Sports Media Reacts as NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Dies of Brain Cancer at 58

Dikembe Mutombo's son, Ryan, shared a special message honoring his father ❤️

(via ryanmutombo/IG) pic.twitter.com/hHvrpJwFDx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2024

.@stephenasmith remembers Dikembe Mutombo ❤️

"No matter what you know about him as a basketball player, he was an even better human being. … One of the most beautiful, beautiful human beings I've ever known." pic.twitter.com/kkofBF3wAI

— First Take (@FirstTake) September 30, 2024

So sad hearing of ⁦@officialmutombo⁩ passing away. He was as charming a man as I ever met in sports. During the ⁦@nuggets⁩ Playoff run I was honored to cover his team. They were quite a story as an 8 seed in the Playoffs. He’ll forever be missed. 🙏🙏💜RIP Dikembe. pic.twitter.com/W7jFCSpf2s

— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) September 30, 2024

RIP Dikembe Mutombo

Hall of Famer, one of the greatest shot blockers ever, and a man who brought so much joy to the game of basketball. pic.twitter.com/287XzvpbZE

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 30, 2024

Prayers up for the Family, Friends and Loved Ones of Dikembe Mutombo. The Hall of Fame Center passed away today at 58 years old due to brain cancer. His Iconic Finger Wag “No No No” is still used to this day. He will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/bhm5AFoHcu

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 30, 2024

Today we mourn the loss of a true ambassador of our game, Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo. Dikembe spent 18 seasons in the NBA, including his final five as a Houston Rocket. His fun-loving personality and trademark finger-wagging endeared him to fans around the world, but Dikembe’s… pic.twitter.com/BfmKNGLGi3

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 30, 2024

Masai Ujiri’s full tribute to the great Dikembe Mutombo.

Dikembe’s passing is indeed a really really sad day in the basketball world.

RIP Dikembe ❤️ https://t.co/IlQx57gtw6 pic.twitter.com/bUsYeag3fZ

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) September 30, 2024

Super Sky Point to Dikembe Mutombo, the man who turned “NO NO NO” into a cultural phenomenon. His booming African accent and signature finger wag were copied by kids on playgrounds everywhere. The 4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a goddamn reason. He’ll be missed. #RIP pic.twitter.com/Y48YRRKk7L

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) September 30, 2024

“It took Michael seven years to get one dunk.” – the late, great Dikembe Mutombo telling us the story of when Michael Jordan turned the tables on him 😂 Funny, brash, outrageously talented – Deke was a million things, but most of all outrageously generous. His charity work will… pic.twitter.com/ESYajUE9Fn

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) September 30, 2024

What type of person was Dikembe Mutombo?

In 1997, while Mutombo was at the peak of his NBA career, he committed to building a hospital in the Congo. A year later, his mother Biamba died of a stroke, unable to get transported to a suitable medical facility due to an imposed… pic.twitter.com/tKVDtTCgBz

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 30, 2024

I grew up going to school with Dikembe Mutombo’s kids. He always sat in the last row of every choir concert, so that he wouldn’t block anyone’s view — and he never missed one. When he shook my hand, I remember thinking five of my hands could fit in one of his. A true gentle giant https://t.co/HySEYKD1Qq

— Bailey Johnson (@BaileyAJohnson_) September 30, 2024

"With a single finger he had more personality than so many players in that sport when he would block shots… anyone who knows what Mutombo was off the court knows how giving and fun he was."

Dan reacts to the news of Dikembe Mutombo's death at 58 due to brain cancer.

WATCH:… pic.twitter.com/XAthPNMwPy

— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) September 30, 2024

This was one of my first games of my first season with the Nuggets.

It was a privilege to be around Dikembe Mutombo and to see the impact he made on and off the floor in Denver and beyond. A special soul that will be missed greatly.

The world was better with him in it. pic.twitter.com/EHJngTYTpv

— Katy Winge (@katywinge) September 30, 2024

I had the pleasure of spending time with Dikembe Mutombo on a show on The Denver Post’s website. It was one of my favorite days.
This man literally built a hospital for people in his home land.
He was a larger-than-life center … and a larger-than-life human and humanitarian.
RIP pic.twitter.com/ru9CWnMAHX

— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) September 30, 2024

Had to share a story about Dikembe Mutombo

When John Thompson passed away in 2020, I was a producer at @SiriusXMNBA. I reached out to Dikembe to come on & he gave us 40 minutes of his time on a Sunday morning. What other HOF does that?

Truly had a heart of gold! RIP Mr. Mutombo pic.twitter.com/i21nHBHXnt

— David Shepard (@SheponAir) September 30, 2024

Heartbreaking news: Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo has passed away today at the age of 58 after battling brain cancer.

His impact on the game and the community will never be forgotten:

-8x NBA All Star
-4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year
-3x NBA All-Defensive First Team… pic.twitter.com/L8M3rmIBDF

— Moody (@EricNMoody) September 30, 2024

No. Heart is crushed. We lost a basketball legend, a generous human, and a fellow fighter. Hurts to see anyone else struggle and fight brain cancer. 😥 #DikembeMutombo https://t.co/urZThiCXPC

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) September 30, 2024

So sad to hear that Dikembe Mutombo has passed away. He was an incredible human being. All the things he did for Africa.
I used to love the way he called Allen Iverson “the little guy.”
That was an incredibly fun run to the NBA Finals in 2001.
Special man 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Nhfnc9ZMc8

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 30, 2024