The Basketball Africa League (BAL) recently shared plans to honor the late Dikembe Mutombo during the entirety of the 2025 season. This special initiative recognizes Mutombo’s incredible achievements on and off the court. It also pays tribute to his great enduring legacy as a humanitarian and a global ambassador for the sport.
Mutombo, who succumbed to brain cancer on September 30th, 2024, had a storied 18-year NBA career. He towers above everyone else at a whopping 7-foot-2 stature. Established as one of the best defenders to ever play, he was honored with accolades, including three All-NBA First Team selections. During his 14-year playing career, he proved himself with multiple professional franchises. Among those were the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and New Jersey Nets.
His impact extended beyond the court. Mutombo went on to become the NBA’s first global ambassador. Perhaps more than any of his predecessors, he used that platform to pursue health, education and economic opportunities for Africans. In 2015, he was ensconced in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor only served to cement his place in the history of basketball greats.
While he was in the league, Mutombo’s presence served as a huge deterrent. He ranks second in NBA history with an incredible 3,289 rejections. He committed himself to public service. In turn, he was appointed with accolades as a two-time winner of the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
The BAL plans to introduce “a new annual honor that will recognize a person or an organization that works to advance health, education or economic opportunity across the continent of Africa,” according to an official statement from the NBA. This honor is meant to pay tribute to Mutombo’s commitment to empowering communities to create positive impact.
Dikembe Mutombo’s impact went far beyond the basketball court, it had the power to inspire an untold number of people just like you. His legacy will live on, inspiring generations of players and fans to follow. BAL’s tribute will be a fitting reminder of his contributions to the sport and society.
Leave a Reply