He passed away on Monday at the age of 58 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
NBA Hall-of-Famer Dikembe Mutombo was one of the game’s most charismatic players, known for his iconic right finger wag when he blocked a shot.
The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-Star died at the age of 58 after a years-long battle with brain cancer, the league announced on Monday.
“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.
“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.”
Over his 18-year career, Mutombo played for six teams—the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets—and was named to eight NBA All-Star teams.
At 7-foot-2, he was a larger-than-life player on the court but
a fan favorite for his affable demeanor. Mutombo amassed 3,289 blocked shots, second behind Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830) in NBA history.
His contributions, though, often went well beyond the basketball court.
While Mutombo was an advocate for the game, his primary focus was on human rights. In 1997, he founded the
Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which focused on improving health, education, and quality of life for the people in his native Congo. That foundation helped
build a 170-bed hospital in his hometown of Kinshasa, which has treated nearly half a million people regardless of their ability to pay for health care.
After Mutombo retired in 2009, then-NBA Commissioner David Stern appointed him as an NBA global ambassador to help grow the game through international sporting events. Mutombo also worked with the NBA Cares to bring attention to social issues.
Mutombo’s other honors include ABC’s Person of the Week, Essence Magazine’s 2001 Achiever, and the Sporting News’ No. 1 Good Guy. He was a former board member for
Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation—a global nonprofit that manages public health programs related to chronic and infectious diseases—and UNICEF.
“I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people.” Silver said. “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.”
