Dikembe Mutombo, a name synonymous with both towering basketball prowess and profound humanitarianism, was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The seventh of ten children born to Samuel and Biamba Marie Mutombo, his journey to becoming a global icon began with an academic scholarship that brought him to the United States in 1987. He enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where his life took an unexpected turn. Initially pursuing pre-med studies, his towering 7'2" frame caught the attention of legendary basketball coach John Thompson, who invited him to try out for the university's esteemed basketball team. This pivotal moment led Mutombo to redirect his academic focus, ultimately graduating with dual degrees in Linguistics and Diplomacy, showcasing his fluency in nine languages, including five African tongues. His 18-year professional basketball career in the NBA, culminating with his retirement from the Houston Rockets in 2009, stands as a testament to his athletic achievements.
However, Mutombo's legacy extends far beyond the basketball court. Giving back has been a hallmark of his character since his early days in the NBA. As a former spokesman for CARE, he visited Somali refugee camps in Northern Kenya in 1993, and traveled with NBA Commissioner David Stern and Georgetown colleagues Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning to Cape Town and Johannesburg, demonstrating his early commitment to global relief efforts. In 1996, he personally funded the Congo's women's basketball team's trip to the Atlanta Summer Olympics and covered the track team's uniforms and expenses, highlighting his dedication to supporting his homeland. He also served as the first Youth Emissary for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and on the Advisory Board for the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health, further solidifying his role as a global humanitarian.
His influence extends to the boards of prominent organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Constitution Center, Special Olympics International, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Mutombo's contributions have garnered numerous accolades, including ABC's Person of the Week, Essence Magazine's 2001 Achiever, and Sporting News' No. 1 Good Guy. He has been featured in international publications like Europe's TIME magazine, Sports Illustrated for Kids, the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Houston Chronicle, and Forbes magazine, underscoring his widespread recognition.
In 2009, then NBA Commissioner David Stern appointed Mutombo as an NBA Global Ambassador, a role he continues to fulfill, promoting basketball internationally and addressing vital social issues through NBA Cares. His extensive list of honors and awards includes the 2017 Trumpet Humanitarian Award, the 2016 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, his 2015 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the 2013 Congressional Humanitarian Award, among many others. In 2010, President Barack Obama honored him with the John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream award, and he received the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy. President George W. Bush also recognized his work during a State of the Union address in 2007.
At the heart of Mutombo's philanthropic efforts is the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which he established in 1997. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the foundation aims to improve health, education, and quality of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A cornerstone of his foundation's work is the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, opened in Kinshasa in 2007 at a cost of $29 million. Named in memory of his mother, the hospital has provided care to nearly 200,000 individuals, becoming a beacon of hope in the region. Dikembe Mutombo, residing in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Rose and their three children, continues to be a force for positive change, bridging the worlds of sports and humanitarianism.
