By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo has passed away. He was 58.
An official cause of death has not been determined yet. However, according to reports, Mutombo passed away from brain cancer.
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “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.
“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He 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. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people. He was always accessible at NBA events over the years — with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation.”
Mutombo was previously diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2022.
He was the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. And he played in the league for 18 years.
Mutombo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. In his career, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and the New Jersey Nets.
The New Jersey Nets are now the Brooklyn Nets.
Mutombo last played in the Association during the 2008-09 season as a 42-year-old center with the Rockets. He appeared in nine games with two starts.
Outside of being a professional athlete, he did so much in his native Congo. He also launched the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation.
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