NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Dead at 58
NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 after battling brain cancer.
His death was announced in a statement on Monday by the NBA.
“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.”
Mutombo moved to the U.S. at the age of 21 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Daily Mail reports.
In 1991, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets.
He also played for the Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets before retiring in 2009.
Mutomo was known for his blocking abilities and was well-known for his finger waving celebrations on the court as he stopped his opponents from scoring.
During his career, he played in eight All-Star games and won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, per the New York Post.
After his retirement, Mutombo became an ambassador for the NBA, spreading his love for basketball with 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,” wrote Silver.
“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.”
In October 2022, Mutombo announced that he would be receiving treatment for a brain tumor via a statement from the NBA, requesting that everyone respect he and his family’s privacy.
As the news of his death reaches worldwide, thousands of fans have paid tribute to the 7-foot-2 all-star on social media.
He is survived by his wife, Rose, their three children and four children he adopted from his wife’s brother after he passed away.
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