Nuggets honor Mutombo with a video tribute and 55-second salute

DENVER – There was a video tribute celebrating Dikembe Mutombo's great achievements on and off the field. Then Denver Nuggets fans stood and applauded for 55 seconds – his number.

The franchise remembered the late Mutombo in the first quarter of Thursday night's season opener against Oklahoma City. Denver players and coaches also showed their respect by wearing T-shirts featuring the big man's iconic finger wag.

Mutombo, the Basketball Hall of Famer known for his huge smile and heart, his distinctive voice and, of course, his finger wags, died of brain cancer last month. He was 58.

Honor 55 pic.twitter.com/hI72xfLd10

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 25, 2024

Who's ready for some nuggets hoop earrings ⚒? pic.twitter.com/txjnEdB6SE

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 25, 2024

“I feel really lucky to have gotten to know him and coach him and spend time with him,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, whose team painted Mutombo's name and “55” on the floor next to Denver's bench. “He will be missed by many, many people.”

Mutombo helped the Nuggets become the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs when they defeated Seattle in a best-of-five series in 1994. Not only was it an indelible moment in Nuggets history, but it was also an endearing image – Mutombo was lying on the floor when the horn sounded, flat on his back, holding the ball above his head with a beaming smile.

It's a picture that Malone has in his office.

After a standout career at Georgetown, Mutombo was selected fourth overall by Denver in the 1991 NBA Draft. He spent five seasons in the Mile High City and immediately became a fan favorite.

Mutombo's 18-year NBA career also included stints in Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center was an eight-time All-Star, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-NBA selection. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his career. He is second in NBA history in career blocks.

He was known not only for his generosity; He built a hospital in the Congo – named after his mother – where around 200,000 people were treated. He has worked for the Special Olympics, UNICEF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“His legacy goes far beyond just on the field,” Malone said. “It’s everything he did for his homeland, building hospitals and giving back.”

“That's what you want people to do, that if they can do it, they'll find a way to give back and make a difference in people's lives. Dikembe Mutombo will always be remembered as an ambassador for this game, on and off the pitch.” a huge, huge heart.