My earliest memories of Dikembe Mutombo stem from the 2001 NBA season. It was a season in which he was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to join Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. This was the season in which Iverson was the league MVP and Mutombo provided the defensive anchor necessary for a long 76ers playoff run.
When they won the Eastern Conference Championship, I remember the sideline reporter asking about how he felt, and with glee, he exclaimed, “I can’t believe it!” It was so genuine from a man who truly mastered what it was that he was good at in the game of basketball. Mind you, I was, and still am, the biggest fan of Shaquille O’Neal as a basketball player. And it was that lauded Lakers team that Dikembe would match up within the 2001 NBA Finals. He was one of the greatest rim protectors in NBA history, placing second to Hakeem Olajuwon on the all-time NBA blocks list.
Having made eight All-Star appearances and having won four Defensive Player of The Year awards, Mutombo understood his platform. He also clearly had reverence for all that the game of basketball has done for him. In 2001, he broke ground at Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. When this happened, it was reported on heavily in the U.S. and seemed to be an unprecedented show of generosity for an athlete. As a youngster, seeing this, I was blown away. I thought Dikembe was so noble to give back to his home country in this manner. Little did I know that this gesture was just the start.
This week we’ve seen many basketball players give Mutombo his flowers. It’s certainly symbolic of a life well lived. I continue to be amazed by how Dikembe played such a crucial role in growing the game of basketball in Africa. For years, Mutombo traveled to various countries in Africa with former NBA Commissioner, the late David Stern. Through the Basketball Without Borders initiative, he gave back through philanthropy in Africa and by teaching kids the game.
When you look at today’s NBA landscape, international players on teams are at an all-time high. But more specifically, the numbers of players of African descent continue to surge. The influx of African NBA talent does not happen without the efforts of Dikembe Mutombo. From Giannis Antetokounmpo of Nigeria to Joel Embiid of Cameroon, the list of those influenced by him goes on. It’s a beautiful example of the product of being selfless in this life.
By the sheer virtue of showing up and being present on his home continent so often during his playing career, Mutombo was a tangible figure for people there. This is a great lesson in what it means to truly have some skin in the game and put your money where your mouth is. The gift of giving your time is one of a kind.
How Mutombo navigated his life and work should be something all athletes strive for. We don’t live for the adulation of all people, but clearly, you can’t find a person with two nostrils who has a bad thing to say about Mutombo. It’s why we see and feel the profound and visceral hurt we do.
In a world writhing in negativity, Mutombo was a light. He was a figure that basketball fans could point to and be proud of. With his unfortunate passing, we’ll miss his charm, humor and generosity. But the most beautiful thing about life is that others who you touched carry on your legacy by living in ways that are in tribute to yours.
