scenario in which Ricky Rubio has left the picture, likely via a trade to make room for Mudiay.

Wolves coach and president Flip Saunders also likes Ohio State product D'Angelo Russell, the other premier guard in a top-heavy draft class that runs at least four potential superstars deep.

It'd register high on the shock scale if anyone other than Okafor or Towns has his named called first June 25. But that doesn't mean Minnesota isn't exploring other possibilities.

And Mudiay presents a tantalizing one.

In 2001, his mother -- Mudiay's father died when he was a toddler -- left Mudiay, 5, and his two older brothers with their grandparents to seek amnesty in the United States, according to a 2014 Dallas Morning News story. Rebel forces of Laurent Kabila had invaded Kinshasa shortly after their father's death, and political unrest often spilled over into the city streets in the weeks and months that followed.

After a year away from their mother, Mudiay and his brothers were able to join her in Arlington, Texas. There, he blossomed into a basketball prodigy, attending Grace Preparatory Academy in Austin and later Prime Prep Academy in Dallas.

Rivals ranked him the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2015. SMU coach Larry Brown landed him over the likes of Arizona, Kansas and Kentucky, largely because Mudiay's older brother Jean-Micheal was already playing for the Mustangs.

But with a chance to help out his mother -- who raised vegetables and coffee beans to make ends meet before the family immigrated to America -- Emmanuel decided to spend his one season between high school hoops and the NBA in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he played in the Guangdong Southern Tigers' first 10 regular-season games and two playoff semifinal contests (against former Wolves guard Stephon Marbury and the Sougang Beijing Ducks, who went on to win the league championship).

Mudiay averaged 17.7 points (54.5 percent field goals, 30 percent from 3-point range), six rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.1 turnovers and 30.1 minutes per game before his injury.

He's an easier player to qualify than quantify, though, giving NBA scouts such a small sample size during the past year. With a 6-8.5 wingspan, top-end speed and lateral quickness, Mudiay excels in transition and pick-and-roll situations and, when he's locked in, can be a pesky defender.

But like most 19-year-old prospects, he's not consistent at that end of the floor. His perimeter shooting needs some work, and so does his decision-making.

Mudiay worked out on Saturday with the Lakers, who have the second overall pick, and is reportedly in New York to visit the Knicks (fourth overall pick) this week.

The chances he lands in Minnesota are slim, as the Wolves appear dedicated to Rubio, whom they signed to a four-year extension early last season. But whether it's the Target Center or another venue, Mudiay is widely regarded as a top-six pick.

And wherever he ends up, a new journey will begin.

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