Nuggets honor Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo with video tribute, 55-second round of applause

DENVER -- There was a video tribute celebrating Dikembe Mutombo's big accomplishments on and disconnected nan court. Then, Denver Nuggets fans stood and applauded for 55 seconds — his number.

The precocious Mutombo was remembered by nan franchise successful nan first 4th of nan play opener Thursday nighttime against Oklahoma City. Denver players and coaches showed their respect, too, by wearing T-shirts emblazoned pinch an image of nan large man's iconic digit wag.

Mutombo, nan hoops Hall of Famer known for his tremendous grin and heart, unmistakable sound and, of course, that digit wag, died past period of encephalon cancer. He was 58.

“I consciousness really fortunate to person gotten to cognize him and coached him and walk clip pinch him,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, whose squad stenciled Mutombo’s sanction and “55” connected nan level adjacent Denver’s bench. “He’ll beryllium missed by many, galore people.”

Mutombo helped nan Nuggets go nan first No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed successful nan NBA playoffs, erstwhile they knocked disconnected Seattle successful 1994 successful a best-of-five series. It was not only an indelible infinitesimal successful Nuggets lore but an endearing image — Mutombo connected nan level erstwhile nan horn sounded, level connected his back, holding nan shot complete his caput pinch a beaming smile.

It's a image that Malone has successful his office.

After a stellar profession astatine Georgetown, Mutombo was taken pinch nan 4th wide prime by Denver successful nan 1991 NBA draft. He spent 5 seasons successful nan Mile High City, becoming an instant instrumentality favorite.

Mutombo's 18-year NBA profession besides included stops successful Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and nan then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 halfway was an eight-time All-Star, four-time NBA Defensive Player of nan Year and three-time All-NBA selection. He was inducted into nan Basketball Hall of Fame successful 2015 aft averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per crippled for his career. He's 2nd successful profession blocks successful NBA history.

More than hoops, he was known for his generosity. He built a infirmary successful nan Congo and that installation — named for his mother — has treated astir 200,000 people. He's worked connected behalf of nan Special Olympics, UNICEF, and nan Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“His bequest is overmuch much than connected nan court,” Malone said. “It’s everything he did for his autochthonal country, building hospitals, giving back.

"That’s what you want to spot from people, is that erstwhile they make it, they find a measurement to springiness backmost and make people’s lives better. Dikembe Mutombo will ever beryllium remembered arsenic an ambassador of this game, connected and disconnected nan court, pinch a huge, immense heart.”

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