A reflection of Dikembe Mutombo's life and career

NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo has passed away at the age of 58 due to brain cancer. For decades, the 4x DPOY had been a pillar of the NBA family both on and off the court.

We take a moment to reflect on Mutombo's life and career.

Early life and career

Born in 1966 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mutombo didn’t play basketball until the age of 16 after his father and brother convinced him to do so because of his height.

He moved to America to play basketball at Georgetown University from 1988-1991. He stood at 7-foot-2 and was a two-time Big East DPOY and one-time First-Team All-Big East.

Drafted No. 4 overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1991 for his incredible shot-blocking ability, he would earn himself his first All-Star selection as a rookie, putting up an impressive 3.0 blocks per game.

Prime years

Dikembe’s signature move would be the iconic finger wag after sending a shot back into the stands. He would quickly gain the nickname “Mount Mutombo,” and solidified as one of the league’s premiere defenders.

For the vast majority of his 18-year career in the league, he was a double-double machine and was at the top of the league in blocks.

Mutombo would spend the best years of his career with the Nuggets, Hawks, and the 76ers. He earned himself multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, along with four Defensive Player of the Year Awards in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

Lasting impact on the game

Mutombo currently stands at second among the all-time blocks leaders with 3,289. He also has the highest blocks per game in a season since 1990 with 4.49 in 1995-96. He also ranks within the top 20 for all-time rebounds.

While he never achieved the title of NBA Champion during his career, his personal achievements alone would put him in the company of one of the all-time greats.

He would be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11, 2015, and his jersey would be retired the same year by both the Hawks and Nuggets.

Humanitarian work

Mutombo was the NBA’s first Global Ambassador and used this title and fame to support organizations like the Special Olympics.

He spent much time working with his own Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which helped improve the quality of life and healthcare in his home nation. He was a member of boards in the CDC, Unicef, and more.

His work for the continent of Africa will be forever recognized by both the league and national leaders.

Players from his era and today have long recognized Dikembe's impact and influence on the game of basketball.

Rest in peace to one of the greatest souls in professional sports.

Chris Vadnais is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email cmv5562@psu.edu.