Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a Congolese American retired professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association. Outside basketball, he has become known for his humanitarian work...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth25 June 1966
CityKinshasa, DR Congo
CountryUnited States of America
miss
Every day, the sun comes out and the sky's always blue. That's what I miss about Denver.
fight human nature understand
We understand the situation. That's human nature and you can't fight it.
came chance early establish free game gave missed momentum seven throws
We came out very well but I think one thing that killed us was our turnovers. We gave up 12 turnovers early in the game and missed about seven free throws and that gave them a chance to establish the momentum in the game.
listens people pleased refer
When I go to China, people call me 'Uncle Mo' because they refer me as Yao Ming's uncle. I'm pleased to be his uncle as long as he listens to me!
nba organization ambassadors
It's easy to be a spokesman and ambassador for a great organization like the NBA. I thank Commissioner David Stern for putting that trust in me to serve the NBA around the globe.
basketball mind language
I usually just speak in English when I'm on the basketball court. For some reason, my mind never even tried to cross any other language when I'm playing basketball.
president trying firsts
I am not in politics. 'President Mutombo?' No, no, no. There has never been a politician in my family, and I am not going to try to be the first one.
jobs sorry mistake
I don't think God said we should all be soft. My job is to compete, and the best prevails. I will continue to play, and that's the way I'm succeeding in my life. If I hit you by mistake, all I can say is 'I'm sorry,' and I keep moving on.
nba helping chance
I've always felt obligated to help those less fortunate than me. It's an obligation that anyone who has a chance to be in the NBA should feel and act upon.
memories thinking years
My favorite memory is my five years with the Nuggets. From my first day to my last day is a great memory. There wasn't a year that I was a Nugget that I didn't think we succeeded.
fortune family-values raised
I come from a large family, but I was not raised with a fortune. Something more was left me, and that was family values.
basketball nba games
When I travel around the globe, I try as hard as I can to represent the NBA and the game of basketball to the best of my abilities. I get to go around the world and not only share the game but also my philanthropic work. Building a hospital in the Congo is one of the proudest achievements of my life.
school people purpose
I created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation back in 1997 for the purpose of going in and improving the living conditions of my people on the African continent, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo where I came from. Out first mission was to go and build a new hospital. Our next mission was to build a school.
country children years
24,000 people, 18,000 of them children, die every day because of hunger. Each year we bring food to nearly 90 million people in more than 80 countries. Food - there's no greater gift, and no better way to give it than the World Food Programme.