Dikembe Mutombo, a distinguished member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and renowned as one of the premier defensive players in the history of the NBA, passed away on Monday due to brain cancer, as confirmed by the league. He was 58 years old.

Two years prior, his family disclosed that he was receiving treatment for a brain tumor in Atlanta. The NBA reported that he died in the presence of his family.

Mutombo was remarkable in various aspects, such as his playful finger wag towards adversaries after successfully blocking their shots, his impressive height, his deep and gravelly voice, and his radiant smile. Players from this generation were invariably captivated by him, with Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who hails from Cameroon, viewing Mutombo as a significant influence.

Over the course of 18 seasons in the NBA, Mutombo played for several teams, including Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York, and the then-New Jersey Nets. Mutombo, who hailed from Georgetown, earned the distinction of being an eight-time All-Star and a three-time All-NBA selection. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2015, having averaged 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds throughout his career.

The 2008-09 season marked the conclusion of Mutombo’s basketball career. After retiring, he committed his efforts to charitable and humanitarian work. Fluent in nine languages, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, aimed at improving health, education, and the quality of life for the people of the Congo.

Moreover, Mutombo was involved with numerous organizations, serving on the boards of entities like Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation, and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Mutombo was truly inspirational. He was a man of honor, unity, and a man of peace.