🏀A Basketball Humanitarian to His Core: Dikembe Mutombo

A man who was more than just a basketball legend, Mutombo helped grow the game into an international product. Mutombo passed away yesterday at the age of 58.

To start, we’ll talk about his basketball career, but what Mutombo did off of the court shows you way more about who he was than just stats and accolades ever could. Mutombo played 18 NBA seasons after a successful college career at Georgetown University.

He was a member of the Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks, and Rockets, before retiring after the 2008-2009 season. He ranks second all-time in career blocks, and 20th all-time in career rebounds. He is most known for his signature finger wag that would come after all of his blocks. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mutombo was named the NBA’s first Global Ambassador and was truly a humanitarian at heart, hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He worked tirelessly to grow the game, particularly in Africa, and was a key partner in the development of the Basketball Africa League.

He spoke nine languages and served on the boards of a variety of nonprofits, including the Special Olympics, the CDC Foundation, and the US Fund for UNICEF. He was not just a basketball player, he was a giver, a lover, and someone who simply cared about others.

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