Dikembe Mutombo

Congolese-American basketball player
Also known as: Deke, Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo
Quick Facts
In full:
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo
Byname:
Deke
Born:
June 25, 1966, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died:
September 30, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. (aged 58)

Dikembe Mutombo (born June 25, 1966, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo—died September 30, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. ) was a Congolese-American basketball player who was one of the best defenders in National Basketball Association (NBA) history and was also noted for his philanthropic efforts.

The son of a father who worked as a school principal and then in Congo’s department of education, Mutombo grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor and eventually mastered nine languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and five Central African dialects). At the encouragement of his father and brother, the rapidly growing Mutombo took up basketball at age 16. His past participation in football (soccer) and martial arts eased his transition into the new sport, but he was still relatively raw when he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1987 to attend Georgetown University on an academic scholarship.

Mutombo had little interest in pursuing basketball when he arrived on campus, but he caught the attention of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson, who recruited the 7-foot 2-inch (2.18-meter) prospective medical-school student to join the basketball team. After spending a year dominating Georgetown’s intramural basketball league while straightening out his eligibility, Mutombo joined the Hoyas during his sophomore year but played sparingly during his first season on the team. He began to break out during his junior year, as Thompson began playing Mutombo alongside star forward-center (and fellow future Hall of Famer) Alonzo Mourning in an intimidating “twin tower” lineup. Mutombo established himself as an NBA prospect during his senior season, averaging 15.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and a stellar 4.7 blocks per game. He was then selected by the Denver Nuggets with the fourth overall pick of the 1991 NBA draft.

Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)
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Mutombo made an immediate impact on the NBA, piling up 16.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game during his rookie season and earning a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team. During the first round of the 1993–94 postseason, he helped the Nuggets defeat the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics, the first time an eighth seed had ever won an NBA playoff series. A television shot of a jubilant and crying Mutombo lying on the court and holding a basketball over his head after the series-clinching victory became one of the iconic images in league history. The following season, the second of three straight during which he led the NBA in blocks per game, saw Mutombo win his first NBA defensive player of the year (DPOY) award. The good-natured Mutombo became a fan favorite for his signature gesture of wagging a finger and saying “No, no, no” after blocking a shot.

In 1996 he signed with the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he continued his defensive dominance, winning two more DPOYs (1996–97, 1997–98). He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2000–01 season, after which he earned a fourth DPOY award and aided the 76ers in reaching the NBA finals (a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers). Mutombo finished his NBA career playing for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets. He retired after the 2008–09 season with 3,289 career blocks (second most in NBA history) and eight total All-Star honors. Mutombo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Off the court, Mutombo was noted as one of the most-charitable players to have ever played the game. He established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, which focused on building hospitals and providing health care in central Africa. In 2007 the foundation opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (named for his mother), which was the first new hospital established in Kinshasa in 40 years. In 2009 Mutombo was named the NBA’s Global Ambassador, a role that saw him travel the world to celebrate the sport and take part in charitable events. He won the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009, becoming the first two-time winner of the award with the latter honor. Mutombo announced in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He died of the disease in 2024.

Adam Augustyn

National Basketball Association

American sports organization
Also known as: NBA
Quick Facts
Date:
1949 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
basketball
professionalism

National Basketball Association (NBA), professional basketball league formed in the United States in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (founded 1946). In 1976 the NBA absorbed four teams from the American Basketball Association (ABA), which disbanded that year.

(Read James Naismith’s 1929 Britannica essay on his invention of basketball.)

League growth and membership

By the early 1980s the NBA was plagued by money-losing franchises, low attendance, declining television ratings, and limited national appeal. The league soon rebounded under the leadership of David Stern, NBA commissioner from 1984, who helped transform it into an international entertainment company. Aggressive marketing highlighted star players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and, especially, Michael Jordan. Other innovations included league limits on player salaries, lucrative broadcast rights for network and cable television, and expanded All-Star Game festivities.

Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)
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The NBA membership is divided into two conferences, each with three divisions. There are 30 teams, aligned as follows:

Eastern Conference Western Conference

The top-ranking teams at the end of each season engage in a playoff to determine the NBA champion, which claims the title of world champion. Probably the most dominant team in NBA history was the Boston Celtics, which, led by center Bill Russell, won 11 of 13 titles from 1956–57 to 1968–69; however, the league in those years contained only 8 to 14 teams, and team owners widely avoided signing African American players at the time. Other outstanding clubs were the Minneapolis (later Los Angeles) Lakers in the 1950s, the Los Angeles Lakers in the ’80s, and the Chicago Bulls in the ’90s.

NBA championship

Winners of the National Basketball Association championship are provided in the table.

