Luc Mbah a Moute

Mbah a Moute with the Bucks in 2011

Mbah a Moute gave up his eligibility to play college basketball at UCLA for his senior year to enter the 2008 NBA draft, in which he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 37th overall pick.[6] Mbah a Moute got off to a quick start with the Bucks, and quickly became a fan favourite. His strong play, especially on defense, led to him overtaking Charlie Villanueva as the Bucks' starting power forward only nine games into the season. In his second game as a starter, Mbah a Moute posted career highs of 19 points and 17 rebounds in a 101–96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Bucks head coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Hammond both praised Mbah a Moute's defensive skills.[7]

After the 2010–11 season, Mbah a Moute became a restricted free agent. On 10 December 2011, he received a four-year, $18.7 million offer sheet from the Denver Nuggets. Three days later, the Bucks matched the offer sheet, re-signing Mbah a Moute.[8]

On 12 July 2013, Mbah a Moute was traded to the Sacramento Kings.[9]

On 26 November 2013, Mbah a Moute was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Derrick Williams.[10]

On 23 August 2014, a three-team trade was completed, involving the Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. As part of the deal, Mbah a Moute and teammate Alexey Shved were traded to the Sixers, along with a 2015 first round draft pick from Cleveland. The Cavaliers received Kevin Love from Minnesota, whereas the Wolves received Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett from Cleveland and Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia.[11]

On 14 July 2015, Mbah a Moute signed with the Sacramento Kings once again.[12] However, two days later, his contract was voided by the Kings after he failed his physical examination.[13] Mbah a Moute felt he was mistreated by the Kings and filed grievance against the team. He later passed a medical test in order to compete for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game on 1 August.[14]

On 25 September 2015, Mbah a Moute signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.[15] Midway through the 2015–16 season, the Clippers placed Mbah a Moute into the starting lineup. He stayed in the starting throughout the playoffs as well.

On 8 July 2016, Mbah a Moute re-signed with the Clippers.[16] On 21 April 2017, in Game 3 of the Clippers' first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, Mbah a Moute scored a career playoff-high 15 points to help the Clippers win 111–106, taking a 2–1 lead in the series.[17] The Clippers went on to lose the series to the Jazz in seven games.

On 19 July 2017, Mbah a Moute signed with the Houston Rockets.[18] On 22 November 2017, in a 125–95 win against the Denver Nuggets, Mbah a Moute finished with a plus-minus of +57, the highest in an NBA game in 20 years. He was a perfect 5-of-5 shooting for 13 points in 26 minutes, during which the Rockets outscored the Nuggets 93–36.[19] On 14 December 2017, he was ruled out for two to three weeks with a shoulder injury.[20] Mbah a Moute dislocated his shoulder for a second time on 10 April 2018, in a 105–99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[21] He subsequently missed the first round of the playoffs.[22]

On 19 July 2018, Mbah a Moute signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, returning to the franchise for a second stint.[23] He appeared in just four games for the Clippers in 2018–19 after injuring his left knee in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on 23 October 2018.[24] He initially underwent various non-surgical treatment options before ultimately undergoing a partial medial meniscectomy on his left knee, with medial femoral condyle chondroplasty, on 28 March 2019.[24] He was subsequently waived by the Clippers on 7 April.[25]

On July 7, 2020, the Houston Rockets announced that they had signed Mbah a Moute.[26]