By McGeorge Mbare
NBA global ambassador and hall of famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 from brain cancer.
Mutombo is regarded as one of the best defensive basketball players in the history of the NBA.
He played 18 seasons for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, the New JerseyNets, New York Knicks and Houston Rocket.
Mutombo retired during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo and the rest of Africa.
He also served on the. Boards of many organisations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Various people across the globe have passed their heartfelt condolences massages on social media upon Mutombo ‘s death including Former United States President Barack Obama.
“Dikembe Mutombo was an incredible basketball player – one of the best shot blockers and defensive players of all time. But he also inspired a generation of young people across Africa, and his work as the NBA’s first global ambassador changed the way athletes think about their impact off the court. Michelle and I are thinking of Dikembe’s family and everyone who knew and loved him” .Obama wrote.