Editing Dikembe Mutombo (section)

==Professional career==
===Denver Nuggets (1991–1996)===
In the [[1991 NBA draft]], the [[Denver Nuggets]] selected Mutombo with the fourth overall pick.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldaper|first=Sam|title=The Final Word on Draft: Trades|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/28/sports/basketball-the-final-word-on-draft-trades.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 1991}}</ref> The Nuggets ranked last in the NBA in opponent points-per-game and Defensive Rating,<ref>{{cite news|title=1990–91 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1991.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=Basketball Reference}}</ref> and Mutombo's shot-blocking ability made an immediate impression across the league. He developed his signature move, in which he would celebrate every blocked shot by pointing his right index finger at the opposing player and moving it side to side,<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheridan|first=Chris|title=Mutombo's legacy to last beyond hoops|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=Mutombo-090422|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=April 30, 2009}}</ref> in 1992 as a way to become more marketable and gain product-endorsement contracts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blau|first=Max|title=How Dikembe Mutombo's Finger Changed The NBA|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxblau/how-dikembe-mutombos-finger-changed-the-nba#.yl9eQZZO1|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=BuzzFeed|date=June 4, 2014}}</ref> That year, Mutombo starred in an [[Adidas]] advertisement that used the catchphrase "Man does not fly&nbsp;... in the house of Mutombo", a reference to his prolific shot-blocking.<ref name="A to Z"/>

As a rookie, Mutombo was selected for the [[1992 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star team]] and averaged 16.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and nearly three blocks per game.<ref>{{cite news|first=Julian|last=Rubinstein|title=MUTOMBO: BIG STAR OVER THE ROCKIES|date=December 20, 1992|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/12/21/mutombo-big-star-over-the-rockies/a3724f62-c49f-442e-b38a-0eb2de0cde27/|access-date=October 1, 2024}}</ref> Mutombo quickly began to establish himself as one of the league's best defensive players, regularly putting up big rebound and block numbers.

The [[1993–94 Denver Nuggets season|1993–94 season]] saw Denver continue to improve with Mutombo as the franchise cornerstone. During that season, Mutombo averaged 12.0 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game and 4.1 blocks per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01/gamelog/1994/|title=Dikembe Mutombo 1993–94 Game Log|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> With that, he helped the Nuggets finish with a 42–40 record and qualify as the eighth seed in the playoffs. They were matched up with the top-seeded [[1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season|63–19 Seattle SuperSonics]] in the first round.<ref name=nba_03032016/>

After falling to an 0–2 deficit in the five-game series, Denver won three straight games to pull off a major [[1994 NBA playoffs|playoff upset]], becoming the first eighth seed to defeat a number one seed in an NBA playoff series.<ref name=nba_03032016>{{cite news|title=Eighth-Seeded Nuggets Upset Sonics|url=http://www.nba.com/history/94nuggets_moments.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629151051/http://www.nba.com/history/94nuggets_moments.html|archive-date=June 29, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the end of Game 5, Mutombo memorably grabbed the game-winning rebound and fell to the ground, holding the ball over his head in a moment of joy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schaller|first=Jake|title=Mutombo memories|url=http://gazette.com/mutombo-memories/article/52304|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Gazette|date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307080606/http://gazette.com/mutombo-memories/article/52304|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mutombo's defensive presence was the key to the upset victory; his total of 31 blocks remains a record for a five-game series.<ref name="A to Z">{{cite news|title=Denver Nuggets A to Z: Dikembe Mutombo|url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-z-dikembe-mutombo|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|date=August 13, 2014}}</ref> In the second round of the playoffs, the Nuggets fell to the [[1993–94 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]], 4–3.<ref name=nba_03032016/>

The next season, Mutombo was selected for his second All-Star game and received the [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award]]. Denver failed to build on its success from the previous playoffs, as Mutombo lacked a quality supporting cast around him.

