His legend passed away at the age of 58 NBA Dikebe Mutombo, plunging world basketball into mourning.
Hall of Famer Dikebe Mutombo has been diagnosed with brain cancer, according to ESPN.
Basketball Hall of Famer and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo has died of brain cancer at age 58. pic.twitter.com/SoDANXt0JW
-ESPN (@espn) September 30, 2024
A basketball legend with great humanitarian work
The Congolese-American former professional basketball player played 18 seasons in the NBA and, in addition to his athletic career, was known for his humanitarian work.
In the NBA, he wore the jerseys of the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.
He is considered one of the greatest blockers and defenders of all time. He has won the NBA Defender of the Year title four times, while in 2015 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mutombo was an ambassador for the American Basketball League around the world and president of the foundation that bears his name, which he created in 1997 to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2004, he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program, where NBA stars traveled across Africa. He also traveled to South Sudan in 2011 as a U.S. State Department sports envoy.
He was a representative of the international aid agency CARE and participated in the United Nations Development Program. He has also been a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics.
“He was larger than life”
In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Dikebe Mutombo was larger than life.
“He gave his heart and soul to helping others,” he added.
NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away today at the age of 58 from brain cancer. He was surrounded by his family.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement. pic.twitter.com/fkFPaiMVD3
– NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 30, 2024
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