Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Léopoldville (now known as Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of the Congo{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dikembe-Mutombo|title=Dikembe Mutombo |date=August 17, 2023|website=www.britannica.com}}[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01.html Dikembe Mutombo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905001653/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01.html |date=September 5, 2012 }}. basketball-reference.com to Samuel and Biamba Marie Mutombo. Dikembe had 9 siblings.{{Cite book|title=Home of the brave : an American history book for kids : 15 immigrants who shaped U.S. history|last=Khan|first=Brooke|others=López de Munáin, Iratxe, 1985–|date=November 5, 2019|isbn=978-1-64152-780-4 |location=Emeryville, Calif. |publisher=Rockridge Press |oclc=1128884800}}{{cite news|last=Robbins|first=Lix|title=After a Death, Mutombo Seeks Solace in His Game|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/19/sports/pro-basketball-after-a-death-mutombo-seeks-solace-in-his-game.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=April 19, 2003}}{{cite news|last=Whitley|first=Heather|title=Big hands and a big heart save tiny lives in The Congo|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/10/world/africa/iyw-dikembe-mutombo/|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=February 16, 2014}} His father worked as a school principal and then in Congo's department of education.{{cite encyclopedia |last=Augustyn |first=Adam |title=Dikembe Mutombo |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dikembe-Mutombo |encyclopedia=Britannica |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=June 21, 2021}} Dikembe spoke French, Spanish, Portuguese and five Central African languages including Lingala and Tshiluba.{{cite news|last=Maske|first=Mark|title=Dikembe Mutombo Is a Big Man With Some Big Potential|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-22-sp-436-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 1991}}{{cite magazine|last=Telander|first=Rick|title=World Class|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1994/11/07/132489/world-class-dikembe-mutombo-the-cerebral-nugget-center-makes-a-big-impression-in-the-paint-and-in-faraway-lands|access-date=December 15, 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 7, 1994}} He was a member of the Luba ethnic group.{{cite news|last=Robbins|first=Liz|title=Mutombo Works to Build Legacy Off Court|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/25/sports/pro-basketball-mutombo-works-to-build-legacy-off-court.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=December 25, 2002}}

For high school, Dikembe Mutombo went to Boboto College in Kinshasa to lay the groundwork for his medical career as the classes were more challenging there. He played football and participated in martial arts. At about 16, Mutombo decided to concentrate on his basketball career at the encouragement of his father and brother due to his height.{{cite web|author=Mark Maske|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-22-sp-436-story.html|title=Dikembe Mutombo Is a Big Man With Some Big Potential|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 1991|access-date=May 28, 2020}} He moved to the United States in 1987 at the age of 21 to enroll in college.{{cite news|last=Stein|first=Marc|title=Mutombo says enough to questioning his age|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2735070|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=January 19, 2007}}

Mutombo attended Georgetown University on a USAID scholarship. He originally intended to become a doctor, but the Georgetown Hoyas basketball coach John Thompson recruited him to play basketball.{{cite news|last=Tam|first=Eva|title=Dikembe Mutombo on Life After the NBA|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/11/07/dikembe-mutombo-on-his-life-after-the-nba/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=November 7, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Vivlamore|first=Chris|title=Mutombo's humanitarian efforts greater through basketball|url=http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/mutombos-humanitarian-efforts-greater-through-bask/nncXL/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=September 10, 2015}} He spoke almost no English when he arrived at Georgetown and studied in the ESL program.{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Malcolm|title=Strong Hoya Defense Defeats Connecticut|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/01/sports/strong-hoya-defense-defeats-connecticut.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 1, 1990}}{{cite news|last=Heath|first=Thomas|title=Beyond hoop dreams|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/04/06/beyond-hoop-dreams/d8fe2dd0-f263-43fb-a5cd-0d1fb5421877/|access-date=March 3, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 6, 1995}}

During his first year of college basketball as a sophomore, Mutombo once blocked 12 shots in a game.{{cite news|last=Powell|first=Shuan|title=Mutombo: Protector of the paint and his homeland|url=http://archive.nba.com/2015/news/features/shaun_powell/09/04/dikembe-mutumbo-2015-hall-of-fame/index.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|date=September 10, 2015}} Building on the shot-blocking power of Mutombo and teammate Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown fans created a "Rejection Row" section under the basket, adding a big silhouette of an outstretched hand to a banner for each shot blocked during the game.{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Ken|title=Georgetown Has an Impenetrable Wall With Mourning, Mutombo|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-12-sp-2954-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Hartford Courant|via=Los Angeles Times|date=February 12, 1989}}{{cite magazine|last=Wolff|first=Alexander|author-link1=Alexander Wolff|title=Two centers of attention|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1989/03/20/119563/two-centers-of-attention-big-east-champ-georgetown-is-doubly-blessed-in-the-pivot|access-date=March 3, 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 20, 1989}} Mutombo was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 1990 (shared with Mourning) and in 1991.{{Cite web|title=Men's Basketball Records – All-Big East Teams|url=http://www.bigeast.org/reference/records/mbball/awards.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021117121820/http://www.bigeast.org/reference/records/mbball/awards.asp|website=bigeast.org|archive-date=November 17, 2002|access-date=May 29, 2020}}

At Georgetown, Mutombo's international background and interests stood out. Like many other Washington-area college students, he served as a summer intern, once for Robert Matsui, a member of the Congress of the United States from California, and once at the World Bank.{{cite news|last=Love|first=Lawrence|title=Man Cannot Fly in the House of Mutombo|url=https://www.gq.com/story/man-cannot-fly-in-the-house-of-mutombo-the-qa|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=GQ|date=November 20, 2009}} In 1991, he graduated with bachelor's degrees in linguistics and diplomacy.{{cite news|title=Basketball Star Dikembe Mutombo on Sports, Leadership|url=https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/basketball-star-dikembe-mutombo-on-sports-leadership/|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=United States Department of State}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesleader.com/sports/1581358/dikembe-mutombo-has-always-made-things-better-on-and-off-the-court|title=Dikembe Mutombo has always made things better ... on and off the court|last=Jolley|first=David|date=October 22, 2022|website=Times Leader}}

