Dikembe Mutombo, a basketball legend and philanthropist, passed away at 58 due to a brain cancer illness. Known for a splendid career transcending courts and borders, Mutombo left a significant impact on the sport and world alike, as conveyed by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
His imposing stature of 7ft 2in aided his formidable basketball prowess, making him one of the NBA’s most recognised shot blockers and defensive players. With a career spanning 18 seasons from 1991 to 2009, he boasted eight All-Star titles and was named defensive player of the year four times.
In 2015, his exceptional contributions to basketball were honoured with induction into the Hall of Fame. Both the Atlanta Hawks and the Denver Nuggets chose to retire his number, showcasing their appreciations. Mutombo also played for the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and the former New Jersey Nets.
Mutombo’s contributions were not only in sport. His compassionate philanthropy focused on improving health, and living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo, where his Dikembe Mutombo Foundation operated. Through his roles on various boards, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation, and the National Board for the US Fund for Unicef, he utilised his multilingual skills to enrich people’s lives.
Describing Mutombo as ‘the NBA’s first Global Ambassador’, Silver praised him as a humanitarian heartthrob and spearhead of positive communal impact, particularly in Africa. Silver, having travelled extensively with Mutombo, recognised his generosity and compassion as touching countless lives, as was evident in his active presence at NBA events where his deep voice, unique finger wave, and ‘contagious’ smile endeared him to fans of all ages.
Mutombo had three children with his wife, Rose, and together they adopted four more children.