NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Dies at 58

NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, known for his amusing finger-wagging on the court and more, has died at the age of 58 after a battle with brain cancer.

The 7-foot-2 basketball legend, who played 18 NBA seasons before retiring from the sport in 2009, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2022. The NBA announced his death on Monday, September 30. The statement says he was surrounded by his family when he died.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s statement says. “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 for six teams during his time in the NBA. He started on the Denver Nuggets (1991–1996), and then he played for the Atlanta Hawks (1996–2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2001–2002), New Jersey Nets (2002–2003), New York Knicks (2003–2004), and Houston Rockets (2004–2009). Mutombo spent much of his career after retiring from the sport as an NBA Global Ambassador. As Silver noted in his comments honoring Mutombo, he was the first to take on that role.

NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away today at the age of 58 from brain cancer. He was surrounded by his family.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement. pic.twitter.com/uHgZgSBDUJ

— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024

“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador,” Silver’s statement continued. “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. 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,” Silver’s statement concludes. “I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe’s big heart and I will miss him dearly. On behalf of the entire NBA family, I send my deepest condolences to Dikembe’s wife, Rose, and their children; his many friends; and the global basketball community which he truly loved and which loved him back.”

While Mutombo never won a championship ring during his career, he did make it to the NBA finals twice. The first time was in 2001 when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers. The second was in 2003 when he had switched over to the New Jersey Nets. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2015.

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Mutombo was known for his shot blocking and rebounding, as well as his signature finger wag. He’d frequently wave his right index after blocking a shot. While the crowd loved it, it wasn’t always well received by the referees.

“Any time I would block shots, people would still be coming and trying to put a little bit on me. Then I used to shake my head every time I would block the shot,” Mutombo once explained, per ESPN. “Then I said, man, f**k this. Those guys are not listening to me. Maybe if I start giving them the finger wag. And I tell you what, I lost a lot of money because of that finger wag, man. I got so many technical fouls, but no referee would kick me out of the game.”

Mutombo brought his signature move back for a popular GEICO commercial in 2013, seen above.

The athlete was born Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo in 1966 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He played at Georgetown before being recruited into the NBA. Much of his humanitarian work was focused on the Congo through the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation (founded in 1997). He was also instrumental in the creation of the Basketball Africa League.

Mutombo is survived by his wife, Rose Mutombo Kiese, and their children. The couple had seven children together, four of them being adopted children of Rose’s deceased brothers. Their son, Ryan Mutombo, played basketball for Georgetown like his father. Two of their nephews, Harouna Mutombo and Mfiondu Kabengele, have also played professional basketball.