During his last season with the Nuggets, Mutombo averaged 11.0 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game and a career-high 4.5 blocks per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01/gamelog/1996/|title=Dikembe Mutombo 1995–96 Game Log|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> At the conclusion of the 1995–96 season, Mutombo became a free agent, and reportedly sought a ten-year contract, something the Nuggets considered impossible to offer. [[Bernie Bickerstaff]], then the Nuggets' general manager, later said not bringing back Mutombo was his biggest regret as GM.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dempsey|first=Christopher|title=Bickerstaff: 'Only regret' as Nuggets GM was not re-signing Mutombo|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2015/09/11/bickerstaff-only-regret-as-nuggets-gm-was-not-re-signing-mutombo/13292/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=September 11, 2015}}</ref>

===Atlanta Hawks (1996–2001)===
After the [[1995–96 NBA season]], Mutombo signed a five-year, $55 million [[free agent]] contract with the [[Atlanta Hawks]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hawks Get Big With Mutombo|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-16-sp-24645-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 16, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shot-blocking Star Mutombo Goes To Hawks|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/07/16/shot-blocking-star-mutombo-goes-to-hawks/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=July 16, 1996}}</ref> He and Hawks All-Star [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]] led Atlanta to back-to-back 50+-win seasons in 1996–97 (56–26) and 1997–98 (50–32). Mutombo won Defensive Player of the Year both years, continuing to put up excellent defensive numbers with the Hawks.

In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Hawks defeated the [[Detroit Pistons]] in five games. In Game 1 of that series, Mutombo led all scorers and rebounders, with 26 points and 15 rebounds respectively, in a 89–75 win over the Pistons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704250ATL.html|title=Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, April 25, 1997|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> In the next round, despite Mutombo averaging a [[double-double]] and 2.6 blocks per game, the Hawks lost in five games to the defending champion [[Chicago Bulls]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1997-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-hawks-vs-bulls.html|title=1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals – Hawks vs. Bulls|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>

The following season, on April 9, 1998, Mutombo scored 20 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in a 105–102 loss to the [[Indiana Pacers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199804090ATL.html|title=Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, April 9, 1998|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> That season ended in disappointment for Mutombo and the Hawks, as despite finishing with a similar record to the previous season, Mutombo averaged only 8.0 points and 12.8 rebounds a game while the Hawks lost to their division rival [[Charlotte Hornets]] three games to one in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-hawks-vs-hornets.html|title=1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round – Hawks vs. Hornets|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>

During the [[lockout (industry)|lockout]]-shortened [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]], he was the NBA's [[IBM Award]] winner, a player of the year award determined by a computerized formula. That year, the NBA banned the Mutombo finger wag, and after a period of protest, he complied with the new rule.<ref name="nbawag">{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=Damien |date=November 17, 2006 |title=Mount Mutombo |publisher=NBA |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Mutombo_is_still_wagging_his_f-196022-34.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 2, 2016 |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210064146/http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Mutombo_is_still_wagging_his_f-196022-34.html }}</ref>

In his last full season with the Hawks during the 1999–00 season, Mutombo averaged 11.5 points per game, a career and league-high 14.1 rebounds per game and 3.3 blocks per game. On December 14, 1999, Mutombo scored 27 points, on 11-for-11 shooting from the field, grabbed a season-high 29 rebounds and recorded a game-high six blocks to pull out the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 14, 1999 |title=NBA Report/Mutombo a One-Man Show: 27 Points and 29 Rebounds |publisher=Newsday |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/nba-report-mutombo-a-one-man-show-27-points-and-29-rebounds-1.264061 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024015710/https://www.newsday.com/sports/nba-report-mutombo-a-one-man-show-27-points-and-29-rebounds-1.264061 }}</ref>

===Philadelphia 76ers (2001–2002)===

At the February 2001 trade deadline, the Hawks traded Mutombo to the Eastern Conference-leading [[Philadelphia 76ers]], along with [[Roshown McLeod]], in exchange for [[Toni Kukoč]], future teammates [[Juan Ignacio Sánchez|Pepe Sánchez]] and [[Nazr Mohammed]], and injured center [[Theo Ratliff]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Stephen A.|author-link=Stephen A. Smith|title=Sixers Land Mutombo, But Not Without Cost|url=http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-23/news/25317207_1_kukoc-and-center-sixers-coach-larry-brown-three-time-defensive-player|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120225420/http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-23/news/25317207_1_kukoc-and-center-sixers-coach-larry-brown-three-time-defensive-player|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=February 23, 2001}}</ref> One week earlier, Mutombo played in the [[2001 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star game]]; he led the game with 22 rebounds and three blocks. Along with game MVP [[Allen Iverson]] and coach [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]], both of the 76ers, the East rallied from a 95–74 fourth-quarter deficit to win 111–110 on Mutombo and Iverson's strong performances.<ref>{{cite news|title=2001 All-Star Game recap|url=http://www.nba.com/history/allstar/2001-all-star-game-recap/index.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=NBA|date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>

