Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and Hall of Famer, dies of brain cancer at age 58
Hall of Famer, humanitarian and legendary shot blocker Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58, the NBA announced Monday. The cause of death was brain cancer, which he was diagnosed with in October 2022. Mutombo was surrounded by his family when he left.
Mutombo, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, became one of the best defensive players of all time during his 18-year career. He played for a total of six teams, but spent most of his time with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and Houston Rockets. (He spent one plus season with the Philadelphia 76ers and one with the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks.) He was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. He led the NBA in blocks in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and led the league in rebounds in 2000 and 2001. Both the Hawks and Nuggets retired his number, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Born Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo in 1966, he originally planned to become a doctor and intended to study medicine at Georgetown before being recruited to play basketball by legendary coach John Thompson. He earned degrees in linguistics and diplomacy in 1991, but with the Nuggets drafting him with the fourth overall pick, his future was in basketball, not international relations.
Of course, you can't talk about Mutombo without mentioning the finger shake. Mutombo would break out the famous “no, no, no” finger snap as he executed a particularly brutal block.
The finger wag became larger than life, and Mutombo was on board with it. She's done it in photos, she's done it on the red carpet, she's done it in commercials. It became part of who he was and he embraced it, just like life.
After Mutombo's retirement from the NBA in 2009, he turned to philanthropy and humanitarianism, wanting to give back to his home country and the entire African continent. He created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 (12 years before his retirement) to improve living conditions in the DRC, and has received numerous awards from the NBA and other organizations for his work in Africa to improve conditions and reduce the spread of polio.
Just a quick story. Dikembe's mother died during the war in the Congo when she could not get to the hospital in time because an ambulance was unavailable. Also, he can be arrested due to weather conditions. DeCambe's response to that tragedy? He built a hospital in his hometown.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) September 30, 2024
Mutombo's son Ryan posted a touching tribute to his father on Instagram.
Commissioner Adam Silver, who named Mutombo as the first NBA Global Ambassador, released a statement about his friend's death.
“Dikembe Mutombo was larger than life on the court, one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history. Off the floor he poured his heart and soul into helping others.
“No one was more qualified to serve as the NBA's first global ambassador than DeKambes. He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved that the game of basketball could have a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and the African continent. Throughout I've had the opportunity to travel the world with DeKamb and see how his kindness and compassion have been accessible at NBA events over the years — his infectious smile, deep, booming voice, and signature finger wag that have endeared him to every generation of basketball fans.
“DiCambe's indomitable spirit lives on in those he helped and inspired throughout his remarkable life. I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by DiCambe's big heart, and I will miss him dearly. On behalf of the entire NBA family, I am DiCambe's wife. Deepest condolences to Rose and their children and to the worldwide basketball community, whom he truly loved.
Mutombo is survived by his wife Rose, their three children and four of Rose's deceased siblings, whom they adopted in 1996.
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