FILE – Retired Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo waves to the crowd as his jersey number was retired by the team during halftime of the Nuggets’ NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE – Atlanta Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo, left, pushes up on Detroit Pistons center Terry Mills during the first quarter in Auburn Hills, Mich., Friday, May 2, 1997. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
FILE – The Atlanta Hawks’ Dikembe Mutombo, left, drives to the hoop against the Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman during the second quarter of their playoff game Thursday, May 8, 1997, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Michael S. Green, File)
FILE – Britain’s Prince William, right, and Kate, second from right, Duchess of Cambridge, watch former Houston Rockets player Dikembe Mutombo joke with Cleveland Cavaliers’ Brendan Haywood, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, on Dec. 8, 2014, in New York. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s first overseas trip since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which begins Wednesday, will show the world as much about what they are not as who they are. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Dikembe Mutombo gestures as he arrives for the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Mass, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Springfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets former NBA basketball superstar and Congo native Dikembe Mutombo, left, as they take the stage with the “Rainbow Band” to say a few words at Villa Kilimanjaro in Kinshasa, Congo, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Former NBA basketball superstar and Congo native Dikembe Mutombo, right, accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, laughs as he tries to play a few notes on the guitar as they take the stage with the “Rainbow Band” to say a few words at Villa Kilimanjaro in Kinshasa, Congo, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Dikembe Mutombo arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Dikembe Mutombo arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo attends the UNICEF at 75 Celebration at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo, right, looks on as Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz left, of Spain, celebrates making a free throw at the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Austin, Texas. F1 teams took part in a free throw challenge to help the NBA celebrate its 75th anniversary. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, of Canada, left, tries to drive around former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo at the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Austin, Texas. F1 Teams took part in a free throw challenge as to help the NBA celebrate their 75th Anniversary. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Former basketball player Dikembe Mutombo and actor Bridget Moynahan speak during the Global Citizen festival, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Atlanta Hawks former center Dikembe Mutombo on the court before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brett Davis)
FILE – In this April 13, 2008, file photo, Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo gestures while facing the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver. U.S. health officials are turning to a basketball hall of famer for help in one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in history. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history and is a well-known philanthropist in his native Congo. He recorded radio and video spots designed to persuade people to take precautions and get care that might stop the disease’s spread. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Notre Dame’s Tim Singleton (10) goes for the basket as Georgetown’s Dikembe Mutombo (55) tries for a block during the first half of their NCAA Division 1 second round playoff game in Providence, R.I., March 19, 1989. (AP Photo/Bob Child)
Dikembe Mutombo puts on his Sager Strong award sport coat at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo and Georgetown alum, third from right, gestures during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Georgetown and Jacksonville, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Washington. Georgetown won 73-57. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo and Georgetown alum, center, reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Georgetown and Jacksonville, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Washington. Georgetown won 73-57. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dikembe Mutombo attends the Forbes 100th Anniversary Gala at Pier Sixty on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Dikembe Mutombo attends the Forbes 100th Anniversary Gala at Pier Sixty on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR EXXONMOBIL – NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, left, poses with NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 car of Stewart-Haas Racing, during the Mobil 1 Annual Protection: The Drive event at Plaza 33, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 in New York. ExxonMobil brought together NASCAR and the NBA with a fan friendly event to support the company’s latest synthetic motor oil. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for ExxonMobil)
