Nuggets honor Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo with video tribute and 55-second round of applause

DENVER – There was a video tribute celebrating that of Dikembe Mutombo great achievements on and off the field. Then Denver Nuggets fans stood up and cheered for 55 seconds—his number.

latecomer Mutombo was recalled by the franchise in the first quarter of Thursday night’s season opener against Oklahoma City. Denver players and coaches also showed their respect by wearing jerseys emblazoned with an image of the iconic big man.

Mutombo, the basketball Hall of Famer known for his enormous smile and heart, unmistakable voice and, of course, that finger flick, died last month of brain cancer. He was 58 years old.

“I feel very fortunate to have known him and coached him and spent time with him,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, whose team wrote Mutombo’s name and “55” on the floor next to Denver’s bench . “He will be missed by many, many people.”

Mutombo helped the Nuggets become the No. 1 seed. 8 that beat a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs when they knocked off Seattle in 1994 in a best-of-five series. It wasn’t just an indelible moment in Nuggets lore, but a pretty sight — Mutombo on the floor at the buzzer, flat on his back, holding the ball above his head with a beaming smile.

It’s a picture Malone has in his office.

After a stellar career at Georgetown, Mutombo was taken with the fourth overall pick by Denver in the 1991 NBA draft. He spent five seasons in the Mile High City, becoming an instant fan favorite.

Mutombo’s 18-year NBA career also included stops with Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center was an eight-time All-Star, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-NBA selection. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career. He is second in career shutouts in NBA history.

More than hoops, he was known for his generosity. He built a hospital in Congo and that facility – named after his mother – has treated around 200,000 people. He has worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, UNICEF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“His legacy is so much more than on the field,” Malone said. “It’s everything he’s done for his home country, building hospitals, giving back.

“That’s what you want to see from people, is that when they succeed, they find a way to give back and make people’s lives better. Dikembe Mutombo will always be remembered as an ambassador for this game, on the pitch and off the field with a huge heart.”

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