2015 class of inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame Lisa Leslie, left, smiles as Dikembe Mutombo, right, waves his finger during a news conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, in Springfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Dikembe Mutombo, the Hall of Fame center known for his iconic finger wag and humanitarian efforts, passed away at the age of 58 due to brain cancer.
The Atlanta Hawks’ Dikembe Mutombo, left, drives to the hoop against the Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman during the second quarter of their playoff game Thursday, May 8, 1997, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Michael S. Green, File)Retired Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo, right, wags his finger at team mascot Rocky the mountain lion as Mutombo takes the court during the teams 50th anniversary celebration before the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Denver. The Nuggets won 96-79. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Mutombo, one of the NBA’s greatest defensive players, spent 18 seasons in the league, earning four Defensive Player of the Year awards and playing in eight All-Star Games. He ranks second in career blocks with 3,289.
Beyond his on-court accomplishments, Mutombo was a global ambassador for the NBA, using his platform to improve communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and across Africa. He was widely admired for his generosity and humanitarian work.
Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC.
