BY MARK HALPERN
When you think of the best Centers to ever play in the NBA everyone will put Dikembe Mutombo in their top ten. The great Center who played 17 seasons for the Rockets, Nuggets, Hawks, Knicks, Nets and 76ers passed away at the age of 58 from Brain Cancer.
Dikembe Mutombo came from the Republic of the Congo to play for the Georgetown Hoyas and he was a sight to watch. He dominated is his four years and drafted with the fourth pick in the first round by the Nuggets. Throughout his career Mutombo averaged 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1 assist per game. Mutombo had a long outstanding career and he did it with style. Mutombo had a signature move when he blocked a shot and it was him waving his finger back and forth saying to the person whom shot he blocked “Not in my house.” Mutombo was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2015.
One of Mutombo’s life dreams was to be able to create a way of making improvements in his home country of the Congo and in 1997 he did just that by creating the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation with doing the goals of just that. He helped provide various different areas from agriculture, jobs and yes Basketball. Mutombo was the hero to many kids in his country and the Basketball camps he created helped several kids see opportunities they might not get with out the help of Mutombo.
Mutombo was also a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics and was once on the international board of directors for that committee. Mutombo believed sports were never just meant to be just played by stars. He always believed that there was a place for everyone in the sports world not matter their condition in life.
Dikembe Mutombo will be greatly missed not just as a Basketball Player but a man of outstanding Character.
The Sports Insanity Network 