Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo

Standing 7'2 260 pounds one of the biggest defensive threats to EVER step into the paint in NBA history. . .

Starting with is first season at Georgetown (at the age of 52) Mutumbo came to the US to be a doctor. Then was recruited to play ball by John Thompson and paired with Alonzo Mourning to become a formidable frontcourt.

Picked 4th in the draft (behind the immortal Billy Owens) by Denver- The Hornets had the first pick in this draft- and went with Larry Johnson over the Acc's Kenny Anderson (causing a mild ruckus in North Carolina - but in the hornets defense they did have Muggsy Bogues)

Consider they had the Number 2 pick the next year- the Hornets could have paired Mutumbo with ZO the next year.

The Nuggets were the the FIRST 8th seed to knock off a 1 seed in the NBA playoffs- and the sight of Mutombo on the ground grasping the ball over him is burned in my memory

Denver never could get the right peices to make a good run- so at the end of his contract he did what a lot of players did- went to whatever team wrote him the biggest check.

Atlanta- The Money was important to Dm -as he has spent a TON back in Africa for MANY noteworthy causes

The ATl in the middle of rebuilding ver 18.2 Traded him for Theo Ratliff - and pairing him with AI - and on they went to the finals - losing to the Lakers and being outplayed by Shaq after another year the Sixers dumped him on the Nets - back to the Finals but DM was hurt most of that year

Sixers waived him and then he signed with the Knicks - who traded him to the Bulls and they sent him to the Rockets to pair behind Yao Ming

Mutumbo is known for his great defense presence and his sharp elbows and can count on sending Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Yao Ming, Lebron James and Tracy McGrady out of games and sometimes to the injured list.

His biggest claim to fame to me- is always that basketball and a grown man crying with joy.

Dikembe Mutombo

Career summary and highlights
4-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001
8-time NBA All-Star: 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
3-time All-NBA:
Second Team: 2001
Third Team: 1998, 2002
6-time All-Defensive:
First Team: 1997, 1998, 2001
Second Team: 1995, 1999, 2002
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1992
2nd on All-Time NBA recorded Blocks, 3,190.
2-time NBA regular-season leader, rebounding average: 2000 (14.1), 2001 (13.5)
4-time NBA regular-season leader, total rebounds: 1995 (1029), 1997 (929), 1999 (610), 2000 (1157)
NBA regular-season leader, offensive rebounds: 2001 (307)
2-time NBA regular-season leader, defensive rebounds: 1999 (418), 2000 (853)
3-time NBA regular-season leader, blocked shots average: 1994 (4.1), 1995 (3.9), 1996 (4.5)
5-time NBA regular-season leader, total blocks: 1994 (336), 1995 (321), 1996 (332), 1997 (264), 1998 (277)
Career averages (as of April 2007): 10.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.8 BPG