Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA Hall of Fame center known for his staunch defense, outsize, joyful personality, and extensive humanitarian work, has died of brain cancer at age 58. Mutombo’s family revealed that he was undergoing treatment for a tumor in his brain two years ago, and the NBA officially announced his passing today, September 30. “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said as part of an official 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’s NBA career stretched over 18 seasons from 1991-2009 and saw him take the court with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets (well before the organization moved to Brooklyn), New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He was the fourth overall pick out of Georgetown University in 1991, and, throughout his career, he was named the NBA’s top defensive player four times, made an All-NBA team three times and took part in the NBA All-Star Game eight times. At the time of writing, Mutumbo ranks 20th all-time in total rebounds and second in blocked shots behind only Hakeem Olajuwon, with career averages of 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, plus a career field goal percentage over 50%.
Besides his impressive stats, the Congo-born center was known for his joy and flair on and off the court. His “finger wag” after blocking a shot is one of the league’s most famous celebrations, he’s the holder of one of the longest names in NBA history — his full name is Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo — while other notoriety came from a playful sense of humor that often involved showcasing how his height could make performing normal tasks challenging and the warrior-inspired style of his signature footwear line with adidas.
During and after his playing career, Mutombo was heavily involved in charitable work, securing the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009. In 1997, he started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to help improve living conditions in his native Congo, with the foundation helping open the Biamba Marie Mutumbo Hospital and Research Center in the area to combat polio and provide other health services. In 2021, he also founded an epynomous coffee company to foster African woman coffee growers’ participation in international commerce. Mutumbo also worked extensively to expand basketball’s reach in Africa, from participating in the Basketball Without Borders initiative to helping develop the Basketball Africa League.
“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans — and really the whole world — because, other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court,” said Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon. “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 … He did a lot of great things for a lot of people, so he was a role model of mine.”
Dikembe Mutombo is survived by his wife Rose, his son Ryan — who, like his father, played at Georgetown University — and two other biological children, plus four adopted children.
