The NBA confirmed on Monday that Dikembe Mutombo, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history as well as a longstanding global advocate for the sport, has passed away from brain cancer. He was fifty-eight. His family disclosed two years prior that he was receiving brain tumour therapy in Atlanta. The NBA says he died accompanied by his family.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that Dikembe Mutombo "was simply larger than life." He was among the best defensive and shot-blocking players in NBA history when it came to the floor. He dropped to the ground and gave his all to assist others.
Mutombo was unique in a lot of ways, including his height, his deep, gravelly voice, his enormous smile, and his humorous finger wag at opponents after blocking their attempts. This generation of athletes was always captivated by Mutombo, and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, a Cameroonian by birth, looked up to him as an inspiration.
Dikembe Mutombo was homored in Hall of Fame
Throughout his eighteen-year NBA career, Mutombo was a member of the New Jersey Nets, Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, and New York. The seven-foot-two centre from Georgetown became an eight-time All-Star and three-time NBA selection after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game throughout his career. He was honoured with a Hall of Fame induction in 2015.
Helping eighth-seeded Denver against top-seeded Seattle in the 1994 Western Conference playoffs' opening round, he was a part of one of the league's most iconic postseason events. It was a best-of-five series, and the first time a No. 8 beat a No. 1 in NBA history.
Following his retirement, Mutombo focused his attention on humanitarian and social initiatives. He last participated during the 2008–09 season. Speaking nine languages, he established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 to enhance the lives, health, and education of Congolese citizens.
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