CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mfiondu Kabengele found himself in a bit of an unfamiliar position on Sunday night.
Make no mistake, it is a role he desperately wants. With the Cavaliers ravaged by injuries and limping towards a 10th straight loss, Kabengele became a sorely needed scoring threat for the Wine and Gold’s much maligned offense.
“It’s a good feeling to be out there on the floor and contribute and showcase my talent and ability,” Kabengele said. “Being around these guys I’m definitely getting influence by them and how they carry themselves, how they want to go out and compete. Just picking up on little things is what kind of led to what happened today."
After a career-high 14 points during a 124-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Kabengele is hoping he can finally stick.
“Anytime I get on the floor, that’s what I want to showcase to the Cavs that they made the right decision,” Kabengele said.
Originally signed to a ten-day contract, then another ten-day contract, the Cavs recently inked Kabengele to a multi-year deal at the beginning of the month. The third-year man out of Florida State appeared in 23 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season before being traded to the Sacramento Kings on March 22.
He was waived three days later.
“When the Cavs gave me the contract, I took that as the ultimate privilege,” Kabengele said. “I know a lot of guys in my position would want this opportunity, but they gave it to me and now it’s my job to maximize it.”
Although his stint in Los Angeles was brief, he credits his time with the Clippers for laying the groundwork for allowing him to get a deal with Cleveland.
“When I was with the Clippers, it was a learning experience. Although I didn’t play a lot, I learned so much from that franchise and that organization,” he continued. “The whole staff has been great to me. I learned what it took to be a pro. How to carry yourself, extra shots, treatment, diet, sleep. The little nuances that I learned from the pros, I appreciate that.
With eight regulars out of the lineup, Kabengele saw 23:02 of playing time Sunday night against the Mavericks; plenty of time to showcase his skills that included a highlight-reel dunk on missed three-pointer by Damyean Dotson in the second quarter.
“It adds more fuel to the fire, because when the outcome like this happens you realize what you’re lacking and what you need to bring to the table for it to be a better outcome,” he said. “It’s refreshing to compete, to learn every game, every possession what you are as a player.”
So, what more does the former ACC Sixth Man of the Year want to add to his game?
“I want to be able to guard multiple positions out on the perimeter, not just be secondary help for the big and contest shots,” Kabengele said. “I want to be out there and stretch the floor out and guard multiple positions so that it’s easier for our guards and easier for ball screen coverages.”
It has been obvious at times that the Cavaliers lack energy and focus, including Sunday night against the Mavericks.
Early in the third quarter, Mavs’ superstar Luka Doncicwas received a flagrant-two foul while jockeying for position with Collin Sexton under the basket. Doncic received the automatic ejection for taking a swipe at Sexton’s groin area.
The Wine and Gold were within striking distance at that point, down 11 points with Dallas missing their star guard. But the Mavs were the ones that responded, immediately going on a 30-13 run.
“I feel like some stretches we lacked the energy and I felt like I could’ve been that,” Kabengele said. “I want to be able to be that spark for this team, whether it be on the offensive glass, knocking down shots defending, just spark plays.”
Kabengele credits a familiarity with the Cavaliers and their coaching staff with allowing him to mesh quickly. Prior to the 2019 draft where he was the 27th overall pick, he met with then-coach John Beilein and current bench boss J.B. Bickerstaff.
“During the pre-draft, they were like my fifth workout. I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I knew when I got waived and the Cavs were one of the first to pick up, I didn’t have a sense, but I knew they had interest in me from the draft.”
With the Cavaliers remaining four games coming against playoff teams (Indiana, Boston, Washington and Brooklyn) and no signs of any reinforcements coming from the injury list, Kabengele may be relied upon more given his recent performance.
“Coming over here, just playing its exciting. That’s the reason I play the game is to be on the court and contribute,” he said.
