Dikembe Mutombo, the Hall of Fame, finger-wagging center who spent much of his post-basketball career as an ambassador for the sport, has died of brain cancer at the age of 58, the NBA announced Monday.
Mutombo’s family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family.
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.
“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people. He was always accessible at NBA events over the years — with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation.”
Dikembo Mutombo, who ranks second with 3,289 career blocked shots, became well known for his playful wag of his right index finger following those blocks — a gesture that endeared him to others even after his 18 NBA seasons. Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit
Mutombo played 18 NBA seasons for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, then-New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets before retiring after the 2008-09 season.
The 7-foot-2 former Georgetown center was the league’s top defensive player four times, earned three All-NBA selections and played in eight All-Star Games. He ranks 20th in rebounds (12,359) and finished with 3,289 blocks, second to Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830).
“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans — and really the whole world — because, other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court,” Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, said Monday. “He’s one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court but off the court. He’s done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people, so he was a role model of mine. It’s a sad day.”
Mutombo also was part of one of the league’s most iconic playoff moments, helping eighth-seeded Denver oust top-seeded Seattle in the first round of the 1994 Western Conference playoffs. That best-of-five series marked the first time in NBA history a No. 8 beat a No. 1.
“As a basketball player, he might have been the best defensive player to ever play the NBA,” former Nuggets coach Dan Issel said. “I never saw [Bill] Russell playing, but he’d have to be awfully good to be as good as Dikembe. You’re very fortunate as a coach when your best player is the one that works the hardest and keeps all the rules, which is what Dikembe did. But his legacy might be even bigger with the work that he did off of the court.”
Mutombo was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds for his career. His No. 55 jersey is retired by the Nuggets and the Hawks.
“Like many across the globe, my heart is heavy with the loss of Atlanta Hawks legend and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to visit with him and his wife, Rose, at their home last month and express the gratitude and pride Atlantans and millions worldwide held for such a truly good man. He is not just a Hall of Famer — he is irreplaceable.”
ESPN