Former NBA basketball star Dikembe Mutombo, right, gestures as he has his photo taken with a spectator during a fan day event in Shanghai, China, Friday, October, 7, 2016. The Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans will play two NBA preseason games in Shanghai next week. (AP Photo)
Former NBA basketball star Dikembe Mutombo has his photo taken with a group of Chinese students during a fan day event in Shanghai, China, Friday, October, 7, 2016. The Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans will play two NBA preseason games in Shanghai next week. (AP Photo)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo sits court side in the second half of an NBA basketball game between Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 97-94. (AP Photo/ John Bazemore)
Dikembe Mutombo, the founder of the Dikebe Mutombo Foundation, smiles during the third session of the Special Olympics Global Development Summit. Around 300 leading figures from around the world are gathering at the Convention Center of Alpensia Resort Pyeongchang to discuss the cycle of poverty and social exclusion for people with intellectual disabilities in PyeongChang, South Korea on the second day of the competition, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. (Manchul Kim/AP Images for Special Olympics)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo is recognized in the stands during an NBA basketball game pitting is former team the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets, Friday, April 10, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Former Los Angeles Lakers’ player Steve Nash gives a basketball clinic to youth from the Vedado area of Havana, Cuba, on their neighborhood’s outdoor court, Friday, April 24, 2015. Former NBA greats Nash and Dikembe Mutombo opened their training camp for Cuban basketball players, hoping to boost the game’s popularity on the island following the declaration of detente between the U.S. and Cuba. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)
Britain’s Prince William, right, and Kate, second from right, Duchess of Cambridge, watch former Houston Rockets player Dikembe Mutombo joke with Cleveland Cavaliers’ Brendan Haywood, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo, right, and Orlando Magic’s interim coach James Borrego share a laugh as they give a basketball training camp to children at an outdoor basketball court in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Friday, April 24, 2015. Former NBA greats opened a four-day training camp, hoping to boost the game’s popularity on the island following the declaration of detente between the U.S. and Cuba. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)
Retired Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo speaks during a ceremony to retire his number–55–before the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 in Denver. Portland won 115-113 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Former President Bill Clinton, right, sits with former NBA basketball player Dikembe Mutombo during the first half of the NBA All-Star game, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo, left, does his signature finger wave with Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt before an NFL football game, against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
2015 class of inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame Lisa Leslie, left, smiles as Dikembe Mutombo, right, waves his finger during a news conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, in Springfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (C) and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2nd L) pose with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (2nd R), Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo (L) and Sr. Vice President, Community & Player Programs Kathleen Behrens (R) as they attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center on December 8, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (AP Photo/Neilson Barnard, Pool)
In this Wednesday, June 13, 2012 photo, former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo smiles during his meeting with sports journalists at a restaurant in Tokyo. Mutombo is doing his bit to help basketball continue to grow internationally. Appointed as the NBA’s global ambassador in 2009, Mutombo is in Japan to conduct basketball clinics with the Basketball Without Borders program. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Atlanta Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo (55) lifts his arms in the air after a Hawks’ basket during the second half of their NBA playoff game with the Detorit Pistons in Atlanta, Monday, May 10, 1999. Mutumbo had 28 points as the Hawks defeated the Pistons 89-69. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)
Denver Nuggets Dikembe Mutombo, left, blocks Los Angeles Lakers Vlade Divac on Friday, Nov. 3, 1995, during the first quarter of the game at the Forum in Inglewood Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo joins Taco Bell to raise awareness and funds for World Hunger Relief on Monday, October 12. 2009. Mutombo visited an Atlanta-area Taco Bell restaurants to encourage the public to make a $1 donation at perticipating Tac Bell restaurants nationwide through October 21. Since 2007, Taco Bell and Yum Restaurants have raised mor than $36 million which helped 160 million meals and save the lives of 24 million people. Wilford Harewood / AP Images for Taco Bell.