In the 1991 NBA draft, the Denver Nuggets selected Mutombo with the fourth overall pick.{{cite news|last=Goldaper|first=Sam|title=The Final Word on Draft: Trades|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/28/sports/basketball-the-final-word-on-draft-trades.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 1991}} The Nuggets ranked last in the NBA in opponent points-per-game and Defensive Rating,{{cite news|title=1990–91 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1991.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=Basketball Reference}} and Mutombo's shot-blocking ability made an immediate impression across the league. He developed his signature move, in which he would celebrate every blocked shot by pointing his right index finger at the opposing player and moving it side to side,{{cite news|last=Sheridan|first=Chris|title=Mutombo's legacy to last beyond hoops|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=Mutombo-090422|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=April 30, 2009}} in 1992 as a way to become more marketable and gain product-endorsement contracts.{{cite news|last=Blau|first=Max|title=How Dikembe Mutombo's Finger Changed The NBA|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxblau/how-dikembe-mutombos-finger-changed-the-nba#.yl9eQZZO1|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=BuzzFeed|date=June 4, 2014}} That year, Mutombo starred in an Adidas advertisement that used the catchphrase "Man does not fly ... in the house of Mutombo", a reference to his prolific shot-blocking.

As a rookie, Mutombo was selected for the All-Star team and averaged 16.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and nearly three blocks per game.{{cite news|first=Julian|last=Rubinstein|title=MUTOMBO: BIG STAR OVER THE ROCKIES|date=December 20, 1992|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/12/21/mutombo-big-star-over-the-rockies/a3724f62-c49f-442e-b38a-0eb2de0cde27/|access-date=October 1, 2024}} Mutombo quickly began to establish himself as one of the league's best defensive players, regularly putting up big rebound and block numbers.

The 1993–94 season saw Denver continue to improve with Mutombo as the franchise cornerstone. During that season, Mutombo averaged 12.0 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game and 4.1 blocks per game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01/gamelog/1994/|title=Dikembe Mutombo 1993–94 Game Log|website=Basketball-Reference.com}} With that, he helped the Nuggets finish with a 42–40 record and qualify as the eighth seed in the playoffs. They were matched up with the top-seeded 63–19 Seattle SuperSonics in the first round.

After falling to an 0–2 deficit in the five-game series, Denver won three straight games to pull off a major playoff upset, becoming the first eighth seed to defeat a number one seed in an NBA playoff series.{{cite news|title=Eighth-Seeded Nuggets Upset Sonics|url=http://www.nba.com/history/94nuggets_moments.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629151051/http://www.nba.com/history/94nuggets_moments.html|archive-date=June 29, 2007|url-status=dead}} At the end of Game 5, Mutombo memorably grabbed the game-winning rebound and fell to the ground, holding the ball over his head in a moment of joy.{{cite news|last=Schaller|first=Jake|title=Mutombo memories|url=http://gazette.com/mutombo-memories/article/52304|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Gazette|date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307080606/http://gazette.com/mutombo-memories/article/52304|url-status=dead}} Mutombo's defensive presence was the key to the upset victory; his total of 31 blocks remains a record for a five-game series.{{cite news|title=Denver Nuggets A to Z: Dikembe Mutombo|url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-z-dikembe-mutombo|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|date=August 13, 2014}} In the second round of the playoffs, the Nuggets fell to the Utah Jazz, 4–3.

The next season, Mutombo was selected for his second All-Star game and received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Denver failed to build on its success from the previous playoffs, as Mutombo lacked a quality supporting cast around him.

During his last season with the Nuggets, Mutombo averaged 11.0 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game and a career-high 4.5 blocks per game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01/gamelog/1996/|title=Dikembe Mutombo 1995–96 Game Log|website=Basketball-Reference.com}} At the conclusion of the 1995–96 season, Mutombo became a free agent, and reportedly sought a ten-year contract, something the Nuggets considered impossible to offer. Bernie Bickerstaff, then the Nuggets' general manager, later said not bringing back Mutombo was his biggest regret as GM.{{cite news|last=Dempsey|first=Christopher|title=Bickerstaff: 'Only regret' as Nuggets GM was not re-signing Mutombo|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2015/09/11/bickerstaff-only-regret-as-nuggets-gm-was-not-re-signing-mutombo/13292/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Denver Post|date=September 11, 2015}}

After the 1995–96 NBA season, Mutombo signed a five-year, $55 million free agent contract with the Atlanta Hawks.{{cite news|title=Hawks Get Big With Mutombo|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-16-sp-24645-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 16, 1996}}{{cite news|title=Shot-blocking Star Mutombo Goes To Hawks|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/07/16/shot-blocking-star-mutombo-goes-to-hawks/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=July 16, 1996}} He and Hawks All-Star Steve Smith led Atlanta to back-to-back 50+-win seasons in 1996–97 (56–26) and 1997–98 (50–32). Mutombo won Defensive Player of the Year both years, continuing to put up excellent defensive numbers with the Hawks.

In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Hawks defeated the Detroit Pistons in five games. In Game 1 of that series, Mutombo led all scorers and rebounders, with 26 points and 15 rebounds respectively, in a 89–75 win over the Pistons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704250ATL.html|title=Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, April 25, 1997|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}} In the next round, despite Mutombo averaging a double-double and 2.6 blocks per game, the Hawks lost in five games to the defending champion Chicago Bulls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1997-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-hawks-vs-bulls.html|title=1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals – Hawks vs. Bulls|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}

The following season, on April 9, 1998, Mutombo scored 20 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in a 105–102 loss to the Indiana Pacers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199804090ATL.html|title=Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, April 9, 1998|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}} That season ended in disappointment for Mutombo and the Hawks, as despite finishing with a similar record to the previous season, Mutombo averaged only 8.0 points and 12.8 rebounds a game while the Hawks lost to their division rival Charlotte Hornets three games to one in the first round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-hawks-vs-hornets.html|title=1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round – Hawks vs. Hornets|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}

During the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, he was the NBA's IBM Award winner, a player of the year award determined by a computerized formula. That year, the NBA banned the Mutombo finger wag, and after a period of protest, he complied with the new rule.{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=Damien |date=November 17, 2006 |title=Mount Mutombo |publisher=NBA |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Mutombo_is_still_wagging_his_f-196022-34.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 2, 2016 |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210064146/http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Mutombo_is_still_wagging_his_f-196022-34.html }}

