Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away Monday at the age of 58, the NBA announced in a statement.
The cause of death was brain cancer.
Mutombo was an NBA icon. He played 18 seasons in the league, and he won NBA Defensive Player of the Year four times. He led the league in blocked shots three times while creating the memorable "no, no, no" finger wag celebration.
Mutombo, the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, played for six teams during his career. He was named NBA All-Star eight times, and he had his No. 55 jersey retired by both the Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets.
“No, no, no!”
On this day in 1997… Dikembe Mutombo had 3 straight blocks and broke out the finger wag. #NBAVault #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/dgOYwXuLXr
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 9, 2022
Mutombo built up a large fanbase for his play on the court and his signature celebration, but the Hall of Fame center also spent much of his personal life trying to improve the lives of others.
For example, he started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation and sought to improve living conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, the first Youth Emissary for the United Nations Development Program, and the first NBA Global Ambassador.
"Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a press release. "On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.
"There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA's first Global Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core. 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 wave that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation.
"Dikembe's indomitable spirit continues on in those who he helped and inspired during his extraordinary life. I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe's big heart and I will miss him dearly. On behalf of the entire NBA family, I send my deepest condolences to Dikembe's wife, Rose, and their children; his many friends; and the global basketball community which he truly loved and which loved him back."
RIP Dikembe Mutombo — legendary player, philanthropist, and star of the greatest commercial ever: pic.twitter.com/j027X6kxlC
— Scott Thomas (he / him / his) (@OGScottieT) September 30, 2024
