Editing Dikembe Mutombo (section)

===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>