Basketball legend and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo dies at 58

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, a Congolese-American professional basketball player, has died at the age of 58.

The Georgetown University men’s basketball icon, who became a basketball Hall of Famer for his rebounding and blocking prowess with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks, died Sept. 30 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. 

Mutombo, a centre, became one of Georgetown’s greatest-ever players, dominating in the paint and defensively before achieving stardom in an 18-year NBA career. 

Throughout, Mutombo was known for his philanthropy, funding and supporting humanitarian efforts, particularly in Central Africa. 

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote 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.”

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo was born June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He won an international science competition in his senior year of high school and received a USAID scholarship to Georgetown, initially planning to study medicine. 

Standing 7-foot-2, he was recruited by former men’s basketball coach John Thompson Jr. and played on a basketball scholarship his final three years at Georgetown. 

Mutombo did not speak English when he arrived in the United States and learned the language in just a few weeks. 

“I went to English class from 9:30 to 2:30, then I had to go to my other classes after I got out from my English class,” Mutombo told The Hoya in 2021. “Then I had to go to basketball practice, then I had to lift weights, then I had to go eat, then I had to go study. I used to get back to my dorm at 8 p.m., after leaving at 8 in the morning.”

After graduating from Georgetown with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy, Mutombo was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, going to the Denver Nuggets.

Mutombo wasted no time propelling to stardom, ending his rookie season as an All-Star and runner-up in Rookie of the Year sweepstakes. 

Mutombo became known for wagging his right index finger at opponents, teasing them after blocking their shots. 

Over his long NBA career, including stretches with the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, Mutombo racked up four defensive Player of the Year awards to go with over 11,000 points, 12,000 rebounds and 3,000 blocks.

 Throughout his career and after, Mutombo was a tireless advocate for his home country, spearheading multiple charity initiatives to support education and healthcare in the Congo.

The NBA named Mutombo its first global ambassador in 2009. Mutombo worked with the NBA on international outreach efforts including Basketball Without Borders, a program that provides basketball instruction in 33 countries. 

Mutombo was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2015 for his average of 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his career. 

Mutombo is survived by his wife, Rose, and his seven children, including his son Ryan Mutombo (CAS ’24), who played three seasons on Georgetown’s men’s basketball team, and his daughter, double Hoya Carrie Biamba Mutombo (COL ’19, LAW ’22).