The World Mourns The Loss Of Dikembe Mutombo Gone at 58

He was a well-known NBA star who left his mark on the game. However, he was most often described as “a great human being.” He did so much to help so many. And that’s why the world mourns the loss of Dikembe Mutombo, gone too soon at the age of 58 from brain cancer. Mutombo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and eventually became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Being a man of two continents he touched the lives of many people in a positive way. He sat on several  boards such as the National Constitution Center, Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the US Fund for Unicef. Mutombo also spoke seven different languages.

In addition, he had his own Dikembe Mutombo Foundation which focused on improving health and quality of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver commented on his humanitarianism:

“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core,” said Silver. “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.”

The World Mourns The Loss Of Dikembe Mutombo Gone at 58

Speaking of his famous finger wag, it came from his amazing shot-blocking prowess. Mutombo explained:

“Any time I would block shots, people would still be coming and trying to put a little bit on me. Then I used to shake my head every time I would block the shot,” Mutombo once explained. “Then I said, man f*** this. Those guys are not listening to me. Maybe if I start giving them the finger wag. And I tell you what, I lost a lot of money because of that finger wag, man. I got so many technical fouls, but no referee would kick me out of the game.”

Mutombo played for 18 seasons in the NBA from 1991 – 2009. He was an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year. In 2015, he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. His number was retired by two of his teams, the Atlanta Hawks and the Denver Nuggets.

Our condolences to his family and friends, the world was better with Mutombo in it.

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