Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Hall of Famer and tireless advocate, dies of brain cancer at age 58

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history. Even off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center from Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, four-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-NBA selection and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015 with averages of 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his career.

Mutombo last played in the 2008/09 season and dedicated his time to charitable and humanitarian causes after his retirement. He spoke nine languages ​​and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, which focuses on improving the health, education and quality of life of the people of Congo.

Mutombo has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the US Fund for UNICEF.

“No one was more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first global ambassador,” Silver said. “He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved the positive impact the game of basketball can have on communities, particularly in his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and throughout the African continent.”