Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, NBA legend and global ambassador for the sport of basketball, died yesterday morning from a brain tumor at the age of 58.
During his playing career, Dikembe played in Denver, Atlanta, Philly, New Jersey, New York, and Houston. Known to be one of the most dominant defensive shot blockers in NBA history, his 3,289 blocks are second only to Hakeem Olajuwon, earning him the nickname “Mount Mutombo”.
Mount Mutombo appeared in eight All-Star games, racking up six All-Defensive selections, three All-NBA selections, three block-leading seasons, and two rebound-leading seasons. Dikembe’s number 55 is retired both in Denver and Atlanta.
While his patented finger-wag struck fear into the hearts of his opponents, his massive smile, booming voice, and boundless heart are what the world will remember him by.
”Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. 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.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
Dikembe’s impact in his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo earned him two of the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Awards, which are given to a player, coach, or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community. He is the only two-time recipient of this award.
From funding his home country’s women’s basketball team in the 1996 Olympic Games, to creating the Mutombo Foundation and overseeing its countless humanitarian efforts, to improving the infrastructure of his home town Kinshasa through building a $29 million hospital and research center, Mutombo continues to inspire new generations of basketball athletes and fans.
And since Dikembe loved to laugh and smile, here are some moments from him that’ll make you do the same: