Dikembe Mutombo. A defensive mountain on the court, a humanitarian icon off of it.
THE LINEUP
What’s inside today’s edition?
Remembering Mutombo: How a giant – with the heart to match – became an NBA legend
Off-The-Court Impact: Mutombo’s greatest achievements didn’t come on the hardwood
NBA Family Honors Mutombo: The tributes poured in on Monday from all corners of the basketball community
Dikembe’s Legacy In Photos: Celebrating Mutombo’s extraordinary impact on and off the court in eight frames
Media Day Monday: Which moments stood out among yesterday’s 28 Media Day sessions?
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Two pivotal Game 2s in the W tonight…
The WNBA Semifinals continue with a pair of Game 2s on ESPN2. The Liberty host the Aces (7:30 ET) looking to go up 2-0 in the 2023 Finals rematch. Then, the Lynx host the Sun (9:30 ET) looking to even the series before it shifts to Connecticut.
1. REMEMBERING DIKEMBE MUTOMBO
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On 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.” – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
On Monday, the basketball world was stunned by the news of Dikembe Mutombo’s passing at the age of 58 following a battle with brain cancer.
The 7-foot-2 center from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Georgetown University was the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Mutombo began his 18-year playing career in the Denver (1991-96) followed by stops in Atlanta (1996-2001), Philadelphia (2001-02), New Jersey (2002-03), New York (2003-04) and Houston (2004-09) before heading to Springfield in 2015 as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Mount Mutombo: A fitting nickname for one of the greatest shot blockers in the history of the game, Mutombo is one of three players (along with Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert) to be named Defensive Player of the Year four times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
- The Finger Wag: Mutombo ranks second on the all-time blocks list (3,289) with many of those rejections followed by his signature “No, No, No” finger wag celebration
- The Upset: In 1994, Denver beat Seattle to become the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs. Mutombo’s 31 blocks remains a five-game series record. After grabbing the final rebound in the decisive Game 5, he fell to the floor with the ball held over his head in a moment of joy
- On-Court Accolades: An eight-time All-Star, six-time All-Defensive Team selection, three-time All-NBA selection, three-time blocks leader and two-time rebounding leader, Mutombo’s No. 55 is retired by both the Nuggets and Hawks
- The Stats: Over 1,196 career games, Mutombo amassed 11,729 points (9.8 ppg), 12,359 rebounds (10.3 rpg) and 3,289 blocks (2.8 bpg). He is one of seven players with 10K points, 10K rebounds and 2.5K blocks, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson
Mutombo’s impressive on-court stats and accolades fail to measure the impact that Mutombo had on the game of basketball and how he propelled his success on the court into a lasting impact off the court.
2. MUTOMBO’S OFF-THE-COURT IMPACT
“People in Congo [were] able to see the brand-new hospital, the brand-new school that was built for the kids because of the game of basketball. Sport didn’t just give me a gift of talent to block shots, it allowed me to connect to the rest of the world and to go and make a difference.” – Dikembe Mutombo in 2022
Mutombo’s greatest achievements were not captured in a box score or a highlight reel.
His tireless humanitarian efforts in his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout the continent of Africa have made a lasting impact that will be felt well beyond his 58 years.
Mutombo is the only two-time winner of the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2001, 2009), which is presented annually to a player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.
- In 1996, Mutombo paid for the uniforms and expenses for his country’s women’s basketball team to participate in the Olympic Games in Atlanta
- In 1997, he started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, concentrating on improving the health, education and quality of life for the people of his country
- In 2003, Mutombo traveled with fellow NBA players to Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of the first-ever Basketball Without Borders Africa. It was the first of many annual trips with BWB to help grow the game of basketball in Africa, which has produced players such as Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam
- In 2007, he opened a $29 million hospital – named the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in honor of his late mother – in his hometown of Kinshasa
- In 2009, when his playing career came to an end, Mutombo was named the NBA’s first-ever Global Ambassador
“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “He was a humanitarian to 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.”
In addition to his work with the NBA, Mutombo served on the boards of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Constitution Center, Special Olympics International and on the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
3. THE NBA FAMILY REMEMBERS DIKEMBE
After a lifetime of charity and friendship off the court and greatness on it, tributes to Dikembe Mutombo poured in from all corners of the NBA Family on Monday, from fellow greats who suited up against him to active players who he inspired.