After the game, rumors began of a trade sending Mutombo to Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Saladino|first=Tom|title=Mutombo mentioned in trade talks|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nba/hawks/2001-02-21-mutombo.htm|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=February 21, 2001}}</ref> With Ratliff out for the remainder of the year, the Sixers needed a big man to compete with potential matchups against Western Conference powers [[Vlade Divac]], [[Tim Duncan]], [[David Robinson]] or [[Shaquille O'Neal]], should they reach the [[NBA Finals]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Mutombo traded to Sixers in six-player deal|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/0222/1101977.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=February 23, 2001}}</ref>

Mutombo earned his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award that season. During the 2001 playoffs, they defeated the [[Indiana Pacers]] in four games, the [[Toronto Raptors]] in seven games and the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in a seven-game series. During Game 7 against the Bucks, Mutombo scored 23 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked seven shots to win the series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dikembe Mutombo in 2001: Who Want To Go To L.A. With Me?|url=http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com/sports/basketball/dikembe-mutombo-sixers-lakers-2001/|access-date=August 17, 2018|agency=The Sports Fan Journal|date=April 24, 2015}}</ref> Mutombo helped the Sixers reach the [[2001 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]. After pulling off an upset and winning Game 1 against the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (the only playoff game the Lakers lost in 2001), the Sixers lost the next four games and the series. Matched up against [[Shaquille O'Neal]], Mutombo averaged 16.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. A free agent, he re-signed with the Sixers after the season to a four-year, $68 million contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=76ers trade C Mutombo to Nets|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/08/06/76ers-trade-C-Mutombo-to-Nets/65011028674060/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=United Press International|date=August 6, 2002}}</ref>

The 2001–02 season marked the final time in Mutombo's career that he averaged double-digit points or rebounds, as he started 80 games for Philadelphia, although they lost in the first round of the playoffs.<ref name=Basketball-ref/>

===New Jersey Nets (2002–2003)===
On August 7, 2002, the 76ers traded Mutombo to the [[New Jersey Nets]] in exchange for [[Keith Van Horn]] and [[Todd MacCulloch]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wise|first=Mike|title=Nets Get Mutombo From 76ers For Van Horn and MacCulloch|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/07/sports/pro-basketball-nets-get-mutombo-from-76ers-for-van-horn-and-macculloch.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=August 7, 2002}}</ref> The Nets were coming off a sweep in the Finals where they were overmatched by Shaq, and brought in Mutombo as the missing piece to a championship,<ref>{{cite news | title = Nets' Mutombo Sidelined | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 4, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-04-sp-nbanotes4-story.html | access-date = November 27, 2022}}</ref> similar to what the Sixers did two seasons prior.

Mutombo spent most of the season with a nagging wrist injury that limited him to 24 games.<ref>{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = BASKETBALL; Mutombo Injury Leaves Nets Unsettled | work = The New York Times | date = December 5, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/05/sports/basketball-mutombo-injury-leaves-nets-unsettled.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}}</ref> He was generally unable to play in the playoffs, typically serving as a sixth man during the Nets' second consecutive Finals run, in which they lost to the Spurs in six games.<ref>{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Scott and Mutombo Try to Clear the Air | work = The New York Times | date = December 14, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/14/sports/pro-basketball-scott-and-mutombo-try-to-clear-the-air.html | access-date = October 27, 2022}}</ref> After one contentious season in New Jersey, the Nets bought out the remaining two years on his contract.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Popper|first1=Steve|last2=Robbins|first2=Liz|title=Nets Will Buy Out Mutombo's Contract|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/sports/pro-basketball-nets-will-buy-out-mutombo-s-contract.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=October 5, 2003}}</ref>

