Dikembe Mutombo

Congolese-American basketball center who became one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, winning 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Mutombo's 3,289 career blocks are the most in NBA history, his finger wag after swatting shots became one of basketball's most imitated gestures, and he used the wealth the game provided to build the first modern hospital in the Congo in 40 years — a philanthropic achievement he consistently described as greater than anything he accomplished on a court.. Denver Nuggets selected him fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft after attending Georgetown University on an academic scholarship in pre-med. His 18-season career produced 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game along with eight All-Star appearances. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times — the second-most in history. He was named All-NBA Defensive First Team eight times. He is the all-time career blocks leader in NBA history with 3,289 blocks. His finger wag — pointing an extended finger at opponents after blocking his shots — became one of basketball's most famous gestures. He spoke nine languages. He used his wealth to build the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa — the first modern hospital in the Congo in 40 years — a philanthropic achievement that he considered his greatest accomplishment. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He died in September 2024 aged 58 after a battle with brain cancer.

Dominant rim protector and shot blocker, strong rebounder

One of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, humanitarian work in Congo

• Defensive Player of Year 4x (1995,1997,1998,2001)
• All-Star 8x
• All-NBA Defensive First Team 8x
• Hall of Fame (2015)
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team