In his last full season with the Hawks during the 1999–00 season, Mutombo averaged 11.5 points per game, a career and league-high 14.1 rebounds per game and 3.3 blocks per game. On December 14, 1999, Mutombo scored 27 points, on 11-for-11 shooting from the field, grabbed a season-high 29 rebounds and recorded a game-high six blocks to pull out the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.{{cite news |date=December 14, 1999 |title=NBA Report/Mutombo a One-Man Show: 27 Points and 29 Rebounds |publisher=Newsday |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/nba-report-mutombo-a-one-man-show-27-points-and-29-rebounds-1.264061 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024015710/https://www.newsday.com/sports/nba-report-mutombo-a-one-man-show-27-points-and-29-rebounds-1.264061 }}

At the February 2001 trade deadline, the Hawks traded Mutombo to the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers, along with Roshown McLeod, in exchange for Toni Kukoč, future teammates Pepe Sánchez and Nazr Mohammed, and injured center Theo Ratliff.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Stephen A.|author-link=Stephen A. Smith|title=Sixers Land Mutombo, But Not Without Cost|url=http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-23/news/25317207_1_kukoc-and-center-sixers-coach-larry-brown-three-time-defensive-player|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120225420/http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-23/news/25317207_1_kukoc-and-center-sixers-coach-larry-brown-three-time-defensive-player|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=February 23, 2001}} One week earlier, Mutombo played in the All-Star game; he led the game with 22 rebounds and three blocks. Along with game MVP Allen Iverson and coach Larry Brown, both of the 76ers, the East rallied from a 95–74 fourth-quarter deficit to win 111–110 on Mutombo and Iverson's strong performances.{{cite news|title=2001 All-Star Game recap|url=http://www.nba.com/history/allstar/2001-all-star-game-recap/index.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|date=February 27, 2013}}

After the game, rumors began of a trade sending Mutombo to Philadelphia.{{cite news|last=Saladino|first=Tom|title=Mutombo mentioned in trade talks|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nba/hawks/2001-02-21-mutombo.htm|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=February 21, 2001}} With Ratliff out for the remainder of the year, the Sixers needed a big man to compete with potential matchups against Western Conference powers Vlade Divac, Tim Duncan, David Robinson or Shaquille O'Neal, should they reach the NBA Finals.{{cite news|title=Mutombo traded to Sixers in six-player deal|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/0222/1101977.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=February 23, 2001}}

Mutombo earned his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award that season. During the 2001 playoffs, they defeated the Indiana Pacers in four games, the Toronto Raptors in seven games and the Milwaukee Bucks in a seven-game series. During Game 7 against the Bucks, Mutombo scored 23 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked seven shots to win the series.{{cite news|title=Dikembe Mutombo in 2001: Who Want To Go To L.A. With Me?|url=http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com/sports/basketball/dikembe-mutombo-sixers-lakers-2001/|access-date=August 17, 2018|agency=The Sports Fan Journal|date=April 24, 2015}} Mutombo helped the Sixers reach the NBA Finals. After pulling off an upset and winning Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers (the only playoff game the Lakers lost in 2001), the Sixers lost the next four games and the series. Matched up against Shaquille O'Neal, Mutombo averaged 16.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. A free agent, he re-signed with the Sixers after the season to a four-year, $68 million contract.{{cite news|title=76ers trade C Mutombo to Nets|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/08/06/76ers-trade-C-Mutombo-to-Nets/65011028674060/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=United Press International|date=August 6, 2002}}

The 2001–02 season marked the final time in Mutombo's career that he averaged double-digit points or rebounds, as he started 80 games for Philadelphia, although they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

On August 7, 2002, the 76ers traded Mutombo to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch.{{cite news|last=Wise|first=Mike|title=Nets Get Mutombo From 76ers For Van Horn and MacCulloch|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/07/sports/pro-basketball-nets-get-mutombo-from-76ers-for-van-horn-and-macculloch.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=August 7, 2002}} The Nets were coming off a sweep in the Finals where they were overmatched by Shaq, and brought in Mutombo as the missing piece to a championship,{{cite news | title = Nets' Mutombo Sidelined | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 4, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-04-sp-nbanotes4-story.html | access-date = November 27, 2022}} similar to what the Sixers did two seasons prior.

Mutombo spent most of the season with a nagging wrist injury that limited him to 24 games.{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = BASKETBALL; Mutombo Injury Leaves Nets Unsettled | work = The New York Times | date = December 5, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/05/sports/basketball-mutombo-injury-leaves-nets-unsettled.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}} He was generally unable to play in the playoffs, typically serving as a sixth man during the Nets' second consecutive Finals run, in which they lost to the Spurs in six games.{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Scott and Mutombo Try to Clear the Air | work = The New York Times | date = December 14, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/14/sports/pro-basketball-scott-and-mutombo-try-to-clear-the-air.html | access-date = October 27, 2022}} After one contentious season in New Jersey, the Nets bought out the remaining two years on his contract.{{cite news|last1=Popper|first1=Steve|last2=Robbins|first2=Liz|title=Nets Will Buy Out Mutombo's Contract|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/sports/pro-basketball-nets-will-buy-out-mutombo-s-contract.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=October 5, 2003}}

In October 2003, he signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks.{{cite news|title=Knicks Make Mutombo Their Center|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-10-sp-nbarep10-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=October 10, 2003}} After a dominant performance against the crosstown rival New Jersey Nets that included 10 blocks, Knicks fans began waving their fingers, as Mutombo once did. He chose to respond in kind after a referee told him that as long as the gesture was not directed at a particular player, the league would not punish him. In August 2004, the Knicks traded him to the Chicago Bulls, along with Cezary Trybański, Othella Harrington and Frank Williams in exchange for Jerome Williams and Jamal Crawford.{{cite news|title=Guard comes to NY in six-player swap|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1853011|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=August 6, 2004}}

Prior to the 2004–05 season, the Bulls traded Mutombo to the Houston Rockets for Mike Wilks, Eric Piatkowski and Adrian Griffin.{{cite news|last=Blinebury|first=Fran|title=Bulls' Mutombo: Trade to Rockets a done deal|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/09/07/bulls-mutombo-trade-to-rockets-a-done-deal/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Houston Chronicle|via=Chicago Tribune|date=September 7, 2004}} Yao Ming and Mutombo formed one of the NBA's most productive center combos. In his first season with the Rockets, Mutombo averaged 15.2 minutes per game, 4.0 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game. The Rockets lost in the first round that year to the Dallas Mavericks.