- “I’m so heartbroken to hear about the passing of my dear friend and basketball Hall of Famer, Dikembe Mutombo,” wrote Magic Johnson. “He was not only a great basketball player … But also an incredible man with a pure heart of gold.”
- “You paved the way for me and for many Congolese and African youth with your legendary basketball career and charitable actions,” wrote Serge Ibaka. “You are an NBA legend and an African icon and that will inspire the many coming generations.”
- “His smile, his values and his dedication to basketball, as well as to helping others, will never be forgotten,” wrote Pau Gasol
- “You gave everything you had to the game but more importantly to your people. Your legacy lives on,” wrote Carmelo Anthony
- “We lost not only one of the best basketball players ever, but one of the best human beings we have ever seen,” wrote Karl-Anthony Towns
- “A giant heart that will be missed by many. RIP Dikembe,” wrote Chris Paul
- “Rest in peace legend, your legacy lives on forever,” wrote Rudy Gobert
On Monday at Raptors Media Day, Toronto’s Vice-Chairman and Team President, Masai Ujiri – who grew up in Nigeria – fought through emotion to honor his mentor and friend with some touching words.
- “He made us who we are. That guy is a giant. An incredible person. Who are we without Dikembe Mutombo? It’s not possible. It really is not …
- “You have no idea what that guy means to the world … He did so much for us and for the continent of Africa and for his people.”
- “He’s going to be dearly missed,” added Mavs Coach and Mutombo’s former teammate Jason Kidd at Dallas’ Media Day. “When you talk about an angel – unfortunately, he was taken a little bit too soon.”
The outpouring of love for Mutombo flowed in rapidly throughout the day, as all six of his former NBA teams – the Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets – honored him with heartfelt messages on social media, as well as his alma mater, Georgetown University, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and countless other NBA players.
4. MUTOMBO’S LEGACY IN PHOTOS
As tributes keep rolling in for Mutombo today, we celebrate his extraordinary life through photos that help capture his forever-lasting impact on and off the court.
1991 NBA Draft
1993
1995
2000 Meritorious Service Award
2001 Eastern Conference Championship
2005 NBA Basketball Without Borders Africa
2009 NBA Basketball Without Borders Asia
2015 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony
5. MEDIA DAY MONDAY: SAME FACES IN NEW PLACES + AN NBA ‘FIRST’
Monday also marked Media Day for 28 teams around the league, where several big names made their first appearances with their new clubs, while a rookie and the longest-tenured active player set the stage for history.
- Father-Son Spotlight: On his 22nd career Media Day, 39-year-old LeBron James took center stage with a new teammate – his eldest son, Bronny James – to give fans a first look at the first active father-son duo in NBA history
- “It’s a lot of excitement. Just a pure joy,” said LeBron on the opportunity of playing with Bronny
- New Team, New Number: After 13 years of wearing No. 11 with the Warriors, Klay Thompson begins his first season as a Mav repping a new number in honor of one of his childhood idols, Reggie Miller
- Luka Doncic On Klay’s Impact With Dallas: “When me and [Kyrie Irving] have the ball, you basically can’t help from Klay because if you leave him wide open, he’s going to make it.”
- Big Man, Bigger Mentor: About four hours South of Dallas, 19-year veteran Chris Paul – who is ranked third on the NBA’s all-time assist list – begins a new chapter in San Antonio alongside the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. And while Paul (6’0”) has the experience, Wemby (7’4”) has the height advantage
- CP3 On Wemby’s Height: “I’m trying to be serious, but I can’t stop laughing … You’re the kid.”
- DeMore Stars In Sacramento: Staying out West, after three seasons in Chicago – including two All-Star campaigns – veteran scorer DeMar DeRozan donned the Royal Purple for the first time with his new co-stars, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox
- Pels New Flock: Plus, nearly three months after being traded, Dejounte Murray ushered in a new era in New Orleans next to Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum
- Philly’s All-Star Trio: In the East, Philly fans got a first glimpse of their team’s marquee free agent signing as Paul George joined fellow 2023-24 All-Stars and new Sixers teammates Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey
- PG On Winning A Title: “You can tell the city is thirsty for it and the city wants one”
- And don’t forget about the No. 1 pick. French rookie Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in this year’s Draft, began his NBA journey on Monday in Atlanta alongside three-time All-Star Trae Young
We’ll be back Wednesday to recap more Media Day highlights, including additional storylines, analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage.
