The NBA family mourns the loss of a giant, on and off the court.
Today the Houston Rockets joined the rest of the NBA family, and so many more in mourning the loss of Hall of Famer and NBA ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away this morning surrounded by his family. Mutombo was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in 2022.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta released the following statement via Rockets social media… “On behalf of the Rockets organization, we are deeply saddened by the passing of Dikembe Mutombo, a true legend both on and off the court. Dikembe was beloved by the entire NBA community and his tireless humanitarian efforts left an indelible mark on our league. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Rose, and their children.”
Dikembe Mutombo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1966. He played for John Thompson at the University of Georgetown, before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1991. The seven-foot, two-inch shot blocker extraordinaire played 18 seasons in the NBA, for six teams, with the Rockets being his final stop in his Hall of Fame career.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, “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 NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”
18 Times an All-Star, three times All-NBA, and four times the Defensive Player of the Year, there is no doubt that Mutombo is a legend for what he accomplished on the court. With his signature finger wave after swatting away shot after shot, he racked up 3,289 blocked shots, the second most in NBA history behind only Hakeem Olajuwon. He was a dominant force on the hardwood. But off the floor, he was GIANT
In 1997 Mutombo started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for his home country of DRC, building schools and hospitals. He also served on the boards of the CDC foundation, the Special Olympics International, and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. The ultimate humanitarian, it could be argued that his impact outside of basketball exceeded his impact in basketball, and that is no small feat.
Dikembe Mutombo is a beloved figure all over the NBA landscape and beyond. No doubt many cities and organizations join the Rockets in mourning his loss. As we reflect on what a great player he was let us not forget his spirit as a human. We may not all be capable of dominating the paint on a basketball court, but everyone of us can search deep within and find ways to try to make this world a better place than it was when we arrived. That is the true legacy of Dikembe Mutombo. May he rest in peace, and his memory live on through his family and loved ones.