File:Mutombo Dikembe2.jpg

On January 10, 2007, in a 102–77 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mutombo recorded five blocked shots and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in total career blocked shots, trailing only Hakeem Olajuwon.{{cite news|title=Howard scores 23, Mutombo has five blocks in Rockets' win|url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap/_/gameId/270110010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201064949/https://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap/_/gameId/270110010|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 1, 2023|date=January 11, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2023|publisher=ESPN}}

On March 2, 2007, in a win over the Denver Nuggets at age 40, Mutombo became the oldest player in NBA history to record more than 20 rebounds in a game, with 22.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2786439|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 11, 2009|title=Elias Says ...|date=March 3, 2007}} In the 2007–08 season, Mutombo received extensive playing time when Yao went down with a broken bone and averaged double digits in rebounding as a starter. In midst of a 10-game winning streak at the time of Yao's injury, Mutombo stepped in and helped the Rockets win 12 more games to complete a 22-game winning streak, then a team record.{{cite news|last=Broussard|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Broussard|title=Tracy McGrady peeled to Heat's run|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/9067233|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=March 18, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-rockets-22-game-win-streak-2008|title=Top Moments: Unsung Rockets set NBA ablaze with 22-game win streak|access-date=September 12, 2023|publisher=NBA|date=September 15, 2021}}

After contemplating retirement and spending the first part of 2008 as an unsigned free agent, on December 31, 2008, Mutombo signed with the Houston Rockets for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He said that 2009 would be his "farewell tour" and his final season; he was the oldest player in the NBA in 2009.{{cite news|title=Knee injury may end Mutombo's career|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4087774|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 22, 2009}} In Game 1 of Houston's first-round playoff series against Portland, Mutombo played for 18 minutes and had nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290418022|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 11, 2009|title=Rocker 108, Blazers 81 Box Score}}

In the second quarter of Game Two, Mutombo landed awkwardly and had to be carried from the floor. After the game, he said that surgery was needed and that his NBA career was over. It was later confirmed that the quadriceps tendon of his left knee had been ruptured.{{cite news|title=Mutombo bids farewell after 18 seasons|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4094790|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306223734/http://espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4094790|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}} Mutombo announced his retirement on April 23, 2009, after 18 seasons in the NBA.{{cite web|title=Mutombo suffers career-ending knee injury in Portland|date=April 22, 2009|first=Brian|last=McTaggart|publisher=The Houston Chronicle|access-date=October 11, 2009|url=https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6385553.html}}

File:Dikembe Mutombo (2006-12-10).jpg

The {{convert|7|ft|2|in|m|adj=on}}, {{convert|260|lb|adj=on}} Mutombo played center, where he was regarded as one of the top inside defenders of all time. Nicknamed "Mt. Mutombo", his combination of height, power and long arms led to a record-tying four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, a feat equaled only by Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert. Mutombo was among the top three players in Defensive Player of the Year voting for nine consecutive seasons from 1994 to 2002. Staples of Mutombo's defensive prowess were his outstanding shot-blocking and rebounding power. Over his career, he averaged 2.8 blocks and 10.3 rebounds per game. Mutombo blocked 3,289 shots; at the time of his death on September 30, 2024, he was second all-time in blocked shots behind Hakeem Olajuwon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks|title=NBA All-Time Blocks Leaders |website=ESPN.com}} Mutombo is the 20th-most-prolific rebounder ever.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/TRB_career.html|title=Career Leaders and Records for Total Rebounds|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=October 11, 2009|archive-date=July 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704044151/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/trb_career.html|url-status=dead}} He was also an eight-time All-Star and was elected into three All-NBA and six All-Defensive Teams. Along with his defensive prowess, Mutombo also contributed offensively, averaging at least 10 points per game until he reached age 35.

Mutombo also achieved a certain level of on-court notoriety. After a successful block, he was known for taunting his opponents by waving his index finger, like a parent reproaching a disobedient child. Later in his career, NBA officials responded to the gesture with a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. To avoid the technical foul, Mutombo took to waving his finger at the crowd or the TV cameras after a block, which is not considered taunting by the rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4265305|title=NBA signs off on Mutombo's finger wave|first=Jonathan|last=Feigen|date=January 13, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2009|work=Houston Chronicle}} Additionally, he was known for injuring several NBA players including Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Yao Ming, LeBron James and Tracy McGrady due to his practice of flailing his elbows. His former teammate Yao Ming made a joke about it: "I need to talk to Coach to have Dikembe held out of practice, because if he hits somebody in practice, it's our teammate. At least in the games, it's 50/50."{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/McGrady-s-OK-to-play-Tuesday-vs-Warriors-1519488.php|title=McGrady's OK to play Tuesday vs. Warriors|work=Houston Chronicle|date=December 5, 2006 }}

The Atlanta Hawks retired Mutombo's number 55 jersey on November 24, 2015,{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/14218578|title=Mutombo's No. 55 jersey retired by Atlanta|date=November 25, 2015|website=ESPN.com}} and the Denver Nuggets did the same on October 29, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/17922873|title=Nuggets retire Dikembe Mutombo's No. 55 jersey|date=October 30, 2016|website=ESPN.com}} On September 11, 2015, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Mutombo, Haywood, White among 2015 inductees |date=April 6, 2015 |publisher=NBA |url=http://www.nba.com/2015/news/04/06/naismith-hall-of-fame-release |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410040214/http://www.nba.com/2015/news/04/06/naismith-hall-of-fame-release |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |url-status=dead}} He received the Sager Strong Award on June 25, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/mutombo-wins-sager-strong-award|title=Mutombo wins Sager Strong Award|website=NBA.com|date=June 25, 2018}}