National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship
season winner runner-up results
1946–47 Philadelphia Warriors Chicago Stags 4–1
1947–48 Baltimore Bullets Philadelphia Warriors 4–2
1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers Washington Capitols 4–2
1949–50 Minneapolis Lakers Syracuse Nationals 4–2
1950–51 Rochester Royals New York Knickerbockers 4–3
1951–52 Minneapolis Lakers New York Knickerbockers 4–3
1952–53 Minneapolis Lakers New York Knickerbockers 4–1
1953–54 Minneapolis Lakers Syracuse Nationals 4–3
1954–55 Syracuse Nationals Fort Wayne Pistons 4–3
1955–56 Philadelphia Warriors Fort Wayne Pistons 4–1
1956–57 Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks 4–3
1957–58 St. Louis Hawks Boston Celtics 4–2
1958–59 Boston Celtics Minneapolis Lakers 4–0
1959–60 Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks 4–3
1960–61 Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks 4–1
1961–62 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–3
1962–63 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–2
1963–64 Boston Celtics San Francisco Warriors 4–1
1964–65 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–1
1965–66 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–3
1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers San Francisco Warriors 4–2
1967–68 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–2
1968–69 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–3
1969–70 New York Knickerbockers Los Angeles Lakers 4–3
1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks Baltimore Bullets 4–0
1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers New York Knickerbockers 4–1
1972–73 New York Knickerbockers Los Angeles Lakers 4–1
1973–74 Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks 4–3
1974–75 Golden State Warriors Washington Bullets 4–0
1975–76 Boston Celtics Phoenix Suns 4–2
1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers Philadelphia 76ers 4–2
1977–78 Washington Bullets Seattle SuperSonics 4–3
1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics Washington Bullets 4–1
1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers 4–2
1980–81 Boston Celtics Houston Rockets 4–2
1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers 4–2
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers Los Angeles Lakers 4–0
1983–84 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–3
1984–85 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics 4–2
1985–86 Boston Celtics Houston Rockets 4–2
1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics 4–2
1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers Detroit Pistons 4–3
1988–89 Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers 4–0
1989–90 Detroit Pistons Portland Trail Blazers 4–1
1990–91 Chicago Bulls Los Angeles Lakers 4–1
1991–92 Chicago Bulls Portland Trail Blazers 4–2
1992–93 Chicago Bulls Phoenix Suns 4–2
1993–94 Houston Rockets New York Knickerbockers 4–3
1994–95 Houston Rockets Orlando Magic 4–0
1995–96 Chicago Bulls Seattle SuperSonics 4–2
1996–97 Chicago Bulls Utah Jazz 4–2
1997–98 Chicago Bulls Utah Jazz 4–2
1998–99 San Antonio Spurs New York Knickerbockers 4–1
1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers Indiana Pacers 4–2
2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers 4–1
2001–02 Los Angeles Lakers New Jersey Nets 4–0
2002–03 San Antonio Spurs New Jersey Nets 4–2
2003–04 Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers 4–1
2004–05 San Antonio Spurs Detroit Pistons 4–3
2005–06 Miami Heat Dallas Mavericks 4–2
2006–07 San Antonio Spurs Cleveland Cavaliers 4–0
2007–08 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4–2
2008–09 Los Angeles Lakers Orlando Magic 4–1
2009–10 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics 4–3
2010–11 Dallas Mavericks Miami Heat 4–2
2011–12 Miami Heat Oklahoma City Thunder 4–1
2012–13 Miami Heat San Antonio Spurs 4–3
2013–14 San Antonio Spurs Miami Heat 4–1
2014–15 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers 4–2
2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors 4–3
2016–17 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1
2017–18 Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers 4–0
2018–19 Toronto Raptors Golden State Warriors 4–2
2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers Miami Heat 4–2
2020–21 Milwaukee Bucks Phoenix Suns 4–2
2021–22 Golden State Warriors Boston Celtics 4–2
2022–23 Denver Nuggets Miami Heat 4–1
2023–24 Boston Celtics Dallas Mavericks 4–1

NBA all-time records

The table provides a selection of National Basketball Association records.

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National Basketball Association all-time records1
players/teams number season/date
Individual career records
Games played Robert Parish 1,611 1976–77—1996–97
Points scored LeBron James 42,184 2003–04—2024–25
Field goals attempted LeBron James 30,5832003–04—2024–25
Field goals made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15,837 1969–70—1988–89
Field-goal percentage2 DeAndre Jordan .6741 2008–09—2023–24
Three-point field goals attempted Stephen Curry 9,5892009–10—2024–25
Three-point field goals made Stephen Curry 4,0582009–10—2024–25
Three-point field-goal percentage3 Steve Kerr .454 1988–89—2002–03
Free throws attempted Karl Malone 13,188 1985–86—2003–04
Free throws made Karl Malone 9,787 1985–86—2003–04
Free-throw percentage4 Stephen Curry .91142009–10—2024–25
Assists John Stockton 15,806 1984–85—2002–03
Rebounds Wilt Chamberlain 23,924 1959–60—1972–73
Steals5 John Stockton 3,265 1984–85—2002–03
Blocked shots5 Hakeem Olajuwon 3,830 1984–85—2001–02
Personal fouls Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4,657 1969–70—1988–89
Wins (coaching) Gregg Popovich 1,422 1996–97—2024–25
Individual season records
Points scored Wilt Chamberlain 4,029 1961–62
Field goals attempted Wilt Chamberlain 3,159 1961–62
Field goals made Wilt Chamberlain 1,597 1961–62
Field-goal percentage Mitchell Robinson .7419 2019–20
Three-point field goals attempted James Harden 1,028 2018–19
Three-point field goals made Stephen Curry 402 2015–16
Three-point field-goal percentage Kyle Korver .536 2009–10
Free throws attempted Wilt Chamberlain 1,363 1961–62
Free throws made Jerry West 840 1965–66
Free-throw percentage José Calderón .9805 2008–09
Assists John Stockton 1,164 1990–91
Rebounds Wilt Chamberlain 2,149 1960–61
Steals5 Alvin Robertson 301 1985–86
Blocked shots5 Mark Eaton 456 1984–85
Personal fouls Darryl Dawkins 386 1983–84
Team records
Highest winning percentage (season) Golden State Warriors .890 (73–9) 2015–16
Consecutive games won Los Angeles Lakers 33 Nov. 5, 1971—
Jan. 7, 1972
Championships Boston Celtics 18
Consecutive championships Boston Celtics 8 1959–66
1Through the end of the 2024–25 regular season.
2Minimum 2,000 made.
3Minimum 250 made.
4Minimum 1,200 made.
5Since 1973–74; before that season steals and blocked shots were not officially recorded by the NBA.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.