OAN Staff James Meyers
9:55 AM – Monday, September 30, 2024
NBA legend Dikembe Mutumbo, who was known for his trademark finger wag, has died at the age of 58 after a battle with brain cancer.
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Mutumbo’s long NBA career spanned from 1991-2009, featuring eight All-Star appearances and four Defensive Player of the Year awards.
“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.”
The seven-foot big man was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.
The Hall of Famer, who was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, played college basketball at Georgetown University and was picked fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
During his 18 NBA seasons, Mutombo also played for five other teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.
Mutombo’s accolades included league’s top defensive player four times, three All-NBA selections and playing in eight All-Star Games. He ranks 20th in rebounds (12,359) and finished with 3,289 career blocks, second to Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830).
After he retired, Mutombo became an ambassador for the NBA, spreading his love of the game worldwide.
“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,” Silver said.
“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.
Mutumbo also served on the boards of many different organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
In addition to his wife, Rose, Mutombo is survived by their three children, plus four adopted children from Rose’s brothers after they died.
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