File:Dikembe Mutombo.jpg

In 1987, Mutombo's {{convert|6|ft|10|in|adj=on}} older brother, Ilo, began playing college basketball in Division II for the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles as a 26-year-old freshman. The brothers played against each other in a 1990 college basketball game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.{{cite magazine| last=Taylor |first=Phil |title= College Basketball| url=https://www.si.com/vault/1990/12/03/106782178/college-basketball#| access-date=December 15, 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date= December 3, 1990}}

Mutombo met his wife, Rose, during a visit to Kinshasa in 1995. They lived in Atlanta and had three children.{{cite news |title=NBA legend: 'We need to go save our mothers, sisters, grandmas' |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/dikembe-mutombo-proves-changing-world-isn-t-crazy-after-all-n697661 |access-date=August 19, 2021 |work=NBC News}} They also adopted four children of Rose's deceased brothers.{{cite news |last= Smith| first=Sam|title=House Of Mutombo Full Of Kids—and Love |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/03/17/house-of-mutombo-full-of-kids-and-love/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=March 17, 1996}}{{cite news |last=Nance |first=Roscoe |work=USA Today |date=August 16, 2006|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-08-14-mutombo-cover_x.htm|title=Mutombo helps Congo take a big step forward with new hospital|access-date=October 11, 2009}} Dikembe and Rose's son, Ryan Mutombo, was ranked as the 16th-best high school center in the United States. In 2021, he committed to attend his father's alma mater Georgetown University in D.C. and play for its basketball team,{{cite news |last=Krohn |first=Adam |title=Dikembe Mutombo's legacy continues through son |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/high-school-sports-blog/mutombos-legacy-continues-through-son/3NFPS7SOMFEKXOTXTDH2JJIBP4/ |access-date=August 19, 2021 |work=ajc}} which he did for two seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4683739|title=Ryan Mutombo Career Stats – NCAAM |website=ESPN.com}}

Two of Mutombo's nephews, Harouna Mutombo and Mfiondu Kabengele, have played professional basketball. Harouna Mutombo was the leading scorer at Western Carolina University for the Catamounts in 2009. He was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year;{{cite web|title=Player Bio: Harouna Mutombo|access-date=October 11, 2009|url=http://www.catamountsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/mutombo_harouna00.html|publisher=catamountsports.com|archive-date= July 8, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110708123737/http://www.catamountsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/mutombo_harouna00.html|url-status=dead}} he later played professional basketball in Serbia. Mfiondu Kabengele played college basketball at Florida State University and was the 2018–19 ACC Sixth Man of the Year.{{Cite web| url= https://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/|title=Mfiondu Kabengele| date=July 19, 2017|website= Seminoles.com |access-date=February 21, 2019| archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190530093821/https://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/|url-status=dead}} He was selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft and signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27157156|title=Clippers sign draft picks Kabengele, Mann|date=July 10, 2019|website=ESPN.com}} He played in the NBA for the Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics.{{Cite web| url= https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065660|title=Mfiondu Kabengele| website= ESPN.com}} Another of Mutombo's nephews, Haboubacar Mutombo, also played basketball for Western Carolina.{{cite news |last=Kelly| first= Brad|title=Pickering's Haboubacar Mutombo commits to Western Carolina| url= http://www.durhamregion.com/sports-story/3513924-pickering-s-haboubacar-mutombo-commits-to-western-carolina/|access-date=December 26, 2016 |work= durhamregion.com|date=May 23, 2013}}{{Cite web| url= https://catamountsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/haboubacar-mutombo/2972 |title=Haboubacar Mutombo – 2017–18 – Men's Basketball| work= catamountsports.com| publisher= Western Carolina University}}

In July 2001, at the federal trial of an Atlanta club owner charged with facilitating prostitution, a former stripper testified that she and two others once performed oral sex on Mutombo at The Gold Club, a strip club.{{Cite web| url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nba-star-got-sexual-favors/|title=NBA Star Got Sexual Favors|date=July 23, 2001 |website= cbsnews.com}}{{Cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/24/us/in-testimony-patrick-ewing-tells-of-favors-at-strip-club.html|title=In Testimony, Patrick Ewing Tells of Favors at Strip Club| work= The New York Times| last=Firestone |first= David |date=July 24, 2001}}{{Cite web| url= https://www.mcall.com/2001/08/05/mutombo-may-not-be-a-saint-but-his-good-works-are-many/ |title= Mutombo may not be a saint, but his good works are many| website=Mcall.com| date=August 5, 2001| accessdate=}}

Mutombo became a naturalized American citizen in 2006.{{Cite web |url= https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1290180-international-basketball-which-international-players-will-end-up-in-the-hall|title=International Basketball: Which of These Players Will End Up in the Hall?|first=Charles|last=Bennett|website=Bleacher Report}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepostgame.com/dikembe-mutombo-condemns-charlottesville-protest|title=Mutombo Condemns 'Evil Spirit' Of White Supremacists At Charlottesville Rally |date=December 31, 1969| website= ThePostGame.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2817160&page=1|title=All the President's Guests|website=abcnews.go.com | publisher= ABC News| last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed|last2=Travers| first2=Karen|date= January 23, 2007}}{{cite web|title=Dikembe Mutombo, a Towering N.B.A. Presence, Dies at 58 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/sports/dikembe-mutombo-dead.html |date= September 30, 2024|work=The New York Times| last=Araton| first=Harvey |access-date=September 30, 2024}}

Mutombo witnessed the 2016 Brussels bombings at Brussels Airport on March 22, 2016. Shortly after the bombings, he posted a report on his Facebook page saying that he was safe.{{Cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dikembe-mutombo-was-at-the-brussels-airport-attacks--is-unharmed-183451138.html| title=Dikembe Mutombo was at the Brussels Airport attacks, is unharmed |website=sports.yahoo.com|last=Dwyer |first=Kelly |date=March 22, 2016}}

