Dikembe Mutombo
(1966 – )
Basketball Player
Dikembe Mutombo is a Congolese-American basketball player who was one of the best defenders in National Basketball Association (NBA) history and was also noted for his philanthropic efforts.
The 7-foot-2-inch Mutombo grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor and eventually mastered nine languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and five Central African dialects). In 1987 to attend Georgetown University on an academic scholarship. Mutombo had little interest in pursuing basketball when he arrived on campus, but he caught the attention of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson.
Mount Mutombo became the first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets going fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft. In 1996 he signed with the Atlanta Hawks, winning two more Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers winning more awards and aiding his team reach the NBA finals. Mutombo finished his NBA career playing for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets. He retired after the 2008–09 season with 3,289 career blocks (second most in NBA history) and eight total All-Star honors. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
But his most lasting influence on the game might be his commitment and dedication to improving life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through his Dikembe Mutombo Foundation.
Motivational Quote:
When there’s a problem affecting one part of the community, it becomes a responsibility of everyone.
5 Success Lessons
to learn from Dikembe Mutombo
- Maintain your body the way I did throughout my career.
- Be mentally fit for every challenge.
- We should not forget about where we come from.
- Be part of the change you want to see.
- Be a great model for the next generation.
Sources: britannica.como hoophall.com
