Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer renowned as one of the NBA’s greatest defensive players and a dedicated global ambassador for the sport, passed away Monday at the age of 58 due to brain cancer, the league confirmed.
His family disclosed two years ago that he was receiving treatment for a brain tumour in Atlanta.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver stated, “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.”
Silver remarked that Dikembe was the ideal choice for the league’s first Global Ambassador, emphasizing his humanitarian spirit.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid expressed his sadness, emphasizing that it is a sorrowful day for Africans and the entire world.
“Other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court,” he said, “he’s one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court.”
Mutombo had an impressive 18-season NBA career, representing teams including Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York, and the New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 centre from Georgetown earned eight All-Star selections, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, and three All-NBA honours. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, concluding his career with averages of 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Dikembe Mutombo, who last played in the 2008-09 season, had dedicated his post-retirement years to charitable and humanitarian efforts. Fluent in nine languages, he established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, focusing on enhancing health, education, and living conditions in the Congo. Additionally, Mutombo had served on the boards of various organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation, and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Frances Ibiefo
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