Dikembe Mutombo dies at 58: Corridor of Famer, legendary NBA shot blocker battled mind most cancers

Dikembe Mutombo, a Corridor of Fame middle and a world ambassador for the NBA, has died on the age of 58 from mind most cancers, the league announced Monday. Mutombo, who was born within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was one of the completed internationally born gamers in NBA historical past. His 3,289 blocks rank second all-time in NBA historical past, and he was recognized for his signature finger wag celebration.

Mutombo, who stood 7-foot-2, performed for six groups in his illustrious profession: the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He had outstanding longevity, enjoying via his age-42 season in Houston in 2008-09 earlier than finally retiring and turning into an envoy for the NBA in Africa. He was first reported to have a mind tumor in 2022.

His faculty profession didn’t start till the age of 21, however he shortly grew right into a star at Georgetown enjoying below John Thompson. After three seasons with the Hoyas, the Denver Nuggets picked him No. 4 total within the 1991 NBA Draft. He grew right into a defensive star with the Nuggets and finally the Atlanta Hawks. Between 1995 and 2021, Mutombo gained 4 Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards. He made eight All-Star groups and three All-NBA groups throughout his profession. Solely Hakeem Olajuwon has blocked extra photographs in NBA historical past.

Mutombo will likely be remembered for his distinct on-court swagger and off-court mannerisms as a lot as his effectiveness. His signature celebration after blocking a shot was the finger wag, shaking an index finger on the shooter who dared problem him. 

He’s the topic of one of many NBA’s most well-known pictures, which got here on the finish of Denver’s legendary upset over the Seattle Supersonics in 1994. These Nuggets have been the primary No. 8 seed ever to topple a No. 1, and the sequence ended with Mutombo pulling in its closing rebound and clutching the ball above his face as time expired with an unlimited smile on his face. Mutombo blocked an NBA-record 31 photographs in that sequence, controlling it defensively all through all 5 video games. “He bought in our gamers’ heads on the very starting and by no means left,” Seattle coach George Karl said. 

The league was equally effusive in praising the legendary large man on Monday.

“Dikembe Mutombo was merely bigger than life,” commissioner Adam Silver stated in an announcement. “On the court docket, he was one of many biggest shot blockers and defensive gamers within the historical past of the NBA. Off the ground, he poured his coronary heart and soul into serving to others.

“There was no person extra certified than Dikembe to function the NBA’s first International Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core. He cherished what the sport of basketball might do to make a optimistic influence on communities, particularly in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout the continent of Africa. I had the privilege of touring the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted folks. He was at all times accessible at NBA occasions over time – along with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball followers of each technology.

“Dikembe’s indomitable spirit continues on in those that he helped and impressed all through his extraordinary life. I’m one of many many individuals whose lives have been touched by Dikembe’s large coronary heart and I’ll miss him dearly. On behalf of the whole NBA household, I ship my deepest condolences to Dikembe’s spouse, Rose, and their kids; his many pals; and the worldwide basketball neighborhood which he really cherished and which cherished him again.”

Mutombo is among the many most influential African-born gamers within the historical past of basketball. His influence on the sport might be felt most closely within the continent’s burgeoning basketball scene. Increasingly gamers are coming from Africa to the NBA, and numerous that may be traced again to Mutombo.

“It is a unhappy day, particularly for us Africans, and actually the entire world,” 76ers star and Cameroon native Joel Embiid said of Mutombo Monday at the team’s media day. “Apart from what he completed on the basketball court docket, I feel he was even higher off the court docket. He is one of many guys I look as much as. …He did numerous nice issues for lots of people. He was a job mannequin of mine.”