Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo died from brain cancer at age 58 on Monday.
“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 court, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”
Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA across spells with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The Nuggets selected Mutombo fourth overall in the 1991 NBA draft, and he wasted little time establishing himself as an elite rim protector. He averaged three blocks per game as a rookie and was leading the league in the category by his third year. His fourth season saw him win his first DPOY award.
The 1993-94 season also saw the 7-footer play a pivotal role in one of the biggest NBA playoff upsets ever to that point. Denver became the first-ever No. 8 seed to advance out of the first round when it beat the Seattle SuperSonics. Mutombo holding the game ball aloft while laying on the court became an indelible image in the franchise’s history.
Joining the team in the middle of the season, Mutombo also helped the Philadelphia 76ers reach the NBA Finals in 2000-01. He averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks during their postseason run.
Mutombo’s 3,289 career blocks are second only to Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830). He built such a reputation around the basket that his signature finger-wagging taunt took on a life of its own.
During his NBA career and after he retired in 2009, Mutombo devoted a lot of time toward humanitarian efforts in his native Congo and around the world. The NBA’s first Global Ambassador, he helped to grow the sport abroad as well, and his legacy in that regard is evident in how many African-born players, including 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid, have made it to the Association.
The NBA first announced in 2022 that Mutombo was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.
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