H.O.F. Watch – Dikembe Mutombo
Every day we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Dikembe Mutombo.
DIKEMBE MUTOMBO (17th yr., Rockets/Knicks/Nets/76ers/Hawks/Nuggets)
10.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 blocks per game
Why: One of those rare players who can take over a game without scoring or even being involved in his team’s offense. In his prime, Mutombo was good for about 14 boards and three blocks per night, not to mention countless altered shots. Offenses game-planned around Mutombo, and his mere presence would often cut off penetration before it even started. Deke has four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards to show for it, including a dominant run where he won three DPOY trophies in a four-year stretch from ‘95-98. He also has six All-Defensive Team nods, two All-NBA nods, and made eight All-Star games (grabbing 22 boards in the ‘01 ASG). He led the League in rebounding average twice and in total rebounds four times, and led the League in total blocks five times while taking the blocks-per-game crown three times. On the NBA’s all-time career list, he ranks second in blocks and in the Top 20 in rebounds. Even as he’s passed age 40 and is playing out the tail-end of his career as a backup, Dikembe is still a shot-blocking force to be reckoned with who will pull down 10-plus rebounds when given starter’s minutes. Not to mention, off the court Mutombo’s extensive charity work has made him the preeminent goodwill ambassador and one of the great role models in pro sports.
Why not: Mutombo was never an offensive force — his highest scoring average for a season was 16.6 points per game, which he hit in his rookie year and never got close to again. In 11 playoff appearances he’s only made one legit championship run, with the Sixers in ‘01, more often getting knocked out in the first or second round.
Our call: IN
The H.O.F. Watch archive
11/29 – Ron Artest
11/28 – Pau Gasol
11/27 – Kevin Garnett
11/26 – Manu Ginobili
11/21 – Amare Stoudemire
11/20 – Rip Hamilton
11/19 – Baron Davis
11/16 – Shaquille O’Neal
11/15 – Steve Francis
11/14 – Ben Wallace
11/13 – Sam Cassell
11/12 – LeBron James
11/9 – Tim Duncan
11/8 – Steve Nash
11/7 – Yao Ming
11/6 – Gilbert Arenas
11/5 – Robert Horry
11/2 – Kobe Bryant
11/1 – Grant Hill
10/31 – Dirk Nowitzki
10/30 – Tony Parker
10/29 – Elton Brand
10/26 – Carmelo Anthony
10/25 – Vince Carter
10/24 – Penny Hardaway
10/23 – Alonzo Mourning
10/22 – Allen Iverson
10/19 – Dwyane Wade
10/18 – Chauncey Billups
10/17 – Stephon Marbury
10/16 – Jason Kidd
10/15 – Shawn Marion
10/12 – Ray Allen
10/11 – Chris Bosh
10/10 – Chris Webber
10/9 – Paul Pierce
10/5 – Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 – Gary Payton
10/3 – Tracy McGrady
November 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Duke says:
Hell yea. Dude is like 60 and still swatting shots.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
naphi says:
he’s in. too many distinctions make him a face in the league. Starting with the infamous finger wag, the constant rumor of being at least 4-5 years older then his birth certificate, continuous charity around the world. The guy is old and still owning youngin’s that dare step in the paint.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Celts Fan says:
The example of what a pro athlete should strive to be, both on the court (all effort, team-first, didn’t care about individual stats) and off of it (too much charity work to list and not a word from him trying to self-promote about it.)
The finger-wag is also amazing!
IN
November 30th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Big V says:
Deke’s better than Big Ben even if he had the size.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Ian says:
big v is not even close deke’s the man
hes in
November 30th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Myrie in NY says:
When you receive awards from the President of the United States and appear at the Prez’ State of the Union Address—-you can damn sure be elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
New inductee: Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo!!
November 30th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
DOC says:
He’s in there for sure
November 30th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
fiyaman says:
he’s in we can get him to donate his finger when he dies
November 30th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Forget all the finger waving (how can you not love that?), but Deke throws (el)BOWS!!
