Hall of Fame big man Dikembo Mutombo impacted plenty of lives with his humanitarian work all over the world, especially in Africa, where he built hospitals and schools. But his impact went far beyond just his charitable efforts—he also left a lasting impression on the basketball community.
One player fortunate enough to have Mutombo in his corner was Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. During the Grizzlies’ media day, the 6-foot-10 center opened up about his relationship with “Mt. Mutombo,” who was always there for him since he was a young child.
A significant presence in his life
JJJ’s father, former NBA player Jaren Jackson, was Dikembe’s roommate in college, which led to a close relationship between the two families. As a result, the All-Star big man was able to spend time around Mutombo and learn from him firsthand.
“I’ve known Dikembe since I was very tiny, and he had a lot of impact on my life, especially his enthusiasm. He was my dad’s roommate, so he was really somebody who was in my corner before I was ever good at basketball, for real,” JJJ revealed . “He was always telling me how much more gifted I was offensively than him, even when I was younger, and wasn’t as gifted offensively as I am now.”
Mutombo’s confidence in Jaren helped the young man blossom at Michigan State and later in Memphis. Along with explosive guard Ja Morant and standout wingman Desmond Bane, he has become one of the Grizzlies’ foundational players. Like Dikembe, JJJ has stood out on defense, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
Related: "Why are you doing this?" - Jeanie Buss said she used to get in a fight with Phil Jackson for holding Thanksgiving practices
More than basketball
While basketball was a common denominator between the young gun and the NBA legend, Jaren said there was more to their relationship than an orange ball and the hoop. Despite Mutombo’s busy schedule, he always checked in on JJJ.
“As I got older, he would always check up on me, cuss me out, talk trash, and just be himself. He would always give me advice in a really loving way, and then flip and give real advice that would really stick with me. It wasn’t just someone I connected with because of defense or anything like that—it was real personal,” Jaren disclosed.
As the basketball community and the world mourns Mutombo’s passing at 58 due to brain cancer, Jaren would always carry the lessons and memories shared by his mentor. The “Block Panther” will always treasure the time spent with Mutombo, whether receiving tips on defense or simply sharing laughs.
Related: Embiid pays his respects to Mutombo: "Aside from what he accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court"
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