NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo dies of cancer aged 58

Dikembe Mutombo, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died from brain cancer at the age of 58.

His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumour. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “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.”

Mutombo was distinctive in so many ways — the playful finger wag at opponents after blocking their shots, his height, his deep and gravelly voice, his massive smile.

Players of this generation were always drawn to him and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, looked to Mutombo, born in Kinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, as an inspiration.

“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world,” Embiid said on Monday. “Other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He’s one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court. He’s done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people. He was a role model of mine. It is a sad day.”

Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 2.18m tall ace was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.

One of three players to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year four times he was part of one of the league’s most iconic play-off moments, helping eighth-seeded Denver oust top-seeded Seattle in the first round of the 1994 Western Conference play-offs. That best-of-five series marked the first time a No. 8 beat a No. 1 in NBA history.

Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo.

Ryan Mutombo, the Hall of Famer’s son, said in a tribute posted on social media that his father “loved others with every ounce of his being.”

“My dad is my hero because he simply cared,” Ryan Mutombo wrote. “He remains the purest heart I have ever known.”