NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo died on Monday at age 58 after a battle with brain cancer. Mutombo is a basketball legend who went to school to be a doctor and had no plans to play basketball until he was recruited.
Where did Dikembe Mutombo go to college?
Diekmbe Mutombo went to Georgetown. He attended the school on a USAID scholarship and planned to be a doctor, but while he was on campus, basketball coach John Thompson recruited him to play basketball.
Mutombo didn't play his freshman season, and in his sophomore year, the two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year played in 33 games but didn't start any games. He finished the year averaging 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while also having 12 blocks in one game.
After getting more comfortable playing basketball, he had more success in his junior and senior years. In his junior season, he averaged 10.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 4.1 bpg. In his senior year at Georgetown, he averaged 15.2 pppg, 12.2 rpg and 4.7 bpg.
Following his three years at Georgetown, Mutombo was selected fourth by the Denver Nuggets in the 1991 NBA draft.
NBA commissioner issues statement after Dikembe Mutombo's death
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement following the death of Dikembe Mutombo.
"Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others. There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA's first Global Ambassador."
"He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe ... He was always accessible at NBA events over the years -- with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation."
Mutombo played 18 NBA seasons. He was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
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