PLAYA VISTA – Luc Mbah a Moute seemingly had it all.

A moderately successful professional basketball career. Longevity. International success. Three Final Four appearances while at UCLA and a kingdom of his own.

Then one day it was over.

Mbah a Moute still reigned as a prince in his native Cameroon, but in a span of 24 hours this summer, he went from a sought-after free agent to a man without a team. The Sacramento Kings voided his contract a day after signing him, claiming he failed their physical, an old shoulder injury listed as the cause.

The 6-foot-10 forward was stunned. Mbah a Moute, 29, was coming off one of his best seasons, with career highs in points, steals and minutes played for Philadelphia. He had played the entire summer without pain, had played the previous season without any discomfort and was looking forward to starting over in Sacramento.

“My shoulder was never an issue,” Mbah a Moute said. “I didn’t miss a game. I played the whole season without any problems. I had a routine check and the doctor in Philly told me I was fine. I was fine.

“I just didn’t know what was going on because to me everything was good. It’s not like I got hurt or they discovered something crazy in my heart that would make me not able to play. I was playing during the summer, I was good. I was healthy.”

The case has gone to arbitration, an ordeal Mbah a Moute has left in the hands of his lawyers as he tries to latch on with the Clippers on a non-guaranteed contract. The seven-year veteran is one of two players battling for the final roster spot.

Mbah a Moute said when the free agency period began in July, several teams, including the Clippers, contacted his agent. After the episode with Sacramento, the Clippers continued to inquire about reporting to training camp.

“They’ve always been around, checking on me,” he said. “We figured this would be a good choice.”

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he wasn’t put off by the reported failed physical. He referred to Mbah a Moute’s resume.

“He passed all of our physicals,” Rivers said a day before the team headed to China for two exhibitions. “He’s fantastic. He’s a veteran player who knows how to play. He’s a really good basketball player.

“He’s an NBA player, there’s no doubt about that.”

Mbah a Moute was a second-round pick by Milwaukee in the 2008 NBA draft after helping take UCLA to three consecutive Final Four appearances. Nicknamed the “Fresh Prince” by the student body, he was the Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year and ended his UCLA career with honorable mention all-conference honors.

He gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the draft and was taken by the Bucks with the 37th overall pick. He spent his first five seasons in Milwaukee and took over the starting power forward spot nine games into his rookie season.

In July 2013, Mbah a Moute was traded to Sacramento, which shipped him to Minnesota four months later. After one season, he was part of a three-team trade that landed him in Philadelphia and Kevin Love in Cleveland.

Mbah a Moute settled into the 76ers’ offense, averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 2.1 steals in 28.6 minutes. He added 4.9 rebounds.

“It was tough because after you come off your best year, you don’t expect to be in this situation – career highs and everything in Philly,” he said. “And even though we didn’t have a very good year, I felt I had played really well and kind of raised my value in the league.

“So finding myself in this situation is sort of a setback. It’s just one of those challenges that life throws at you and keep moving.”

Contact the writer: jcarr@ocregister.com