The basketball world was stunned this morning by the loss of one of the greatest shot-blockers in the history of the sport. It was announced that NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo has passed away at the age of 58 from brain cancer.
On October 15, 2022, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
This is an unexpected loss for one of the friendliest and best teammates the game has ever seen. The big man entered the league in 1991 after a dominant college career at Georgetown. He never disappointed—always a consummate professional and an elite defender.
Mutombo was one of only three NBA players to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career. He was also an eight-time NBA All-Star and played in back-to-back NBA Finals with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, losing both to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mutombo was the player teams often looked to in their attempts to level the playing field against SHAQ, who dominated the paint.
The Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks have retired his number 55 jersey, and he was widely known as a passionate humanitarian. He founded his own charitable foundation in his homeland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2001 and 2009, Mutombo won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. He was also one of the biggest global ambassadors for the Special Olympics. A giant both in stature and heart, Mutombo will be missed by many.
Here is a statement from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” Silver said in a statement. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot-blockers and defensive players in NBA history. Off the court, 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 saw firsthand 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.”
The big man finished his career with nearly 3,300 blocks, ranking second all-time (3,289). He is survived by his wife, Rose, and his son, Ryan.
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