Former Sixer Dikembe Mutombo Prepares For HOF Induction Ceremony

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Naismith hall of fame president John Doleva stands with 2015 inductees from left Jerry Coangelo , Dick Bevetta , John Calipari , Louis Dampier , Jo Jo White , Spencer Heywood and Dikembe Mutombo in the 2015 NCAA Men

Former Sixer Dikembe Mutombo Prepares For HOF Induction Ceremony

It was the dead of winter, February 22, 2001. A trade announcement was made, the Philadelphia 76ers had agreed to surrender Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed, Tony Kukoc, and Pepe Sanchez. The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Rashown McLeod and all-star 7’2″ 265 pound center from Zaire, Dikembe Mutombo.  At that time, Philadelphia was desperate to fine quality players to place around Allen Iverson. Mutombo, among his other accomplishments, was nearly the answer.

More from The Sixer Sense

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell

He arrived to play the final 26 games of the season in a Philadelphia uniform, and with the acquisition of Mutombo the Sixers found themselves with the best record in the Eastern Conference.  In fact, the Sixers cruised through the playoffs  and into the 2001 NBA Finals, while Atlanta didn’t make the playoffs again until 2008. In that season in a 76er uniform, Mutombo played very well in the playoffs. He averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots. The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the LA Lakers that year, 4-1 in the championship, where Mutombo faced Shaquille O’Neal. But the trade for Mutombo is certainly one of the most favorable for the 76ers in their history.

Mutombo called Allen Iverson “the little man” in this interview with the Sports Show.

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE: Sixer Nerlens Noel Upgrades For A New Season

Mutombo would play one more season with the Philadelphia 76ers, who would find themselves ushed out of the playoffs in fives games. The following year, Mutombo was less effective in the playoffs as the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics.   And so, on August 2002 the Sixers rolled the dice again, sending the eventual Hall of Fame inductee up the New Jersey turnpike to the Nets, and in return welcomed Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch.

Following his period with the Sixers, Mutombo’s offensive output would decline.  He had averaged 11.6 points per game as a Sixer, the last team he would play for with double digit offense.  He would score half that the following year with the Nets, and would only find the basketball court 24 times that season.

Next: Hall Of Fame Career

Feb 14, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Dikembe Mutombo during the NBA Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Hall of Fame Career

The pro center was drafted fourth in 1991 by the Denver Nuggets.  His rookie season was a harbinger of his talent, where he scored 16.6 points per game, as he also averaged 3 blocks per game.  He would go on to play five season with the Nuggets.  But as is the case with talent in the NBA, as players excel they seek larger paychecks.  Mutombo found his with the Atlanta Hawks.

"“My decision leaving the Nuggets was based on the organization not saying they had the cap room to sign me. (My first game back in Denver) was not good. Even though the fans loved me a lot, a lot of people were disappointed. Maybe they didn’t understand what went wrong for me to leave the city of Denver. I think Bernie (Bickerstaff) didn’t give the fans a great explanation, so the entire blame was on me. That’s why it was hard for me in my first 5-6 years after to even make a regular trip here to Denver, even with my children. …It was tough when you have established yourself in a place for five years, you create a great bond with the fans and the city, especially the youth. It was very sad to leave. I’m glad I still maintained my friendships in this city with people and with people in the organization who understood that it was not my own decision (to leave).” – Dikembe Mutombo"

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE:  The Thirteen Misfit Toys

Mutombo would play four and two thirds of a season as an Atlanta Hawk, before his arrival into Philadelphia.  Following his two year journey with us, he would play for the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, and finally the Houston Rockets.  He would eventually retire from basketball while playing for Houston in the 2008-2009 season.  His 19 year basketball career was highlighted by the infamous finger wag, the sign that he just blocked your shot.  He was the defensive player of the year four seasons,  was an eight-time NBA All-Star,and led the league in blocks three times.  However, despite the finger wagging effort, the Congolese American NBA legend never won an NBA title.

Next: Inductees

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; president of the Naismtih hall of fame John Doleva joins inductees (left to right) Jerry Colangelo, Dick Bavetta, John Calipari,

, JoJo White,

and Dikembe Mutombo in the second half of the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Duke Blue Devils in the 2015 NCAA Men

Hall Of Fame Inductees

No Hall of Fame ceremony is complete, nor is the discussion wholesome, without a highlights of the career.  The NBA website has done a good job for Dikembe Mutombo’s career.

The giant of a man stood tall on and off the basketball court.

Mutombo leads a field of 11 inductees into the NBA  Hall of Fame. This year’s list includes 39-year NBA referee Dick Bavetta, three-time College Coach of the Year John Calipari, four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood, eight-time NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo, seven-time NBA All-Star Jo Jo White and three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie. They will be joining five directly elected members who were announced during NBA All-Star Weekend in February by distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game of basketball. They include Louis Dampier voted in from the American Basketball Association (ABA) Committee, John Isaacs from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Lindsay Gaze from the International Committee, Tom Heinsohn from the Veterans Committee and George Raveling from the Contributor Direct Election Committee.

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE:  The Europeans Are Coming!

The announcement, although a formality, truly embraces the significance of the event:

"“We are honored to recognize the highly distinguished Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2015. They have contributed a great deal to the game we all love, as players, coaches, teachers, mentors and more. They have dedicated themselves to their craft and serve as an inspiration to many. We look forward to honoring each of these inductees during the Enshrinement festivities in September.”- ” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame."

Next: The Mutombo Foundation

Jan 20, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Former NBA players JoJo White Dikembe Mutombo and

speak during the Sports Legacy Award Symposium moderated by Grizzlies TV announcer Pete Pranica prior to the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Mutombo Foundation

Dikembe Mutombo is a player who has dedicated himself to promote and aid the lives of others.   He joined the NBA in 1991, and was reported to having been born in the  African nation of Zaire.  But the regime failed its citizens and the goverment collapsed.   The county is now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo.   The nation knows many languages:  French, Lingala, Kongo, Swahili, and Tshiluba. But the nation knows suffering too.

That suffering has gotten the attention of Dikembe Mutombo. He intends to do something about it. In fact, he began the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to “improve the health, education and quality of life for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foundation strives to accomplish this goal through an emphasis on primary health care and disease prevention, the promotion of health policy, health research and increased access to health care education for the people of the Congo.”

He stands taller now than he ever did on the basketball court.

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE:  Embiid Update III Sam Hinkie Gives Summary

Mutombo was born a member of the Luba ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Multilingual by both upbringing and education, Mutombo speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Tshiluba, Swahili, Lingala and two other Central African dialects. He and his wife Rose have six children, four of whom are adopted.

Mutombo was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York College at Cortland for his humanitarian work in Africa. More recently, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Georgetown University in 2010. There he delivered the commencement address for Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, of which he is an alumnus. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Haverford College in May 2011.

Mutombo serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which is a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution.

The ceremony is September 11, 2015.  Although he was a 76er for two years of his 19 year career, when he stands at that podium, he will be carrying a part of Philadelphia into the NBA hall of fame.

A great player will be inducted.  A greater man will be honored.

Next: Highs and Lows: A Brief History of the 76ers GMs