For anyone who thinks he should be OUT of the Hall; please take a quick moment and read this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dikembe_Mutombo
November 30th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Andy Buckets says:
People always bring into the HOF discussion a player’s character. All the philanthropy he partakes in should get him in. Mt. Mutombo still is putting in work today. He is a lock
November 30th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
anonymous says:
he’s in for sure…and he probably doesn’t even care (nor should he)…he will be (and is) recognized as a National hero by his Countrymen for what he has done. There should be a bigger debate for his contributions towards a Nobel Peace Prize rather than the HOF…the donations, committments and awarenewss he has brought out will be by far the biggest impact his life has had on anything…altho it played a large role in his life, basketball by far was a small accomplishment…it was the stepping stone he needed and provided him with the means for his goal but was tiny in comparison
anyone wants to debate that can eat a “4-9-3-11″
November 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Bron42 says:
gotta love fridays lol…end a hard day of training to come back and question mutumbo. The simple fact that he came back last year and filled in for yao PERFECTLY says enough and hes almost as old as david stern yet he punch evans of the lakers/orlandos shot just last week lol..the guys a lock, pretty much carries his whole country on his back and still does it while bein humble. LOCK.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
DOC says:
i dont care if he didnt help nobody and poked hoes in they head every day with his finger hes in
November 30th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Mike says:
Four defensive player of the year awards should get you in no matter how few you score..
November 30th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Myrie in NY says:
i bet he poked a few hoes, but it prolly wasn’t with that finger.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
dagwaller says:
Lock. Go back to the Ben Wallace page to see a ton of stuff on DM.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
djKianoosh says:
you know something, and granted, in this case it isn’t such a big deal i guess, but we always forget to mention Dikembe as an international player. I know he went to G’town, but still, he’s a foreign born player, and one of the best of them. as far as foreign born centers, who do you take over him? not too many names come to mind.
anyway, as a philly fan, I’ll remember him battling Shaq in the finals when Shaq was truly at the tip top of his prime years. That year Shaq would have gone Wilt+Russell combined on us if it weren’t for Dikembe, and he still dominated. But Dikembe showed so much heart in battling him and taking a pounding. He gets my respect for that, for sure. and i think Shaq also said afterwards he respected how Mutombo played him tough without resorting to too much hack-a-shaq.
look at his wiki page. body of work, impact transcending the game. a lock, he’s in. another great friday selection.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Bron42 says:
lol i remember that, they used to replay highlights of shaq bullying mutumbo and the expression on his face with each elbow
November 30th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Alex "Robocop" Murphy says:
Chuck Norris says Mutumbo’s elbows are registered as lethal weapons.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
S-SiN says:
the only two things u could possibly come up with in a few OUT lines here is Deke’s lack of points scored and the fact he got knocked out in the first round too much. everyone here will agree that’s nothing cuz he never forced shots (except for some trademark outta control hooks) and who can forget a 1994 western conference opening round upset? that makes up for them all! never before or after i’ve seen gary payton with that facial expression. i can still see it now. as far as him being a good human being, if can’t really connect with that based on the ammount of work he’s done around the globe u can still understand how to relate to a man who’s taken on four of his nephews as his own kids when his cybling died. deke believes in everything he does. i guess u have to if stuff fellas when u’re 40!
November 30th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Alex "Robocop" Murphy says:
Chuck Norris says smoking cigarettes will lead you to grow as tall as and have a raspy voice like Mt. Mutumbo
December 1st, 2007 at 5:26 am
K-Dizzle says:
Jumbo Mutumbo, the Fear of Zaire..great nickname.this man is in….first ballot. I’m goin to bed. hope to have something productive to say when monday rolls around when there might be an actual controversy…
December 1st, 2007 at 6:40 am
the_don_mega says:
Deke’s IN!!! even Chuck Norris can’t stop them elbows!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 7:06 am
bigdre says:
the HOF will wave him in. he was a defensive monster back then and can still play quality minutes at 41. and those off-court charity work will play a bigger part than most of ya’ll think
December 1st, 2007 at 7:33 am
kobeef says:
He should get in for bring in the league for 20 years without anyone knowing how old he is.
And the finger wagging is a signature move
December 1st, 2007 at 9:09 am
DOC says:
I seen Tumtum down Market Street in Philly when he was here he had 5 bad chicks with him gettin in a limo
December 1st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
QQ says:
Nice one, dime. Definitely in. His “not in my house” finger wag is such a big part of hoops culture; respect.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Josef says:
Dik’s elbows alone would get him into the HOF. Undoubtedly, he’s in.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:46 am
QQ says:
Scratch that. His whole name alone can get him to the Hall.
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:09 am
Dave says:
No dissenting opinions. Nice.
How come nobody has used him as the voice of a character in an animated film? I look forward to that one day…
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 am
2 Easy says:
Its kinda sad that after callin for this for so long its come and I have nothin to really add. I used the majority of what I was gonna write in the Ben Wallace arguement but if that finger wag isnt on display in the hall than I dont kno wat should be damnit lol WELCOME TO PHILADEPHIA lol