The world lost a special person in Dikembe Mutombo, but he will live on through his humanitarian work and commitment to family. Dikembe truly embodied what it means to be a global ambassador – he is forever a Hoya, and Dikembe’s legacy transcends the sport of basketball,” Georgetown men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley wrote on X.
Standing 7-foot-2, he was recruited by former men’s basketball coach John Thompson Jr. and played on a basketball scholarship his final three years at Georgetown. Mutombo did not speak English when he arrived in the United States and learned the language in just a few weeks.
A virtual unknown outside Georgetown’s gates, Mutombo began playing for the men’s basketball team in the 1988-89 season as a sophomore. His performance on the court instantly spoke to his defensive prowess: During his rookie season, Mutombo blocked 12 shots in a single game against St. John’s University — an NCAA single-game record — setting the stage for a formidable frontcourt partnership with Alonzo Mourning (COL ’92) known as “Rejection Row” and helping his team to an Elite Eight finish.
During his junior season, Mutombo began to play more, averaging a double-double — 10 points and 10 rebounds — in the 24 games he started. Though the Hoyas were knocked out early in the NCAA tournament, Mutombo was named Big East defensive player of the year and second-team all-Big East.
With Mourning injured, Mutombo became the Hoya offense’s focal point as a senior, leading the team in scoring and repeatedly leading the team in rebounds — tallying 27 in the Big East Tournament quarterfinal matchup against the University of Connecticut. In all, Mutombo recorded 947 points, 354 blocked shots and a whopping 823 rebounds over his three-year college career.
After graduating from Georgetown with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy, Mutombo was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, going to the Denver Nuggets.
“I like to sit back and listen to how people say how great some of these are now, because in a few years Dikembe’s going to surpass them all,” Thompson said of the 1991 draft picks.
Throughout his career and after, Mutombo was a tireless advocate for his home country, spearheading multiple charity initiatives to support education and healthcare in the Congo. Mutombo founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 and helped fund the construction of a general hospital in Kinshasa, established a primary school focused on science and entrepreneurship and championed children’s issues with UNICEF and Special Olympics International, serving on the boards of both organizations. Mutombo founded Mutombo Coffee in 2021, which aims to work mostly with female farmers in the Congo and other African countries to close the gender gap in the coffee industry.
“The health and the development of a country are closely linked to the health of its people,” Mutombo said in a speech at Georgetown in 2001. “Education is so important to good health.”
The NBA named Mutombo its first global ambassador in 2009. Mutombo worked with the NBA on international outreach efforts including Basketball Without Borders, a program that provides basketball instruction in 33 countries.
Beyond his basketball stardom, Mutombo served on the university’s board of directors, an advisory body which helps to govern Georgetown, from 2017 to 2023, serving on two of its committees, according to a university press release.
“Dikembe Mutombo was the embodiment of the spirit of Georgetown,” Joseph Ferrara, a university vice president and chief of staff to university president John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95), wrote in the release. “From his prolific college and professional basketball careers to his tireless work in retirement to improve the lives of those in need of better health and opportunity, he lived Georgetown’s values in a way we always will hold with great esteem and pride. His passing is a tremendous loss for the Georgetown community and indeed the United States, Congo, and everywhere else where he uplifted those around him.”
A Legacy of Defense and Finger Wags
While Mutombo’s impact on the game of basketball was immense, he will be remembered just as much for his philanthropy. He established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, which focuses on improving health, education, and the quality of life for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His work has included funding the construction of a hospital in Kinshasa, the capital, that has treated nearly half a million people, regardless of their ability to pay.
A Champion of Children
Beyond his work in the Congo, Mutombo was an advocate for children’s issues on a global scale. He served on the boards of both UNICEF and Special Olympics International. He also established a primary school in the Congo that focuses on science and entrepreneurship.
The Man Behind the Finger Wag
One of the most iconic aspects of Mutombo’s career was his signature finger wag, which he would deliver to opponents after blocking their shots. He was notorious for blocking shots with his massive hands and then wagging his finger at the player as if to say, “Don’t try that again.”
A Global Ambassador
The NBA named Mutombo its first global ambassador in 2009, recognizing his commitment to growing the game around the world. He worked closely with the NBA on international outreach efforts, including Basketball Without Borders, which provides basketball instruction in 33 countries. Mutombo’s legacy is one of both athletic prowess and humanitarianism. His impact on the game of basketball and the world will be felt for generations to come.
A life of Service and Inspiration
His life was full of service and inspiration, leaving an indelible mark on the world. He will be remembered for his incredible career on the court, but also for his unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of others, particularly in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mutombo’s legacy will continue to inspire people around the world for years to come.
Final Thoughts
“Dikembe was simply larger than life. 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,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement.
