NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo has passed away at 58 years old, after a two-year battle with brain cancer, and this has led to many fans, players, and those who crossed paths with the Hall of Famer to mourn his loss.
While at Toronto Raptors media day, team president Masai Ujiri, a friend of Mutombo, appeared devastated by the news, while calling him an "incredible person."
Raptors Vice-Chairman and Team President, Masai Ujiri, on the passing of NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo: pic.twitter.com/rQNTrGTFte
— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024
"I'm sorry. It's a tough one," an emotional Ujiri said. "I have to say, though, that guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant. An incredible person. Who are we without Dikembe Mutombo? Not possible. It really is not. I went to Dikembe Mutombo's hometown with him. I went to his hospital. You have no idea what that guy means to the world."
Masai Ujiri, understandably, emotional when speaking about the passing of Dikembe Mutombo.
"It is not a good day for us, for basketball, for sports...for Africa.
We will celebrate him big.
I'm proud that I knew him...worked with him. This one hits home." pic.twitter.com/2mZLQl6634
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) September 30, 2024
Ujiri continued, "That guy was the biggest giant that you can ever find, with the biggest heart... He did so much, so much for us. For the continent of Africa, for his people. I built a court with him in Mbuji-Mayi (Democratic Republic of Congo) in his village, and spent a lot of time with him there. And what he brought, what he's brought to youth on the continent, to people in the continent, you cannot even imagine."
NBA Cares All-Star 2016
"You cannot even imagine what that guy has done for me in my career. He took me by the wings in Denver and made me grow as a person. And now he's gone."
Mutombo (left), Ujiri (right)
Basketball Without Borders 2019
Philadelphia 76ers MVP Joel Embiid, who is from Cameroon, also paid tribute to Mutombo at media day, while calling him his role model.
"He was a role model of mine."
Joel Embiid with warm remarks at #NBAMediaDay on the passing of NBA legend, Dikembe Mutombo 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OqjQUozM4Z
— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024
"It's a sad day, especially for us Africans, really the whole world," Embiid said. "Other than what he has accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court."
Mutombo's son, Ryan, who currently plays basketball at Georgia Tech, wrote a post honoring his father.
Dikembe Mutombo's son, Ryan, shared a special message honoring his father ❤️
(via ryanmutombo/IG) pic.twitter.com/hHvrpJwFDx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2024
"My dad was a regular man who would stop at no lengths to honor the world, its people, and its creator. He loved others with every ounce of his being. That's what made him so accessible. That's what made him real."
In remembrance of his 18-year career, Mutombo was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, and went on to play for the Atlanta Hawks, 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets. At 7-foot-2 feet tall Mutombo earned eight All-Star appearances, averaging 9.8 points (51.8% FG), 10.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
To mention, he is regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, as he was a 4x NBA defensive player of the year award winner, 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team, and 3x blocks leader.
In view of Mutombo's life, he will forever be remembered for both his on the court performances and humanitarian efforts that will leave a lasting legacy far beyond the game of basketball.
Related: Hall Of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Passes Away At 58
