Dikembe Mutombo is a retired professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association from 1991 to 2009. He has played with Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets. In his career, he was named an NBA All-Star eight times. He has a record four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa. He stands 218 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 118 kg. He is right-handed and he plays center.

He is one of 10 kids and his father was a school principal. Born Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, he is a member of the Luba ethnic group and speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and five Central African dialects.

Position Center
Height / weight 2.18 m / 118 kg
Born 25 Jun 1966
Nationality United States United States
Playing Style Right Handed
Nickname Mt. Mutombo
Team History
219 houston rockets Houston 2004 - 2009
204 new york knicks New York 2003 - 2004
203 new jersey nets New Jersey Nets 2002 - 2003
205 philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 2001 - 2002
212 atlanta hawks Atlanta 1996 - 2001
225 denver nuggets Denver 1991 - 1996

His older brother Ilo Mutombo also played basketball professionally. His son Ryan Mutombo plays college basketball.

High School and College Career

He attended high school at the Institute Boboto in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Later, he committed to play college basketball for Georgetown University from 1988 to 1991.

In that time, he was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991. Also in 1991, he was named to the First-team All-Big East.

Professional Career

Mutombo was known to be one of the oldest players in the NBA in 2009. With Jersey number 55; his basketball active years were from 1991 till 2009.

He was drafted in 1991 in the first round of the fourth pick. Selected by the Denver Nuggets.

Some of the professional NBA teams of which he was a part include the Nuggets (1991-1995), Atlanta Hawks (1996-2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2001-02), and New Jersey Nets (2002-03). He also played for the New York Knicks (2003-04) and the Houston Rockets (2004-09).

As a Rookie, Mutombo was selected for the All-Star team with an average of 16.6 points, 3 blocks per game, and 12.3 rebounds. During this season of 1991, he became known as the best defensive player in the league with rebounds and block numbers for consecutive five years averaging 11 or so points per game

After his contract with the Nuggets expired, he joined the Hawks and won two more Defensive Player of the Year awards. He even won many All-Defensive Team selection awards. In 1999, he was the IBM Award winner for the NBA 1999.

Whilst with the Philadelphia 76ers, he achieved the fourth Defensive Player of the Year award and was also in the prime of his career.

He is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players and shot blockers ever, having won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award at least four times.

In 2007, Mutombo beat the record of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as the second most productive shot blocker in the history of NBA, leaving behind Hakeem Olajuwon. He played his final matches for the Houston Rockets team of NBA in 2009.

During the second match of the first round itself, he suffered a knee injury which would keep him out for the remainder part of the post-season games. Later on, he announced that it would be his final game in the NBA. His career statistics are 11,729 points, 12,359 rebounds, and 3,289 blocks.

Career Highlights

  • 1992, 1995–1998, 2000–2002 - NBA All-Star
  • 2001 - All-NBA Second Team
  • 1998, 2002 - All-NBA Third Team
  • 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 - NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 1997, 1998, 2001 - NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • 1995, 1999, 2002 - NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1992 - NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 2000, 2001 - NBA rebounding leader
  • 1994–1996 - NBA blocks leader
  • 1999 - IBM Award
  • No. 55 retired by the Atlanta Hawks
  • No. 55 retired by the Denver Nuggets

  • 1991 - Third-team All-American – AP, UP
  • 1991 - First-team All-Big East
  • 1990 - Second-team All-Big East
  • 1990, 1991 - Big East Defensive Player of the Year

Career NBA Statistics

  • Points - 11,729 (9.8 ppg)
  • Rebounds - 12,359 (10.3 rpg)
  • Blocks - 3,289 (2.8 bpg)

  • Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, 2015

Dikembe Mutombo FAQ

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