In case you didn’t see the news earlier, NBA Hall of Famer and former Knick, Dikembe Mutombo, has passed away at the age of 58. Mutombo died from the brain cancer that he had been diagnosed with in 2022. Beyond his contributions on the court, Mutombo was a phenomenal advocate for spreading the game overseas and through his foundation, has done tremendous humanitarian work for his native Democratic Republic of the Congo.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 30, 2024
Mutombo was born and raised in Kinshasa in 1966 and, like many African NBA players, didn’t pick up the game until his teenage years, as his family pushed him towards the game due to his height.