During his senior year in college, Dikembe Mutombo firmly established himself as a top NBA prospect. He averaged 15.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game. In 1991, he was selected fourth overall by the Denver Nuggets. His stellar career would see him earn eight All-Star honors. In 2015, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In addition to his stellar basketball career, Mutombo has made a lasting impact on the world through humanitarian efforts. In the last six years, he has donated over $10 million to a number of nonprofit organizations. His charity work focuses on Africa, where he has helped many people.
After graduating from Georgetown, Mutombo received an honorary doctorate from the university's school. In 2015, he also won the Timothy S. Healy S.J. Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to public service. While he will always be remembered for his amazing basketball exploits, Mutombo also has a number of other honors. He was named a member of the Georgetown University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
As a member of the New Jersey Nets, Dikembe Mutombo played in his first NBA finals with Allen Iverson. His team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. In 2009, Mutombo joined the Houston Rockets. In addition to playing for the Rockets, he also served as a Global Ambassador for the NBA. He traveled the world to promote basketball and charitable causes. He was nominated for the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award twice.
As a rookie, Mutombo averaged just 11 minutes per game for the Georgetown Hoyas. However, even in that limited time, he showed enormous potential. His seventy-seven percent field-goal accuracy broke a 22-year record and he did not miss a shot in twenty-three games. Though his average scoring was modest, his shot-blocking skills were unmatched.
During his 18-year NBA career, Dikembe Mutombo earned four Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was named to six All-Defensive teams. He also led the league twice in defensive rebounds. Eventually, he finished 11th all-time. As a member of the NBA's Hall of Fame, he is recognized as a legend for his defending ability.
In the 1993-94 season, Mutombo quickly established himself as the premier defensive player in the NBA. His defensive play earned him a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team. His stellar play helped the Nuggets advance to the NBA playoffs, where they faced the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics.
In addition to his basketball career, Mutombo has devoted his life to humanitarian causes. He has worked tirelessly to support causes related to HIV and AIDS. He has also been an ambassador for the sport. He also helped to create the Basketball Africa League.