Mt.Mutombo
If you have ever rejected a shot in your life, you've probably had the urge to wave the finger.
One of the most famous rim protectors in the game of basketball, Dikembe Mutombo was a defensive monster in the paint throughout the course of his career and earned himself the nickname "Mt.Mutombo" for his presence inside the paint. Dikembe spent 3 years playing his collegiate basketball at Georgetown University. In his final year in a Hoyas jersey, Mutombo averaged 15.2 PTS, 12.2 REB, and 4.7 BLK. Those numbers lead to the Denver Nuggets making Mutombo the 4th overall selection in the 1991 NBA Draft.
Most young bigs take a while to click when they enter the NBA but Dikembe hit the ground running. In his rookie season, Dikembe went on to average 16.6 PTS, 12.3 REB, and 3.0 BLK. The talented big man would go on to play a total of 18 seasons in the NBA and was named into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
If you take a look at some of Mutombo's most successful seasons throughout the course of his career... these numbers might surprise you.
PTS |
REB |
BLK |
FG% |
|
94-95 |
11.5 | 12.5 | 3.9 | 55.6% |
95-96 |
11.0 | 11.8 | 4.5 | 49.9% |
96-97 |
13.3 | 11.6 | 3.3 | 52.7% |
97-98 |
13.4 | 11.4 | 3.4 | 53.7% |
98-99 |
10.8 | 12.2 | 2.9 | 51.2% |
99-00 |
11.5 | 14.1 | 3.3 | 56.2% |
Here are some other quick numbers when talking about the Hall of Fame Career of Dikembe Mutombo.
- 8x All-Star
- 3x All-NBA
- 4x Defensive Player of the Year
- 6x All-Defensive
- 3x Block Champ
- 2x Rebounding Champ
Dikembe Mutombo's impact on and off the court was incredible over the course of his career. Although Mutombo was a Hall of Fame player on the court, some could argue that his contributions worldwide off of the court were just as special.
(video via NBA)
(video via NBA )