On October 15, 2022, Mutombo's family announced that he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.{{cite web |title=Mutombo beginning treatment on brain tumor |url= https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34800443 |website=ESPN.com |access-date= October 15, 2022 |date=October 15, 2022}} On September 30, 2024, Mutombo died due to brain cancer in Atlanta at the age of 58.{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/dikembe-mutombo-dies-97fcf64fd5ca6986c39e2c7a42d2410b|title = Dikembe Mutombo, a Hall of Fame player and tireless advocate, dies at 58 from brain cancer|last = Reynolds|first = Tim|date = September 30, 2024|accessdate = September 30, 2024|publisher = Associated Press}}{{Cite web |last=Worley |first=Debra |date=September 30, 2024 |title=Hall of Fame basketball player Dikembe Mutombo dies at 58 |url= https://www.wtok.com/2024/09/30/hall-fame-basketball-player-dikembe-mutombo-dies-58/ |access-date=September 30, 2024| website= wtok.com |publisher=WTOK-TV}}

Mutombo made a cameo appearance in the 2002 films Juwanna Mann and Like Mike, which mentioned his name in its theme song "Basketball".{{cite news|last=Hoffarth|first=Tom|title=Let's be reel about this: Celtics beat out the Lakers on the silver screen|url=http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20100602/NEWS/100608110|access-date=October 5, 2024|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=June 2, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428094000/http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20100602/NEWS/100608110|archivedate=April 28, 2016}}{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Fox gets NBA stars to like 'Mike'|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/fox-gets-nba-stars-to-like-mike-1117860553/|access-date=April 2, 2016|work=Variety|date=February 11, 2002}} In 2012, his voice and likeness were used in a 16-bit-style Flash game released by Old Spice humorously titled Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World.{{cite news|last=Linn|first=Tracey|title=How a team of game developers help Old Spice save the world every five days|url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/26/3695260/how-a-team-of-game-developers-help-old-spice-save-the-world-every|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=Polygon|date=November 26, 2012}}

Mutombo appeared in a GEICO auto insurance commercial in February 2013, parodying his shot-blocking ability by applying it to real world situations.{{cite news|last=Joseph|first=Adi|title=Dikembe Mutombo blocks for GEICO in Super Bowl commercial|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/03/dikembe-mutombo-geico-super-bowl-commercial/1888413/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=USA Today|date=February 3, 2013}} He co-starred with Kevin Harvick in a Mobil 1 commercial for its annual protection brand of motor oil, saying "Don't change your oil."{{cite news|title=Mobil 1 Ad Campaign Pairs Kevin Harvick With Dikembe Mutombo|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2017/03/10/Mobil-1.aspx?|access-date=June 30, 2017|work=Sports Business Daily|date=March 10, 2017}} Mutombo had a brief cameo in the 2021 film Coming 2 America as himself.{{cite news|title=Coming 2 America full cast listing|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6802400/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|work=IMDb|date=March 6, 2021}}

File:Dikembe-Mutombo.jpg

Dikembe Mutombo was a well-known humanitarian.{{cite news |last=Zillgitt |first=Jeff |title=NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo wins Sager Strong Award for humanitarian work in Congo |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/05/22/dikembe-mutombo-wins-sager-strong-award-humanitarian-work-congo/632359002/ |access-date=May 17, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=May 22, 2018}} He created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997. His work earned him the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009. For his feats, Sporting News named him as one of the "Good Guys in Sports" in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, he was selected as one of 20 winners of the President's Service Awards, the nation's highest honor for volunteer service.{{cite web |url= http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dikembe_mutombo/ |title=Dikembe Mutombo Info Page |publisher= National Basketball Association| website= NBA.com |access-date= September 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722100550/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dikembe_mutombo/ |archive-date=July 22, 2010 }}

In 2004, he participated in the Basketball Without Borders NBA program, where NBA stars such as Shawn Bradley, Malik Rose and DeSagana Diop toured Africa to spread the word about basketball and to improve the infrastructure. He paid for uniforms and expenses for the Zaire women's basketball team during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. Mutombo was a spokesman for the international relief agency, CARE and was the first youth emissary for the United Nations Development Program.

Mutombo was a longtime supporter of Special Olympics and a member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, as well as a Global Ambassador.{{cite news|last=Montero|first=David|title=Democratic Republic of Congo participates in its first Special Olympics| url= http://www.dailynews.com/events/20150723/democratic-republic-of-congo-participates-in-its-first-special-olympics|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=July 23, 2015}} He was a pioneer of Unified Sports, which brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities. He played in the Unity Cup in South Africa before the 2010 World Cup Quarterfinal, along with South African President Jacob Zuma and Special Olympics athletes from around the world.{{cite news|title=Zuma to take the field for Unity Cup| url= http://www.southafrica.info/2010/unitycup-zuma.htm|access-date=March 3, 2016| date=July 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307054502/http://www.southafrica.info/2010/unitycup-zuma.htm|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=dead}} Mutombo joined his second Unity Cup team in 2012.{{cite news|title=Mbalula to take to the field|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/mbalula-to-take-to-the-field-1375093| access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Independent Online|date=September 3, 2012}}

Honoring his humanitarianism, Mutombo was invited to President George W. Bush's 2007 State of the Union Address, where the president said "We are proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America".{{cite press release |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html |title=President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address |date=January 23, 2007 |publisher= Office of the President | place= US | website= whitehouse.gov |access-date=January 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130502232627/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html |archive-date=May 2, 2013 }} Mutombo said, "My heart was full of joy. I didn't know the President was going to say such great remarks."{{cite web| url=http://www.africahit.com/news/article/othersenglish/1162/?highlight=Dikembe+Mutombo&match=|publisher=AfricaHit.com|title=Dikembe Mutombo stands tall with Bush (video)|date=January 24, 2007|access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722075244/http://www.africahit.com/news/article/othersenglish/1162/?highlight=Dikembe+Mutombo&match=|archive-date=July 22, 2011}}

On April 13, 2011, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health gave Mutombo the Goodermote Humanitarian Award "for his efforts to reduce polio globally as well as his work improving the health of neglected and underserved populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo."{{Cite web| url=https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2011/goodermote-award-mutombo.html|title=Bloomberg School Awards Goodermote Humanitarian Award to Dikembe Mutombo|first=Natalie|last=Wood-Wright|website=Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health|date=April 14, 2011 }} Michael J. Klag, dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health, said "Mr. Mutombo is a winner in many ways—on the court and as a humanitarian. His work has improved the health of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center is a model for the region. Likewise, Mr. Mutombo has been instrumental in the fight against polio by bolstering vaccination efforts and bringing treatment to victims of the disease."

