The NBA shared in a statement on Monday that NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died from brain cancer at the age of 58. Mutombo, renowned for his defensive dominance and finger-wagging celebration, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2022.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others … Dikembe’s indomitable spirit continues on in those who he helped and inspired throughout his extraordinary life. I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe’s big heart, and I will miss him dearly. On behalf of the entire NBA family, I send my deepest condolences to Dikembe’s wife, Rose, and their children; his many friends; and the global basketball community, which he truly loved and which loved him back.”
Mutombo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo before moving to the United States and playing college basketball at Georgetown University. He was drafted in 1991 with as the fourth overall pick by the Denver Nuggets, and the seven-foot, two-inch center went on to play with six NBA teams throughout his 18-year career, as an eight-time NBA All-Star. In addition to the Nuggets, he played for the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.
In 2015, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and spent much of his post-basketball career as an ambassador for the NBA. Said Silver: “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.”
Per CBS Sports, Mutombo’s 3,289 blocks rank second all-time in NBA history, and was one of three players to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year four times. Mutombo is perhaps most remembered for his dominant defensive performance in the 1994 playoffs, when he helped lead the Nuggets to a massive upset over the Seattle Supersonics — the first No. 8 seed to ever beat a No. 1 seed.
Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in the Congo in 1997, with its goal is to improve health, education and quality of life in the African country. He also serves on the board of Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Mutombo’s son Ryan said in a tribute posted on social media that his father “loved others with every ounce of his being … My dad is my hero because he simply cared. He remains the purest heart I have ever known.” Mutombo is survived by his wife, Rose, their three children, and four children of Rose’s deceased brothers (whom they adopted in 1996).
Editorial credit: Ovidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.com