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NBA legend and Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58, following a battle with brain cancer, the league announced Monday. <\/p>\n
\u201cDikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. \u201cOn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silver called Mutombo \u201ca humanitarian at his core,\u201d saying he \u201cloved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people,\u201d Silver\u2019s statement went on. \u201cHe was always accessible at NBA events over the years \u2013 with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation. Dikembe\u2019s indomitable spirit continues on in those who he helped and inspired throughout his extraordinary life. I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe\u2019s big heart and I will miss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mutombo leaves behind a wife, Rose, and seven children, four of whom the couple adopted.<\/p>\n
NBA legend and Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 (AFP via Getty Images)Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center out of Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to believe,\u201d Toronto President Masai Ujiri said Monday, pausing several times because he was overcome with emotion shortly after hearing the news of Mutombo\u2019s death. \u201cIt\u2019s hard for us to be without that guy. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. … That guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo.<\/p>\n
Mutombo served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA\u2019s first Global Ambassador,\u201d Silver said. \u201cHe was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mutombo is one of three players to win the NBA\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year four times. The others: reigning DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey \u2014 who was with Mutombo for many seasons in Houston \u2014 was informed of his friend\u2019s death during the team\u2019s media day on Monday. Tears welled in Morey\u2019s eyes as he processed the news.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere aren\u2019t many guys like him,\u201d Morey said. \u201cJust a great human being. When I was a rookie GM in this league, my first chance in Houston, he was someone I went to all the time. … His accomplishments on the court, we don\u2019t need to talk about too much. Just an amazing human being, what he did off the court for Africa. Rest in peace, Dikembe.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the US NBA legend and Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58, following a battle with brain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n