Known and admired around the globe as one of sports’ “good guys”, NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo died Monday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 58 years old, and he leaves behind a legacy that — not unlike his physical stature — is larger than life itself.
Mutombo‘s influence and impact worldwide could be seen in the breadth of reactions that emerged after his death. Analysts, executives, and athletes away from the NBA all saluted Mutombo for his inimitable impact on basketball — as well as his enormous humanitarian contribution, creating a footprint that will not soon be matched.
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Among the tributes that poured in Monday were from ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, who said Mutombo was an even better human being than he was a basketball player — and he was quite a good basketball player. Mutombo was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and he led the NBA in blocks five times while pacing all players in rebounds four times.
Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III offered his prayers to the Mutombo family and remarked on the Congolese center’s iconic “finger wag” celebration, usually made whenever Mutombo blocked a shot. That happened a lot — the 7’2” Mutombo’s 3,289 blocks are the second-highest total in NBA history.
Philadelphia 76ers general manager Daryl Morey had a personal relationship with Mutombo, who played in Philadelphia for only one-and-a-half seasons but quickly became a fan favorite as he helped the 76ers reach the 2001 NBA Finals. Mutombo played for six teams over his 18-year career, averaging nearly a double-double (9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds) across 1,196 regular-season games.
Mutombo entered the Baskeball Hall of Fame in 2015, but his basketball career was merely one facet to his legacy. Mutombo was celebrated for his humanitarian work and philanthropic efforts. His Dikembe Mutombo Foundation helped fund a $29 million hospital near the Congolese capital of Kinshasa; it opened in 2007. He was a two-time winner of the NBA‘s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, and his foundation has also built schools while helping in the fight against diseases like polio that remain rampant around Africa.
