HOUSTON — Former Houston Rockets star and Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
In a press release on Monday morning, Silver said Mutombo, who also served as an NBA Global Ambassador, died from brain cancer. He was surrounded by his family.
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” Silver said. “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.”
Mutombo played 18 seasons in the NBA, including for the Houston Rockets, and was known for his defensive play, winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award four times. He was second all-time on the shots blocked list behind another former Rockets legend and Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.
The 7-foot-2 center was an eight-time All-Star, four-time defensive player of the year and three-time All-NBA selection. He went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.
Mutombo originally came into the league as the No. 4 overall selection in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. after playing at Georgetown in college.
After spending five seasons with the Nuggets, he made stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York before spending his last five seasons with the Rockets.
Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education, and quality of life for the people in the Congo.
Mutombo served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation, and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Ryan Mutombo, his son
"My dad is my hero because he simply cared," Ryan Mutombo said. "He remains the purest heart I have ever known."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador,” Silver said. “He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.”
Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta
Current Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta released the following statement on Mutombo's passing, describing him as "a true legend on and off the court."
"On behalf of the Rockets organization, we are deeply saddened by the passing of Dikembe Mutombo, a true legend both on and off the court. Dikembe was beloved by the entire NBA community and his tireless humanitarian efforts left an indelible mark on our league. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Rose, and their children.”
76ers star Joel Embiid
Players of this generation were always drawn to him and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, looked to Mutombo as an inspiration.
“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world,” Embiid said Monday. “Other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He’s one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court. He’s done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people. He was a role model of mine. It is a sad day.”
Mutombo is one of three players to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year four times. The others: reigning DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.
Toronto President Masai Ujiri
“It's really hard to believe," Toronto President Masai Ujiri said Monday, pausing several times because he was overcome with emotion shortly after hearing the news of Mutombo's death. "It's hard for us to be without that guy. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. ... That guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person.”
Former Rockets GM Daryl Morey
Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey — who was with Mutombo for many seasons in Houston — was informed of his friend’s death during the team's media day on Monday. Tears welled in Morey’s eyes as he processed the news.
“There aren’t many guys like him,” Morey said. “Just a great human being. When I was a rookie GM in this league, my first chance in Houston, he was someone I went to all the time. ... His accomplishments on the court, we don’t need to talk about too much. Just an amazing human being, what he did off the court for Africa. Rest in peace, Dikembe.”
J.J. Watt
Former Texans legend J.J. Watt said he was "truly grateful for the friendship and the memories."