NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Dies of Brain Cancer at 57

Dikembe Mutombo, the towering 7-foot-2 center who starred at Georgetown University before becoming one of the NBA’s greatest shot blockers, died of brain cancer, the league announced on Monday. He was 57.Mutombo first made his mark at Georgetown, where his shot-blocking abilities and imposing presence on the court quickly earned him national recognition. Legendary coach John Thompson, who also helped the Hoyas’ defense become one of the best in the game, recruited Mutombo and fellow star Alonzo Mourning. During his time with the Hoyas, he was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice and famously blocked 12 shots in a single game, prompting Georgetown fans to create the “Rejection Row” cheering section.After graduating with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy in 1991, Mutombo entered the NBA, where his defensive dominance became the hallmark of his nearly two-decade career. Over stints with six teams—including Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, and Houston—Mutombo swatted 3,289 shots, the second most in NBA history. His signature finger wag warned opponents not to challenge him at the rim after each block.He was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year four times, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most feared defenders....