NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo has passed away from brain cancer at the age of 58. The National Basketball Association announced the tragic news on Monday. Mutombo played 18 NBA seasons, from 1991 to 2009, and was regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in the community. Beyond the court, the NBA Hall of Famer also touched hearts with his humanitarian work.
Basketball star and Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passes away
On September 30, the commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, wrote in a statement, “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life.” He shared that on the basketball court, the Hall of Famer was “one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA.” Silver added, “Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.” The commissioner noted, “There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core.”
The Guardian reported that Mutombo was well-known for his humanitarian work in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation focused on improving health and quality of life in the country. Silver further shared in his statement he had the “privilege” to travel around the globe with Dikembe and witness how “his generosity and compassion uplifted people.” Mutombo’s humanitarian work spanned several boards, including the CDC Foundation, Special Olympics International, and the National Board for the US Fund for UNICEF.
Silver continued to share he is “one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe’s big heart.” The NBA commissioner then sent his condolences to the late player’s wife, Rose, and their children. According to The Guardian, two years ago, Mutombo’s family revealed he was undergoing treatment for brain cancer. The NBA legend’s son, Ryan, paid tribute to his father following his death. He wrote, “My dad is my hero because he simply cared. He remains the purest heart I have ever known.”
