Former Philadelphia 76ers center and Naismith Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo died Monday at the age of 58 from brain cancer.
Mutombo played 18 seasons in the NBA, but Sixers fans will remember him as the finger-wagging defensive spine of the last Sixers team to reach the NBA Finals, in 2001.
Dikembe Mutombo comes out to ring the bell prior to the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. 76ers won 145-123. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement through the league’s PR account.
NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away today at the age of 58 from brain cancer. He was surrounded by his family.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement. pic.twitter.com/fkFPaiMVD3
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 30, 2024
Mutombo played less than two seasons (part of 2000-01, all of ‘01-’02) with the Sixers after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks, but they were memorable ones. Alongside fellow Georgtown Hoya Allen Iverson, he helped guide the team to the NBA Finals against Shaq and Kobe’s LA Lakers in 2001, earning his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award in the process. “Mount Mutombo’s” 7-2 height and enormous wingspan made him one of the league’s greatest-ever shot blockers, with his signature finger wag and deep, booming “no, no, no, not in my house,” which later crossed over into one of insurance company Geico’s most memorable ads.
Eastern Conference All-Stars Allen Iverson (3) and Dikembe Mutombo (55), of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Michael Jordan (23), of the Washington Wizards, watch from the bench during the 2002 NBA All-Star game in Philadelphia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
Mutombo was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and off the court, he was the league’s first Global Ambassador. He used his foundation to improve conditions and opportunities in his native DRC and beyond, including building the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, working with and through Basketball Without Borders to help to form the Basketball Africa League.
Mutombo himself described his humanitarian work as his “calling” in life.
From AP’s archives: Dikembe Mutombo spoke with AP in 2017 about his true “calling.”
The Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer. He was 58. pic.twitter.com/q0pW6Dr271
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) September 30, 2024
He served on several boards and as a trustee for several organizations, including the Special Olympics, the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, and the National Constitution Center.
The Sixers offered the team’s condolences and a tribute from current star big man Joel Embiid, who highlighted Mutombo’s impact on African players in the league.
Sixers president Daryl Morey, who was an NBA newcomer with the Hawks when Mutombo was playing his second stint there, also spoke of the impact Mutombo had on him.
ESPN First Take star Stephen A. Smith, who covered Mutombo and the Sixers at the Philadelphia Inquirer, spoke of the player’s impact on and off the court.
.@stephenasmith remembers Dikembe Mutombo ❤️
“No matter what you know about him as a basketball player, he was an even better human being. … One of the most beautiful, beautiful human beings I’ve ever known.” pic.twitter.com/kkofBF3wAI
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 30, 2024
Philly-based media personality, academic and owner of Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, Marc Lamont Hill also shared a tribute online.
RIP to Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away at the age of 58 from brain cancer. In addition to being an NBA legend, Dikembe was one of the most beautiful and generous humans I’ve ever met. The great ones always leave us too soon.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) September 30, 2024
A social media account for the Georgetown Club of Philadelphia gave this reaction to the news of Mutombo’s passing.
“Dikembe’s message is still clear: stand up for your community, champion the less fortunate, and always strive to leave the world a better place than you found it. It’s about unity, love, and the collective effort to lift each other up.” https://t.co/q5OTe53nrE pic.twitter.com/wi9CZvH7qH
— Philadelphia 🔔 Hoyas (@PhillyHoyas) September 30, 2024
Mutombo’s son, Ryan, shared a post on his Instagram account honoring his father.
During his 18-season career, Mutombo was an eight-time All-Star and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1992. Beyond the Sixers, he also played for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets.