CNN
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NBA legend and basketball Corridor of Famer Dikembe Mutombo is receiving therapy for a mind tumor in Atlanta, the league introduced Saturday.
The 56-year-old former shot-blocking celebrity is “in nice spirits,” a assertion from the NBA on behalf of his household reads.
“He’s receiving the very best care attainable from a collaborative workforce of specialists in Atlanta and is in nice spirits as he begins therapy,” the assertion reads. “Dikembe and his household ask for privateness throughout this time to allow them to concentrate on his care. They’re grateful on your prayers and good needs.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver added: “Our ideas and prayers are with Dikembe, one of many world’s nice humanitarians.”
Born within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the 7-foot 2-inch Mutombo got here to Washington’s Georgetown College initially on a tutorial scholarship in 1987 – and rose to fame when he joined the basketball workforce in his second 12 months.
Chosen fourth within the 1991 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, Mutombo went on to develop into a four-time NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr and an eight-time All-Star. He performed 18 seasons for Denver, the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.
He retired second on the league’s profession blocked pictures checklist and was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2015.
Off the court docket he’s identified for his humanitarian work. In 1997, two years earlier than retiring from the NBA, Mutombo established the Dikembe Mutombo Basis with a mission to enhance schooling and high quality of life within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
