Dikembe Mutomboma, NBA Hall of Famer and humanitarian, dies at 58

Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, whose towering presence dominated basketball on and off the court, has died of brain cancer at the age of 58.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Monday. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history. From the floor up, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

Aided by his 7-foot-4 frame, Mutombo finished his career second on the NBA’s all-time list for blocked shots. He was also an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year in an 18-season NBA career that lasted from 1991 to 2009. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mutombo was also known for his humanitarian work, especially with the Special Olympics and in his hometown of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“There was no one better qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He was essentially a humanitarian,” Silver said. “He loved what the game of basketball could do to positively impact communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and across the African continent. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing firsthand 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.

He had three children with his wife Rose, and the couple adopted four more children.