(CNN) -- Having to guard NBA stars like LeBron James and Paul Pierce can be the most daunting task for many basketball players. But for Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute -- who is actually a prince in his native Cameroon -- turning up against such basketball royalty is an enthralling experience. "I take pride in my defense," says Mbah a Moute, a 6 feet 8 inches forward who has leaped onto the NBA scene in the last few years, becoming an athletic ambassador for Africa in the world's top basketball league. Born and raised in Cameroon, Mbah a Moute is the third-youngest son of the chieftain of a village near the country's capital Yaounde. His father is also the general manager of the Cameroonian National Employment Fund.
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Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is an NBA basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks
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Mbah a Moute's father is the chief of the Bia Messe village in Cameroon
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The energetic forward is regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA
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Having taken part in Basketball Without Borders, he wants to help Africa's youth realize their potential
"There was another guy on the team from Cameroon and the fans were so good to us and they created the '@placeholder crazies,'" he recalls.
He did not only stick to the world's toughest league but he recently re-signed with the @placeholder for another four years -- the new deal more than tripled his salary, netting him close to $19 million.