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Dikembe Mutombo

Philanthropic Efforts



In August of 2002, Mutombo was traded to the New Jersey Nets. Having played most of his career injury-free, Mutombo suffered a torn ligament in his right hand, which required surgery in early December, and placing the center on the injured list for the a good share of the remainder of the season. Before being sidelined, Mutombo had racked up a career total of more than 10,000 rebounds, 2,800 blocked shots, and 10,000 points.



Chronology

1966 Born June 25 in Kinshasa, Congo (formerly known as Zaire)
1987 Enrolls in Georgetown University on academic scholarship
1988 Joins Georgetown Hoyas basketball team
1989-91 Becomes star defensive player on Hoyas team
1991 Selected in the National Basketball Association draft by the Denver Nuggets
1994 Tours Africa as an international spokesperson for CARE
1996 Traded to the Atlanta Hawks
1999 Establishes the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation
2001 Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
2002 Traded to the New Jersey Nets; torn ligament in right hand requires surgery

Awards and Accomplishments

1990 Second Team All Big East and co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year
1991 Third Team All American and First Team All Big East; selected fourth overall in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by Denver Nuggets
1992 All Rookie First Team and NBA All Star
1993-96 Led league in blocks per game with 4.1, 3.9, and 4.5, respectively
1995 Defensive Player of the Year
1995-98 NBA All Star
1997-98 Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All Defense
1999 Received the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award
2000-01 Led league in rebounds with 14.1 and 13.5 rebounds per game, respectively
2000-02 NBA All Star
2001 First Team All Defense

Mutombo's success on the court has not made him forget his family or his homeland. He and his wife Rose have a daughter, Carrie Biamba Wamutumbo, and a son, Jean Jacques Dikembe Mutumbo Mplombo, Jr. They are the adoptive parents of four children, belonging to two of Mutombo's deceased brothers. Along with caring for his family financially, Mutombo also gives generously to his homeland. In 1994 he traveled Africa as an international spokesperson for CARE, and in 1999 he established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to provide funding for humanitarian assistance in Congo. Already a national hero, his popularity increased in 1996 when he donated the money to provide the Congo national women's team with uniforms for the Olympic Games. In 1999 he contributed $3 million to help establish a new hospital in the country and provided $250,000 in medical supplies to existing hospitals.

Career Statistics

Yr Team GP PTS P/G FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG BPG TO
ATL: Atlanta Hawks; DEN: Denver Nuggets; PHIL: Philadelphia 76ers.
1992 DEN 71 1177 16.6 .493 .000 .642 12.3 2.2 3.0 252
1993 DEN 82 1131 13.8 .510 .000 .681 13.0 1.8 3.5 216
1994 DEN 82 986 12.0 .569 .000 .583 11.8 1.5 4.1 206
1995 DEN 82 946 11.5 .556 .000 .654 12.5 1.4 3.9 192
1996 DEN 74 814 11.0 .499 .000 .695 11.8 1.5 4.5 150
1997 ATL 80 1066 13.3 .527 .000 .705 11.6 1.4 3.3 186
1998 ATL 82 1101 13.4 .537 .000 .670 11.4 1.0 3.4 168
1999 ATL 50 541 10.8 .512 .000 .684 12.2 1.1 2.9 94
2000 ATL 82 942 11.5 .562 .000 .708 14.1 1.3 3.3 174
2001 ATL/PHIL 75 749 10.0 .484 .000 .725 13.5 1.0 1.9 144
2002 PHIL 80 920 11.5 .501 .000 .764 10.8 1.0 2.0 156
TOTAL 840 10373 12.3 .522 .000 .679 12.3 1.4 3.4 1938

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsBasketballDikembe Mutombo Biography - Growing Up In Africa, Develops Basketball Skills, Defensive Genius, Philanthropic Efforts, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION