In the last two games, DJ Mbenga has stepped into the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers, to fill in for the injured Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, and Mbenga did a serviceable job in the pivot.

Mbenga, who was born in the Congo and raised in Belgium, registered 5 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks in his first start of the season vs. Memphis, and put up 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a win over New Orleans the next game.

A double-double isn’t something to get too crazy about, but Mbenga’s 10 points and 12 rebounds was his first career double-double in 151 NBA games, and his ten points tied his career high; Mbenga has now reached double figure points twice in his career.

He last scored 10 points on March 6, 2009 last season in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the two games, Mbenga played a career high 30 minutes in each of the games, or to be exact 29:37 and 29:39.

His 5 offensive rebounds and 13 total rebounds against the Grizzlies were also a career-high. So were his five field goal makes and nine field goal attempts against the Hornets.