Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is not just famous for his scoring skills but also for his excellent dunking ability. No matter who stood in the paint, Jordan would dunk all over them.
But he struggled against one particular player, Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, the king of blocking shots.
Mutombo was famous for his finger wag celebration after his blocks. So when Jordan was finally able to dunk on him, he teased him by imitating the finger wag.
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When Mutombo appeared on ESPN a couple of years back, he was asked what he was thinking when Jordan dunked on him.
He replied, “It took Michael seven years to get one dunk. I’m in the Hall of Fame just from blocking shots. So give me some credit. I’m not going to sit quietly here because somebody was lucky enough to get one dunk. But now many of those blocks I got on Michael?”
When Dikembe Mutombo challenged Michael Jordan and the Bulls legend obliged
Jordan’s famous dunk over Mutombo came just months after the then Hawks star actually challenged Jordan. He said that in his six years in the league, Jordan was never able to dunk on him. The Bulls legend simply said, “Dikembe don’t even try,” but Mutombo went on. Sitting beside was Patrick Ewing, who just smirks towards the end of the video as if he knew what would happen.
Then later during the season, Jordan obliged to Mutombo’s challenge, and postered him, before pulling out the finger wag to taunt him. Jordan also once mocked Mutombo during a game when he called him out and shot free throws with his eyes closed, just to mock him.
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The 1990s was the era of the legendary big men in the NBA. Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing are some names that stand out.
But Mutombo is one of the most underrated centers from that time. Not only is he a three-time block champion but also a record (tied with Ben Wallace) four-time DPOY winner.
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He entered the league at 25, and retired at 42, leaving with three All-NBA appearances, six All-Defensive appearances, and he eventually got inducted Hall of Fame for his outstanding career.
ALSO READ – Three Times an Angry Michael Jordan Fought With His Chicago Bulls Teammates