In 2020, the Mutombo Foundation began construction of a modern pre-K through 6th-grade school in the Democratic Republic of Congo, named for his father, who died in 2003. The Samuel Mutombo Institute of Science & Entrepreneurship is located outside the city of Mbuji-Mayi.{{Cite web|date=August 17, 2020|title=Groundbreaking Ceremony for Samuel Mutombo Institute of Science & Entrepreneurship |url= https://dmf.org/2020/08/groundbreaking-ceremony-for-samuel-mutombo-institute-of-science-entrepreneurship/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Dikembe Mutombo Foundation|language=en-US}}

Mutombo was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater Georgetown University in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042810aaa.html |title=Dikembe Mutombo to Speak at Georgetown College Commencement | publisher= Georgetown University Official Athletic Site |website= GUhoyas.com |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120502032541/http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042810aaa.html |url-status=dead }} He also received an honorary doctorate from Haverford College in May 2011.{{cite web |url= http://www.nbafrontpage.com/2011/04/dikembe-mutombo-to-be-honored-by.html |title=Dikembe Mutombo To Be Honored by Haverford College |publisher=| website= NBAFrontPage.com |date=April 12, 2011 |access-date=August 8, 2012}} In November 2015, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced Mutombo as a recipient of its Silver Anniversary Awards for 2016. The announcement cited both his basketball career and extensive humanitarian work.{{cite press release| url= https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/ncaa-honors-2016-silver-anniversary-award-winners |title=NCAA honors 2016 Silver Anniversary Award winners |publisher= National Collegiate Athletic Association | website= ncaa.org |date= November 19, 2015 |access-date= December 24, 2016}}

In 1997, the Mutombo Foundation began plans to open a $29 million, 300-bed hospital on the outskirts of his hometown, the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. Ground was broken in 2001, but construction didn't start until 2004, as he had trouble getting donations early on although he personally donated $3.5 million toward the hospital's construction. Initially he had other difficulties and almost lost the land to the government because it was not being used and having to pay refugees who had begun farming the land to leave. Mutombo also struggled to reassure some that he did not have any ulterior or political motives for the project. The project has been on the whole very well received at all social and economic levels in Kinshasa. On August 14, 2006, Mutombo donated $15 million to the completion of the hospital for the ceremonial opening on September 2, 2006. By then it was named Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, for his late mother, who died of a stroke in 1997.{{cite web|url= https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4125439.html |title=Mutombo's hospital dream about to come true |work=Houston Chronicle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910092112/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4125439.html |archive-date=September 10, 2007 }} When it opened in 2007, the $29 million facility became the first modern medical facility to be built in that area in nearly 40 years.{{cite magazine |last=Rushin |first= Steve |author-link1=Steve Rushin|title=The Center of Two Worlds |url= https://www.si.com/vault/2006/09/04/8385688/the-center-of-two-worlds|access-date=March 3, 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 4, 2006}} The hospital is on a {{convert|12|acre|m2|adj=on}} site on the outskirts of Kinshasa in Masina, where about a quarter of the city's 7.5 million residents live in poverty. It is near N'djili Airport and by a busy open-air market.

Mutombo served on the board of trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which is a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution.{{cite web|url=http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_about_Board_of_Trustees.aspx |title=National Constitution Center, Board of Trustees |access-date=July 27, 2010 |date=July 26, 2010 |work=National Constitution Center Web Site |publisher=National Constitution Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615033447/http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_about_Board_of_Trustees.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

In 2011, Mutombo traveled to South Sudan as a SportsUnited sports envoy for the US Department of State. He worked with Sam Perkins to lead a series of basketball clinics and team-building exercises with 50 youths and 36 coaches helping contribute to the State Department's mission to remove barriers and create a world in which individuals with disabilities enjoy dignity and full inclusion in society.{{Cite web|url=http://exchanges.state.gov/us/spotlight/sam-perkins-and-dikembe-mutombo-travel-south-sudan|title=Sam Perkins and Dikembe Mutombo Travel to South Sudan {{!}} Exchange Programs|website=exchanges.state.gov|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

In April 2020, Mutombo joined the website Ask the Doctor as their chief global officer. Ask the Doctor is a platform that connects people from all over the world to top doctors and healthcare professionals.{{cite news|title=Ask the Doctor Interviews Dikembe Mutombo|url=https://www.askthedoctor.com/on-the-dl-episode-16-dikembe-mutombo-talks-about-his-passion-for-healthcare|access-date=March 3, 2020|work=Independent Online|date=December 1, 2020|archive-date= November 15, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211115005710/https://www.askthedoctor.com/on-the-dl-episode-16-dikembe-mutombo-talks-about-his-passion-for-healthcare/|url-status=dead}}

In 2021, he created an eponymous coffee company, initially focused on the Congo to foster women growers' participation in international commerce.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/08/dikembe-mutombo-post-career-coffee-company |title=Dikembe Mutombo's New Coffee Venture Aims to Make an Impact |magazine= Sports Illustrated |last=Barrasso |first=Justin |date=April 8, 2021 |access-date=March 28, 2022 }}

{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

Source:

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1991–92

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 71 || 71 || 38.3 || .493 || – || .642 || 12.3 || 2.2 || .6 || 3.0 || 16.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1992–93

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 82 || 82 || 36.9 || .510 || – || .681 || 13.0 || 1.8 || .5 || 3.5 || 13.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1993–94

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 82 || 82 || 34.8 || .569 || .000 || .583 || 11.8 || 1.5 || .7 || style="background:#cfecec;"|4.1* || 12.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1994–95

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 37.8 || .556 || – || .654 || 12.5 || 1.4 || .5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|3.9* || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1995–96

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 74 || 74 || 36.7 || .499 || .000 || .695 || 11.8 || 1.5 || .5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|4.5* || 11.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1996–97

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 80 || 80 || 37.2 || .527 || – || .705 || 11.6 || 1.4 || .6 || 3.3 || 13.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1997–98

