The NBA is mourning the sudden passing of one of its myths: Dikembe Mutombo. The Congolese died this Monday at the age of 58 after failing to overcome a brain tumor that he had had for two years. Mutombo is considered a legend of the League American by being the second player with the most blocks in the history of the championship.
Mutombo will always be in the memory of basketball fans, in addition to his immense quality, for his unforgettable gesture in which he put his finger in his mouth and said “no, no, no” when another player attempted another basket near the goal. hoop Denver Nuggets or of the Atlanta Hawksteams in which he had his best years as a professional.
In this case, it was the NBA that announced the death of the four-time winner of the award for best defender of the season. Now, at a young age, he has died as a result of a severe brain cancer that he had suffered since 2022. Mutombo is valued as one of the most important centers in the defensive field of the League and not only for those individual awards.
He was also included in six defensive quintets, was the leader in blocks three times and twice in rebounds, in addition to belonging to the Hall of Fame since 2015. His dominance in the era of 1990 and the beginning of the 21st century will never be forgotten, even less so with his involvement in the NBA since he retired, as he went on to perform the duties of ambassador of the League, participating in projects social and relationships with Africa.
Mutombo’s brilliant career
Mutombo was chosen in the number 4 position of the draft in 1991, ending up with the Nuggets, where he would end up being key to the success of a team that surprised the North American championship. He later joined the Hawks, where he earned all the prestige he has today as a defender under the rim.
The peak of his career came in the Philadelphia 76erswhere despite not playing for much time he was key in the franchise’s last finals. A year later he repeated as a finalist in the Brooklyn Nets. And already in the last moments of his career as a player he played for the Houston Rockets, where he was a great substitute for Yao Ming.
