NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Dead at 58

Source: Former Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo waves to the crowd as he is honored in a tribute to him at halftime Wednesday, March 26, 2008, in Toyota Center in Houston. (Nick de la Torre/ Chronicle)

NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo passed away at 58 years old due to brain cancer, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. The Georgetown product spent the final five seasons of his 18-year career with the Rockets.

Mutombo was known as one of the greatest rim protectors the NBA has ever seen, averaging 2.8 blocks per game; he played in 1196 NBA contests. He averaged as many as 4.5 blocks per game during the 1995-96 NBA season.

Throughout his hall-of-fame career, Mutombo earned four Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Star nods, three All-NBA team selections, six All-Defensive team selections, three block championships, and two rebounding championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 after spending time with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Rockets.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement on Mutumbo’s passing on Monday morning. He said, in part:

 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 wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation.

Dikembe’s indomitable spirit continues on in those who he helped and inspired throughout 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.

NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Dead at 58  was originally published on houstonseagle.com