The news of Dikembe Mutombo’s passing was heartbreaking. He was a gentleman both on and off the court. Well-known for his defensive prowess, he gave even the toughest opponents such as Michael Jordan and more a hard time. After the outpouring of heartfelt condolence messages, numerous basketball enthusiasts reminisced about the veteran’s historic performances and what made him a legendary figure in the sport.

The most iconic times are when Mutombo faced off against Jordan. The two met a fantastical 23 times. 

Michael Jordan’s battle against Dikembe Mutombo

While MJ surely has the lead with 16 wins, Mutombo also defeated the Bulls legend 7 times. Though MJ has the spotlight with his 6 NBA titles, Mutombo’s achievements, skills, and sportsmanship have never diminished his legacy. Battles such as these between the greats are prime examples of that.

Having played 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan made an appearance in 13 playoffs. Much like MJ, the luck wasn’t always favorable to the 8X NBA All-Star. Mutombo played a glorious 18 seasons in the league. Unfortunately, despite making 13 playoff appearances, he couldn’t get closer to a title. 

MJ had been ahead with numerous accolades, including 5 season MVP honors, 6 Finals MVP honors, and more. But that doesn’t mean that the Denver Nuggets legend was any less impressive. The 4x Defensive Player of the Year was perhaps one of the few who fearlessly trash-talked Jordan. He was the same in his personal life. Battling against brain cancer, the legend passed away at the age of 58. 

“I am deeply saddened to hear about Dikembe’s passing. He was a defensive force on the court who changed the way the game of basketball is played. But more importantly, Dikembe truly changed the world and improved countless lives through his humanitarian work in Africa. I will especially miss hearing his booming laugh. My condolences to his wife, Rose, his children and his family,” the Chicago Bulls legend said.

Dikembe Mutombo’s challenge to Michael Jordan

A clip making the rounds on the internet shows the two NBA legends having a lighthearted argument. While Mutombo teased Jordan for never having been able to dunk on him, the 6x NBA champion insisted that he had. 

Mutombo also joked that MJ’s teammate Scottie Pippen was able to dunk on him, but he never could, to which MJ responded in kind. This hilarious back-and-forth has been circulating online. Jordan was awarded the title of scoring leader 10 times. But there are certain fields in which the 7-foot-2-inch basketball star surpassed him. Mutombo won 4 Defensive Player of The Year as mentioned earlier, while Jordan managed to win one. 

The 8x NBA All-Star also boasts of 2 Rebounds Leader and 3 Blocks Leader honors. He had a field goal percentage of .497, while the famous GEICO commercial star boasts a higher percentage of .518. Averaging 30.1 points per game, the Chicago Bulls legend indeed had this one lack of never having dunked on Mutombo who averaged 9.8 points. But as we know the Chicago Bulls legend has always been competitive. 

He accepted Mutombo’s challenge. During Game 5 of their 1997 Eastern Conference against Atlanta Hawks, Jordan was seen doing Mutombo’s finger-wag celebration after he dunked on the 2x Big East Defensive Player of the Year winner. Mutombo always did the finger-wave celebration after his every successful block. 

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. 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,” the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver said about the late legend. Whether it’s his catchphrase ‘No, No, No’ directed at his opponents or his famous finger wave, the memories of the Nuggets legend will remain in our hearts.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.