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Kinshasa, October 1 (HS). NBA global ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), died of brain cancer on Monday at the age of 58. The NBA made the above announcement on Monday.
“Dikembe Mutombo was larger than life,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the NBA. Off the field, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”
Mutombo is considered one of basketball's most respected defensive players and rebounders. He was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year four times, a record he shares with Ben Wallace.
Mutombo retired in 2009 after accumulating 3,298 blocks and 12,359 rebounds and making eight All-Star appearances. Later that year, he was appointed as the global ambassador for the NBA by then-Commissioner David Stern. In 2015, Mutombo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The former Houston Rockets star was highly respected beyond sports for his humanitarian work around the world.
Mutombo has invested millions of dollars in charitable work, including building a hospital in the DRC to improve access to health care for thousands of people.
