Obama, Jordan lead tributes following death of NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo
Barack Obama and Michael Jordan led the tributes to Dikembe Mutombo following news of the NBA Hall of Famer’s death on Monday.
Mutombo, a Congolese centre, who was selected as an NBA All-Star eight times, died at the age of 58 from brain cancer.
Beloved by fans, he was known for using his tremendous 7ft 2in (2.2 metres) frame to become one of the league’s most fearsome shot-blockers and earned defensive player of the year honours four times.
“Dikembe Mutombo was an incredible basketball player – one of the best shot blockers and defensive players of all time,” former United States president Obama posted on X.
“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.
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