===New York Knicks (2003–2004)===
In October 2003, he signed a two-year deal with the [[New York Knicks]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Knicks Make Mutombo Their Center|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-10-sp-nbarep10-story.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=October 10, 2003}}</ref> After a dominant performance against the crosstown rival [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] that included 10 blocks, Knicks fans began waving their fingers, as Mutombo once did. He chose to respond in kind after a referee told him that as long as the gesture was not directed at a particular player, the league would not punish him.<ref name="nbawag"/> In August 2004, the Knicks traded him to the [[Chicago Bulls]], along with [[Cezary Trybański]], [[Othella Harrington]] and [[Frank Williams (basketball)|Frank Williams]] in exchange for [[Jerome Williams (basketball)|Jerome Williams]] and [[Jamal Crawford]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Guard comes to NY in six-player swap|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1853011|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=August 6, 2004}}</ref>

===Houston Rockets (2004–2009)===
Prior to the [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]], the Bulls traded Mutombo to the [[Houston Rockets]] for [[Mike Wilks (basketball)|Mike Wilks]], [[Eric Piatkowski]] and [[Adrian Griffin]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Blinebury|first=Fran|title=Bulls' Mutombo: Trade to Rockets a done deal|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/09/07/bulls-mutombo-trade-to-rockets-a-done-deal/|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Houston Chronicle|via=Chicago Tribune|date=September 7, 2004}}</ref> [[Yao Ming]] and Mutombo formed one of the NBA's most productive center combos. In his first season with the Rockets, Mutombo averaged 15.2 minutes per game, 4.0 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game. The Rockets lost in the first round that year to the [[Dallas Mavericks]].

[[File:Mutombo Dikembe2.jpg|thumb|left|Mutombo with the Houston Rockets in 2006]]

On January 10, 2007, in a 102–77 rout of the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], Mutombo recorded five blocked shots and surpassed [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] in [[List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders|total career blocked shots]], trailing only [[Hakeem Olajuwon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Howard scores 23, Mutombo has five blocks in Rockets' win|url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap/_/gameId/270110010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201064949/https://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap/_/gameId/270110010|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 1, 2023|date=January 11, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2023|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

On March 2, 2007, in a win over the [[Denver Nuggets]] at age 40, Mutombo became the oldest player in NBA history to record more than 20 rebounds in a game, with 22.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2786439|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 11, 2009|title=Elias Says ...|date=March 3, 2007}}</ref> In the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]], Mutombo received extensive playing time when Yao went down with a broken bone and averaged double digits in rebounding as a starter. In midst of a 10-game winning streak at the time of Yao's injury, Mutombo stepped in and helped the Rockets win 12 more games to complete a 22-game winning streak, then a team record.<ref>{{cite news|last=Broussard|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Broussard|title=Tracy McGrady peeled to Heat's run|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/9067233|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=March 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-rockets-22-game-win-streak-2008|title=Top Moments: Unsung Rockets set NBA ablaze with 22-game win streak|access-date=September 12, 2023|publisher=NBA|date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>

After contemplating retirement and spending the first part of 2008 as an unsigned free agent, on December 31, 2008, Mutombo signed with the Houston Rockets for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He said that 2009 would be his "farewell tour" and his final season; he was the oldest player in the NBA in 2009.<ref name="basketballover">{{cite news|title=Knee injury may end Mutombo's career|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4087774|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> In Game 1 of Houston's first-round playoff series against [[Portland Trail Blazers|Portland]], Mutombo played for 18 minutes and had nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290418022|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 11, 2009|title=Rocker 108, Blazers 81 Box Score}}</ref>

In the second quarter of Game Two, Mutombo landed awkwardly and had to be carried from the floor. After the game, he said that surgery was needed and that his NBA career was over.<ref name="basketballover"/><ref name="Injury"/> It was later confirmed that the quadriceps tendon of his left knee had been ruptured.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mutombo bids farewell after 18 seasons|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4094790|access-date=March 3, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306223734/http://espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4094790|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mutombo announced his retirement on April 23, 2009, after 18 seasons in the NBA.<ref name="Injury">{{cite web|title=Mutombo suffers career-ending knee injury in Portland|date=April 22, 2009|first=Brian|last=McTaggart|publisher=[[The Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=October 11, 2009|url=https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6385553.html}}</ref>