NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo passed away at age 58 on Monday. His positive global influence off the court and his dominant defense on the court will live on for generations to come. Thanks to this resurfaced video from the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, we can remember him as one of the few players bold enough to talk trash to Michael Jordan, even though MJ famously made him eat his words.
NBA community mourns Dikembe Mutombo
The NBA released a statement announcing Mutombo's cause of death on Monday, September 30th. The league confirmed that the Naismith Hall of Famer was with his family in his final moments.
"Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life," said a statement from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others."
As the condolences of the sports world rolled in, from Stephen A. Smith to Joel Embiid, rare footage shared recently by the NBA resurfaced, giving a glimpse into Mutombo's relationship with the NBA's greatest of all time.
Mutombo vs Jordan: the backstory
According to Mutombo, Air Jordan did not successfully dunk on him during their first six seasons in the league together. The 7-foot-2 center was drafted by the Denver Nuggets as the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.
"Mike, come on man, be for real. You haven't got me yet," the Congolese center says in the video, threatening to call Mike's Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen to confirm the truth. Knicks legend and fellow Georgetown alum Patrick Ewing sat nearby in amazement.
Later that season, Jordan made Dikembe regret his words by climbing "Mount Mutombo" with a poster dunk and doing Mutombo's signature "no no no" finger wag celebration in his face right after.
It was a classic 1990s basketball rivalry that brought the best out of both players, pushing Jordan to limits that very few NBA players ever could.
