Dikembe Mutombo Passes Away at 58

Hall of Famer, humanitarian and legendary shot blocker Dikembe Mutombo has died at 58, the NBA announced on Monday. The cause of death was brain cancer, which he was diagnosed with in October 2022. Mutombo was surrounded by his family when he passed.

Dikembe Mutombo was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was born on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, which was then part of Zaire. Mutombo is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history.

Mutombo played in the NBA for 18 seasons from 1991 to 2009, and he is best known for his shot-blocking ability and defensive prowess. He played for several teams during his career, including the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets.

Throughout his career, Mutombo earned numerous accolades, including:

• NBA Defensive Player of the Year four times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001).
• An eight-time NBA All-Star.
• Led the league in blocked shots for five seasons (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998).
• Named to three All-NBA teams and six All-Defensive teams.

Off the court, Mutombo was known for his extensive humanitarian efforts. He was involved in numerous charitable activities, particularly focused on improving health and education in Africa. One of his significant contributions was the creation of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which aims to improve living conditions in his native Congo. The foundation’s notable project includes the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital near Kinshasa.

Mutombo was also known for his distinctive voice and his famous finger-wagging gesture after blocking shots, a symbol of his defensive dominance.

His contributions to the game and his humanitarian efforts have earned him significant recognition, including induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.