GU Basketball Legend and NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Dies at 58 – Hoya

Dikembe Mutombo (SLL ’91, H ’10)Georgetown University men’s basketball icon basketball Hall of Fame Because of his rebounding and blocking skills in the NBA Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks, dead 30 September after a while biennial war with brain cancer. He was 58 years old.

Center Mutombo has developed into one of Georgetown’s best players ever; He rose to league stardom after excelling in the paint and defensively. 18-year NBA career. Mutombo was known for his philanthropy, particularly financing and supporting humanitarian efforts in Central Africa.

NBA Commissioner “Dikembe Mutombo was larger than life” Adem Gümüş wrote in a press release. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defenders in NBA history. He got off the ground and devoted his heart and soul to helping others.”

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo was born June 25, 1966 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. HE to win In his senior year of high school, he participated in an international science competition and received an award. USAID scholarship to GeorgetownHe initially plans to study medicine.

On foot 7 meter 2, Recruited by former men’s basketball coach John Thompson Jr. and played his final three years at Georgetown on a basketball scholarship. mutombo He didn’t speak English when he arrived in the United States and learned the language in just a few weeks.

“I went to English class from 9:30 to 2:30, and after leaving English class, I had to go to my other classes,” Mutombo said. said Hoya in 2021. “Then I had to go to basketball practice, then I had to lift weights, then I had to eat, then I had to study. After leaving the dormitory at 8 in the morning, I would return to the dormitory at 8 in the evening.”

Virtually unknown outside the gates of Georgetown, Mutombo began playing on the men’s basketball team. 1988-89 season sophomore. His performance on the court immediately reflected his defensive prowess: Mutombo made a block in his rookie season St. 12 shots in one game against St. John’s University – ONE NCAA single game record — paving the way for a formidable frontcourt partnership Alonzo’s Mourning (COL ’92) known as “Rejection Order” and helping his team finish in the Elite Eight.

Mutombo started to play more in his first season and averaged Double-double – 10 points and 10 rebounds – in 24 games started.. Mutombo was selected even though the Hoyas were eliminated early from the NCAA tournament Big East defensive player of the year and Big East second team.

With Mourning injured, Mutombo became the focal point of the Hoya offense as a senior, repeatedly leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Scored 27 points in Big East Tournament quarterfinal matchup against University of Connecticut. In total Mutombo recorded 947 points, 354 blocked shots and 823 rebounds throughout his three-year college career.

After graduating from Georgetown diploma in linguistics and diplomacymutombo He went to the Denver Nuggets with the 4th pick in the 1991 NBA draft.

“I like to sit back and listen to people say how great some of these are, because in a few years Dikembe will surpass them all,” Thompson said of his 1991 draft picks.

Mutombo wasted no time in pushing his way to stardom, ending his rookie season as an All-Star. Second place in the rookie of the year draw. Mutombo became known for wagging his right index finger at his opponents and taunting them after blocking their shots.

During his long NBA career, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston RocketsMutombo stood up Four defensive player of the year awards will be given for those with 11,000 points, 12,000 rebounds and 3,000 blocks.

Throughout and after his career, Mutombo was a tireless advocate for his home country and led numerous aid initiatives to support education and healthcare in the Congo. mutombo established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 He funded the construction of a general hospital in Kinshasa, founded a primary school focusing on science and entrepreneurship, and supported children’s issues. UNICEF and Special Olympics International, where he serves on the boards of both organizations. mutombo established Mutombo Coffee inside 2021Aiming to work mainly with women farmers in Congo and other African countries closing the gender gap in the coffee industry.

“The health and development of a country is closely linked to the health of its people,” Mutombo said. in question “Education is crucial to health,” he said in a speech at Georgetown in 2001.

NBA named Mutombo became its first global ambassador in 2009. Mutombo has worked with the NBA on international outreach efforts. Basketball Without Borders, a program that provides basketball training in 33 countries.

Mutombo took office NBA Hall of Famer in 2015 with averages of 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in your career.

Mutombo survived thanks to him his wife, Rose, and their seven children, including son Ryan Mutombo (CAS ’24), who played Three seasons on the Georgetown men’s basketball teamand daughter double Hoya Carrie Biamba Mutombo (COL ’19, LAW ’22).

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.