Dikembe Mutombo, the towering basketball legend renowned for his shot-blocking prowess and commitment to humanitarian work, has died at the age of 58, following a two-year battle with brain cancer, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Monday.
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mutombo was one of the NBA’s most dominant defensive players, using his 7-foot-2 frame to protect the rim with unparalleled skill. A four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-Star, he finished his career with 3,289 blocked shots, placing him second all-time in NBA history. His trademark finger wag, a gesture of disapproval after swatting an opponent’s shot, became iconic during his 18 seasons in the league.
Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the DRC, joined others to “pay tribute to this worthy son of the country, a philanthropist at heart, who held high the banner of the DRC and worked for the general interest, particularly in the sectors of health and education”.
Off the court, Mutombo was a global ambassador for the NBA, traveling the world to promote the game and spearheading numerous charitable initiatives. He built hospitals, supported education, and advocated for healthcare in Africa. The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, established in 1997, has been instrumental in providing medical services to thousands in his home country, including the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa.
For former U.S. President Barack Obama, Mutombo “inspired a generation of young people across Africa, and his work as the NBA’s first global ambassador changed the way athletes think about their impact off the court”.
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Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, described himself as “one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe’s big heart…”
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