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Ten years after hanging up the sneakers, the legacy of Congolese legend Dikembe Mutombo remains intact. At 53, his impact and influence in African basketball in the NBA and on his native continent remains unique.
His famous " not in my house ", his celebration where he wiggled his finger to say no to his opponents to whom he had just fired, may well be an integral part of basketball culture - and be the "trademark" of Dikembe Mutombo wherever he goes, but to limit the influence of the native of Kinshasa to this simple gesture would be a real faux pas.
First African NBA legend
Over the course of eighteen seasons, across the United States and rubbing shoulders with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and other Magic Johnson, Mutombo was one of the first African players to impact the game in the best league in the world, a time when the NBA opened its borders very little to basketball players from the continent.
“ At the time, it was an almost impossible dream, something you never thought you could achieve. But with my brothers Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) and Manute Bol (Sudan) , we managed to pave the way for Africa ”, recalls the former student of Georgetown University, who saw himself, upon his arrival at the United States, become a doctor or diplomat, before discovering a real passion for basketball.
On the parquet floors, the pivot made the difference by its sprawling arms and its warrior defense. During an immense career crowned by several All Star Game selections (eight times) and titles of best defender of the season (four times, NBA record), the interior has marked almost two decades of basketball with its mark. . He who had to stop his career one night in the playoffs match with the Houston Rockets, in April 2009, because of cruciate ligament rupture, at 43 years old! “ I will never forget that moment, but I also knew that my basketball life would continue, with my continent at the head of all my initiatives . "
Indispensable advisor and second father
Today, he lives in a philosophy that has always pursued him: “ Giving and giving back to Africa, helping the youth of my continent, whatever the circumstances. This is what makes me move forward and live with such passion . After being named NBA ambassador to Africa in 2011, Dikembe Mutombo has not lost any of his influence since the end of his career, much to the delight of his successors who are enjoying the heyday of North American franchises and which shine Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal on the parquet floors of North America.
From Joël Embiid, to Pascal Siakam, passing by his compatriots Bismack Biyombo and Emmanuel Mudiay, the African legend is an essential adviser, a kind of second father always present. “ They know I'm there for them, that they can count on me all the time. I lived what they lived long before them, "he says. Before admitting "to be proud of what they do ".
" They follow my advice, namely to be exemplary, applied, work hard and never give up," continues Dikembe Mutombo . Sounds simple, but life as an NBA player is very difficult, especially for today's youth who are even more exposed, with the media and social networks. A guy like Joël Embiid is scrutinized from every angle every night, and he is expected like the messiah all the time. I am also here to help him manage this, so that he continues to move forward and inspire African youth. "
" The future of the NBA is Africa "
Not a week goes by for Mutombo without it traveling across the North American continent to closely monitor the performance of basketball players from across the Atlantic. He gladly picks up his phone to chat with those who dream of becoming the new Pascal Siakam or Serge Ibaka.
A privileged witness to the explosion of basketball in Africa, and aware of its enormous potential, Dikembe Mutombo is also fully invested in another project that could revolutionize his sport on the continent: the launch of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) . On this project funded largely by the NBA, the Congolese is involved on several levels, both on the sporting side and in terms of the development of the first transcontinental professional basketball league.
" The future of the NBA is Africa, " he said. “ The continent is full of treasures, of talents who only ask to be helped and trained to be able to realize their dreams. I want to help them, and with the NBA, give them the tools and the means to reach them. It is more than a commitment for me, it goes beyond the framework of basketball. African youth, I want to give it everything, to help my beautiful continent as much as possible. It's a bit my reason for being. "