Dikembe Mutombo moved to the United States from Congo to attend Georgetown University, where he first made waves in the sport as a remarkable center. His defensive skills were evident early in his college basketball career, and he quickly became known for his shot-blocking prowess.
In 1991, Mutombo was drafted by the Denver Nuggets . He picked up where he left off in the NBA and displayed phenomenal shot-blocking ability, which ultimately became his claim to fame on basketball's biggest stage.
In his 18-year NBA career, Deke earned four Defensive Player of the Year awards, six NBA All-Defensive Team selections, and clinched the No. 2 spot on the all-time blocks leaders. Reflecting on his legendary defense, "Mt. Mutombo" humbly believed he achieved his goal of becoming one of the greatest defenders in NBA history.
"I was playing with a goal in mind, and what I wanted to accomplish before I would leave the game. Being able to accomplish that, I was so proud of my success. Every time I came to the court, I studied the statistics. I knew where I stood on the defensive end and the history. I knew where I was going. My goal was to become one of the best defensive players in NBA history. I've been told I accomplished that," Mutombo told NBA.com in 2021.
Deke learned from the best but did not stop studying
Mutombo solidified his reputation as one of the best shot-blockers the game has ever seen by amassing over 3,000 blocks throughout his career. Despite his undeniable success, Deke remained committed to learning more about his mastery and improving even more.
Mutombo credited 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell with teaching him intricate details about shot-blocking. However, he never felt overconfident about his skill level. In addition to learning from one of the best, "Mt. Mutombo" consciously made an effort to study each offensive player's style.
"I studied many hours. The entire team we were playing against and any outstanding players I might have to defend. The most important thing was to recognize their timing – when a guy would put the ball on the floor and when he'd jump to come to the rim. If you cannot recognize that, you can miss him or even have your hand get broken. Or you end in foul trouble. I learned these things from Bill Russell," Mutombo revealed.
Mutombo was more than just a basketball legend
Mutombo's journey to becoming one of the best defenders in NBA history is a testament to his relentless determination and commitment to his craft. Throughout his career, Deke became an accomplished athlete and an inspiring figure outside basketball.
Off the court, Mutombo was known for his humanitarian work, especially in his home country in, Congo. With that in mind, the world is deeply saddened by his untimely death as we didn't only lose a true basketball legend but also a genuinely kind human being.
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