“RIP”- Manchester City Legend & Barack Obama Join Heartbroken NBA Fans In Mourning the Demise of Dikembe Mutombo at 58

As an ardent basketball follower, I wondered who the best-shot blockers in NBA history were. Of course, not born in that era, apart from Endrick, who saw Bobby Charlton play, the presence of elite shot blockers in the NBA made the league great. Be it Bill Russell, Mark Eaton, and Dwight Howard, basketball shone on the frontcourt. But when Dikembe Mutombo blocked the ball, it stayed blocked. Well, we have lost him now.

NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo died after a long battle with brain cancer at age 58. He entertained the audience with his defensive prowess from 1991 to 2009, swatting balls off the court. The four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards single-handedly helped him launch into the pantheon of elite shot blockers. The basketball fraternity observes a period of mourning. Many fans and soccer players gave their tributes with Manchester City legend, Vincent Kompany, sharing his tribute.

In a post on X, he stated, “Today a legend has passed away. Dikembe Mutombo was a legend of the game in the NBA and a legend of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has inspired and given hope to an entire generation of young Congolese people all over the world. We grew up watching the NBA, because of him. We took pride in our origins, because of him. He showed us that we could dream big and be successful. He showed us to cherish our roots. Not only in words, but also in action. The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation does immense humanitarian work in the DRC, focussing on improving health and quality of life. He will be missed. My thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. RIP.”

Apart from his work on the court, his humanitarian side often became a helping hand to those who needed it. Similarly, former President of the United States, Barack Obama shared his tribute for the basketball player. Both personalities did various charity works and Obama nodded his head to the NBA legend.

Tributes pour in for Dikembe Mutombo after his untimely passing

Moreover, NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned, “He poured his heart and soul into helping others.” Born in Congo, he became the first-round 4th overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft. Entering the league, the players of that era knew he was built differently. With fans pouring out their reactions, Dikembe Mutombo’s career deserves a celebration.

One fan displayed Mutombo mimicking his patented finger wag, “nuh uh” celebration with Sacramento Kings icon Vlade Divac. The player led the league in blocks 3x and basketball players thought twice before heading to the rim. The center averaged 4.5 blocks in the 1996 season.

In an interesting post, the user took a clip from TV host, Conan, to celebrate his career. Beyond his blocks and rebounding, Mutombo’s infectious personality often spread joy in the world. He knew how to make a person laugh!

Who can forget the famous Nuggets victory? The eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets rattled the Seattle Supersonics in 1994, becoming the first team since the 1984 playoff format to triumph over a number 1 seed. The user reminisced about the player’s influence in games and feared him when he took the court.

Larger than life persona but humble as a daisy, Dikembe Mutombo is a gift from heaven. Most basketball fans would miss his presence. It’s a celebration of his life and we hope to hear more stories about him.

RIP, Dikembe Mutombo!