Starting 5: Remembering Mutombo’s legacy

Dikembe Mutombo. A defensive mountain on the court, a humanitarian icon off of it.

THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside today’s edition?
Remembering Mutombo: How a giant – with the heart to match – became an NBA legend
Off-The-Court Impact: Mutombo’s greatest achievements didn’t come on the hardwood
NBA Family Honors Mutombo: The tributes poured in on Monday from all corners of the basketball community
Dikembe’s Legacy In Photos: Celebrating Mutombo’s extraordinary impact on and off the court in eight frames
Media Day Monday: Which moments stood out among yesterday’s 28 Media Day sessions?
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Two pivotal Game 2s in the W tonight…

The WNBA Semifinals continue with a pair of Game 2s on ESPN2. The Liberty host the Aces (7:30 ET) looking to go up 2-0 in the 2023 Finals rematch. Then, the Lynx host the Sun (9:30 ET) looking to even the series before it shifts to Connecticut.
1. REMEMBERING 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.” – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
On Monday, the basketball world was stunned by the news of Dikembe Mutombo’s passing at the age of 58 following a battle with brain cancer.
The 7-foot-2 center from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Georgetown University was the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Mutombo began his 18-year playing career in the Denver (1991-96) followed by stops in Atlanta (1996-2001), Philadelphia (2001-02), New Jersey (2002-03), New York (2003-04) and Houston (2004-09) before heading to Springfield in 2015 as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Over 1,196 career games, Mutombo amassed 11,729 points (9.8 ppg), 12,359 rebounds (10.3 rpg) and 3,289 blocks (2.8 bpg). He is one of seven players with 10K points, 10K rebounds and 2.5K blocks, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson
Mutombo’s impressive on-court stats and accolades fail to measure the impact that Mutombo had on the game of basketball and how he propelled his success on the court into a lasting impact off the court.
2. MUTOMBO’S OFF-THE-COURT IMPACT

“People in Congo [were] able to see the brand-new hospital, the brand-new school that was built for the kids because of the game of basketball. Sport didn’t just give me a gift of talent to block shots, it allowed me to connect to the rest of the world and to go and make a difference.” – Dikembe Mutombo in 2022
Mutombo’s greatest achievements were not captured in a box score or a highlight reel.
His tireless humanitarian efforts in his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout the continent of Africa have made a lasting impact that will be felt well beyond his 58 years.
Mutombo is the only two-time winner of the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2001, 2009), which is presented annually to a player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.
when his playing career came to an end, Mutombo was named the NBA’s first-ever Global Ambassador

“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “He was a humanitarian to 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.”
In addition to his work with the NBA, Mutombo served on the boards of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Constitution Center, Special Olympics International and on the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
3. THE NBA FAMILY REMEMBERS DIKEMBE

After a lifetime of charity and friendship off the court and greatness on it, tributes to Dikembe Mutombo poured in from all corners of the NBA Family on Monday, from fellow greats who suited up against him to active players who he inspired.
your legacy lives on forever,” wrote Rudy Gobert

On Monday at Raptors Media Day, Toronto’s Vice-Chairman and Team President, Masai Ujiri – who grew up in Nigeria – fought through emotion to honor his mentor and friend with some touching words.
added Mavs Coach and Mutombo’s former teammate Jason Kidd at Dallas’ Media Day. “When you talk about an angel – unfortunately, he was taken a little bit too soon.”
The outpouring of love for Mutombo flowed in rapidly throughout the day, as all six of his former NBA teams – the Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets – honored him with heartfelt messages on social media, as well as his alma mater, Georgetown University, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and countless other NBA players.
4. MUTOMBO’S LEGACY IN PHOTOS
As tributes keep rolling in for Mutombo today, we celebrate his extraordinary life through photos that help capture his forever-lasting impact on and off the court.
5. MEDIA DAY MONDAY: SAME FACES IN NEW PLACES + AN NBA ‘FIRST’

Monday also marked Media Day for 28 teams around the league, where several big names made their first appearances with their new clubs, while a rookie and the longest-tenured active player set the stage for history.
said LeBron on the opportunity of playing with Bronny

“When me and [Kyrie Irving] have the ball, you basically can’t help from Klay because if you leave him wide open, he’s going to make it.”

“I’m trying to be serious, but I can’t stop laughing … You’re the kid.”

Plus, nearly three months after being traded, Dejounte Murray ushered in a new era in New Orleans next to Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum

“You can tell the city is thirsty for it and the city wants one”

We’ll be back Wednesday to recap more Media Day highlights, including additional storylines, analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage.