Ten fun facts about Dikembe Mutombo
Fact 1
Mutombo’s full name? Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo.
Fact 2
With a towering height of 7 feet and 2 inches, the 260-pound Mutombo is regarded as one of the best shot blockers and defensive players of all time.
Fact 3
Mutombo was also an eight-time All-Star.
Fact 4
He attended Georgetown University on a scholarship, and his original intention was to become a doctor; however, the Georgetown Hoyas basketball coach John Thompson recruited him to play basketball. When he arrived at Georgetown he spoke almost no English, and studied in the ESL program. He proved to be an excellent college center, continuing Georgetown's tradition of producing great big men. He was a celebrated shot blocker at Georgetown, setting a team record of twelve blocked shots in a single game.
Fact 5
Nicknamed as "Mt. Mutombo", his deadly combination of height, power, and long arms have won him the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.
Fact 6
Along with his defensive prowess, Mutombo also could contribute offensively, averaging at least 10 points per game until he reached age 35.
Fact 7
His flailing elbows were known for injuring several NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Charles Oakley, Dennis Rodman Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Yao Ming, LeBron James and Tracy McGrady. His former teammate Yao Ming made a joke about it: "I need to talk to Coach to have Dikembe held out of practice, because if he hits somebody in practice, it's our teammate. At least in the games, it's 50/50."
Fact 8
He was born a member of the Luba ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Fact 9
Multilingual by both upbringing and education, Mutombo speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Tshiluba, Swahili, Lingala and two other Central African varieties.
Fact 10
A well-known humanitarian, Mutombo started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997.
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