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 35.6 || .537 || – || .670 || 11.4 || 1.0 || .4 || 3.4 || 13.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1998–99

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 50* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 50* || 36.6 || .512 || – || .684 || 12.2 || 1.1 || .3 || 2.9 || 10.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1999–00

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 82 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 36.4 || .562 || – || .708 || style="background:#cfecec;"|14.1* || 1.3 || .3 || 3.3 || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 49 || 49 || 35.0 || .477 || – || .695 || 14.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 2.8 || 9.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01

| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 26 || 26 || 33.7 || .495 || – || .759 ||style="background:#cfecec;"| 12.4* || .8 || .3 || 2.5 || 11.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2001–02

| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 80 || 80 || 36.3 || .501 || – || .764 || 10.8 || 1.0 || .4 || 2.4 || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03

| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey

| 24 || 16 || 21.4 || .374 || – || .727 || 6.4 || .8 || .2 || 1.5 || 5.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 65 || 56 || 23.0 || .478 || – || .681 || 6.7 || .4 || .3 || 1.9 || 5.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 80 || 2 || 15.2 || .498 || – || .741 || 5.3 || .1 || .2 || 1.3 || 4.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 64 || 23 || 14.9 || .526 || – || .758 || 4.8 || .1 || .3 || .9 || 2.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 75 || 33 || 17.2 || .556 || – || .690 || 6.5 || .2 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 39 || 25 || 15.9 || .538 || – || .711 || 5.1 || .1 || .3 || 1.2 || 3.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 9 || 2 || 10.7 || .385 || – || .667 || 3.7 || .0 || .0 || 1.2 || 1.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 1196 || 997 || 30.8 || .518 || .000 || .684 || 10.3 || 1.0 || .4 || 2.8 || 9.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| All-Star

| 8 || 3 || 17.5 || .595 || – || .750 || 9.3 || .3 || .4 || 1.2 || 6.3

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1994

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 12 || 12 || 42.6 || .463 || – || .602 || 12.0 || 1.8 || .7 ||style="background:#cfecec;"| 5.8* || 13.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1995

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 3 || 3 || 28.0 || .600 || – || .667 || 6.3 || .3 || .0 || 2.3 || 6.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1997

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 10 || 10 || 41.5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|.628* || – || .719 || 12.3 || 1.3 || .1 || 2.6 || 15.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1998

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 4 || 4 || 34.0 || .458 || – || .625 || 12.8 || .3 || .3 || 2.3 || 8.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 1999

| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta

| 9 || 9 || 42.2 || .563 || – || .702 || style="background:#cfecec;"|13.9* || 1.2 || .6 || 2.6 || 12.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2001

| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 23 || 23 || 42.7 || .490 || .000 || .777 || 13.7 || .7 || .7 || style="background:#cfecec;"|3.1* || 13.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2002

| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 5 || 5 || 34.6 || .452 || – || .615 || 10.6 || .6 || .4 || 1.8 || 8.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2003

| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey

| 10 || 0 || 11.5 || .467 || – || 1.000 || 2.7 || .6 || .3 || .9 || 1.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2004

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 3 || 0 || 12.7 || .333 || – || 1.000 || 3.3 || .0 || .3 || 1.3 || 2.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 7 || 0 || 14.4 || .545 || – || .769 || 5.0 || .3 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 7 || 0 || 5.7 || 1.000 || – || 1.000 || 1.6 || .1 || .0 || .4 || 1.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 6 || 6 || 20.5 || .615 || – || .636 || 6.5 || .3 || .2 || 1.8 || 3.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009

| style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 2 || 0 || 10.0 || .000 || – || – || 4.5 || .0 || .5 || 1.0 || .0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 101 || 72 || 30.9 || .517 || .000 || .703 || 9.5 || .8 || .4 || 2.5 || 9.1

{{s-end}}

Source{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dikembe-mutombo-1.html|title=Dikembe Mutombo College Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=12 October 2024}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;" |1988–89

| style="text-align:left;" |Georgetown

|33

|0

|11.3

|.707

|–

|.479

|3.3

|.2

|.3

|2.3

|3.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;" |1989–90

| style="text-align:left;" |Georgetown

|31

|24

|25.7

|.709

|–

|.598

|10.5

|.6

|.4

|4.1

|10.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;" |1990–91

| style="text-align:left;" |Georgetown

|32

|32

|34.1

|.586

|–

|.703

|12.2

|1.6

|.6

|4.7

|15.2

|-

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career

|96

|56

|23.6

|.644

|–

|.641

|8.6

|.8

|.4

|3.7

|9.9

|}

{{Portal|Basketball|Biography|Democratic Republic of the Congo|Sports}}

• List of NBA career games played leaders
• List of NBA career rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career blocks leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders
• List of NBA annual rebounding leaders
• List of NBA annual blocks leaders
• List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
• List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
• List of NBA single-season blocks per game leaders

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.nba.com/stats/player/87/career NBA profile]
• [https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01.html Dikembe Mutombo] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905001653/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01.html |date=September 5, 2012 }}) at Basketball-Reference.com
• [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1956133 "Charting damage by Dikembe"] at ESPN
• [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,444885,00.html "On the Shoulders of a Giant"], by Jeff Chu, Time, April 20, 2003.
• {{IMDb name|1190444}}

{{Navboxes|list=

{{NBA Defensive Players of the Year}}

{{J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award}}

{{IBM Award}}

{{NBA rebounding leaders}}

{{NBA blocks leaders}}

{{1991 NBA draft}}

{{Denver Nuggets}}

{{Atlanta Hawks}}

{{2015 Basketball HOF}}

{{Basketball Hall of Fame centers}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mutombo, Dikembe}}

Category:1966 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:All-American college men's basketball players

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Atlanta Hawks players

Category:Basketball players from Kinshasa

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Deaths from brain cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to the United States

Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate basketball people in the United States

Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's basketball players

Category:Denver Nuggets draft picks

Category:Denver Nuggets players

Category:Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball players

Category:Houston Rockets players

Category:Luba people

Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States

Category:NBA All-Stars

Category:NBA players from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Category:NBA players with retired numbers

Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees

Category:New Jersey Nets players

Category:New York Knicks players

Category:Philadelphia 76ers players