From SuperSport. Story by Julio Chitunda.

Half of the 82-game 2015-16 NBA season has gone, and most of the nine Africa-born players look better than ever.

And, as the race for the playoffs intensifies Festus Ezeli (Golden State), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota), Bismack Biyombo (Toronto), Salah Mejri (Dallas), Luc Mbah a Moute (LA Clippers), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder), Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver), Walter Tavares (Atlanta) and Luol Dieng (Miami) continue to thrive one way or the other.

While Dieng’s Minnesota Timberwolves (13-31) and Mudiay’s Denver Nuggets (16-26) keep struggling night in and night out to climb in the Western Conference standings, Ezeli’s Warriors remain the No 1 team with an astonishing 39-4 mark.

So far, the reigning champions, Golden State Warriors, look posed to defend their title, and Ezeli, who is averaging career-highs 7.8 points and 6 rebounds, has become a valuable player off the bench.

But Ezeli is not the only one putting up big numbers.

Biyombo, who spent the first four seasons of his NBA career at the Charlotte Hornets, is the kind of guy that Raptors head coach Dwane Casey loves to have in his team because of his energy, intensity and mindset to compete.

Overall, Ibaka has the highest scoring average among Africans of 13.2 points per game, but Biyombo’s combative spirit as well as Ezeli’s toughness to protect the rim make them the most improved African players this season so far.

Read More At SuperSport.