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo of Congo, laughs as he talks about his retirement from basketball during a press conference, Thursday, April 23, 2009, in Houston. Mutombu ruptured the quadriceps tendon in his knee during Game 2 of the Rockets’ NBA first round playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo waves his finger after blocking a shot by Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game on Friday, April 10, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. The Rockets won, 113-109. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55), left, congratulates Aaron Brooks (0) after Brooks made a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Friday, April 10, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. The Rockets won 113-109. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55) during a basketball game in Houston on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo warms up before facing the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Monday, March 9, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo warms up before facing the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Monday, March 9, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo restrains forward Ron Artest from talking to the referees after their NBA basketball game and 105-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009. Artest believed he was fouled on a three-point attempt at the end of the game. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, tries to block a shot by Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer (9) during the first quarter of Game 4 of an NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, April 26, 2008, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
** FILE ** In this April 13, 2008 file photo, Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo gestures while facing the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver. The Rockets have re-signed 42-year-old center Dikembe Mutombo for the rest of the season. The move gives the Rockets an emotional leader and a backup to Yao Ming. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo gestures while facing the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Sunday, April 13, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady, right, drives to the basket as teammate Dikembe Mutombo, left, screens out Portland Trail Blazers guard Jarrett Jack during second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, April 3, 2008. McGrady scored 35 points and Mutombo had 11 as they beat the Blazers 95-86.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo reacts to a referee’s call during the second half of an NBA basketball action against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Thursday, April 3, 2008. Mutombo scored 11 points as Houston beat the Blazers 95-86. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, celebrates after beating the Charlotte Bobcats in a basketball game Friday, March 14, 2008, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Bobcats, 89-80, for their 21st consecutive win. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1) and Dikembe Mutombo, right, of Congo, celebrate during the fourth quarter of a basketball game against Charlotte Bobcats, Friday, March 14, 2008, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Bobcats, 89-80, for their 21st consecutive win. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, and Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur (13), of Turkey, vie for the loose ball during the third quarter of their NBA playoff basketball game Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz beat the Rockets 94-82. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)
Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams (8) defends against Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball playoff game Saturday, April 28, 2007, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)
Houston Rockets centers Yao Ming, left, of China, and Dikembe Mutombo , of Congo, watch the game against the Utah Jazz from the bench during the second quarter of the NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 18, 2007, in Salt Lake City. Having already secured home court advantage, neither player started. Starter Tracy McGrady also did not dress. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Seattle SuperSonics’ Ray Allen (34) goes up for a shot as Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, and Houston Rockets’ Juwan Howard, left, defend during the third quarter of their NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007 in Houston. The Rockets beat the SuperSonics 112-102. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, left, of Zaire, confers with head coach Jeff Van Gundy during a break in the action in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) works for position against Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, of Congo, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, left, of Congo, and Charlotte Bobcats’ Jake Voskuhl, right, wrestle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Steve Blake loses the ball to Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55) in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Houston Rockets Dikembe Mutombo blocks the shot as New York Knicks Jalen Rose shoots for the basket the first quarter of the NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 93 to 89. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55) of Congo looks for room around Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, left, and Hawks guard Royal Ivey (36) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Hawks won 94-83. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)
Charlotte Bobcats’ Jumaine Jones, center, tries to hold onto the ball against pressure from Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, left, of Congo and Juwan Howard, during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday Jan. 10, 2006. Charlotte Bobcats’ Emeka Okafor is in the background. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo of Congo shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Slava Medvedenko of Ukraine during the first half Thursday night, April 7, 2005, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, center, from Congo, is stopped by Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donyell Marshall, left, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, right, from Lithuania, in the fourth quarter in NBA basketball Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, in Cleveland. The Rockets won, 90-81. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Phoenix Suns Amare Stoudemire is fouled by Houston Rockets Dikembe Mutombo, as he drives for a slam dunk, during the third quarter, Saturday, April 9, 2005, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Roy Dabner)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55) of Congo, struggles for a rebound with New Orleans Hornets center Jamaal Magloire (21) during the first half in New Orleans on Friday, March 25, 2005. (AP Photo/ Andrew J. Cohoon)
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo (55) drives to the basket between San Antonio Spurs defenders Tim Duncan (21) and Malik Rose (31) during the first half in San Antonio, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Chicago Bulls’ Eddy Curry (2) works for position against Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, right, of Congo, during the second quarter Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Chicago Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich (12) and Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, reach for a rebound during the third quarter Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 in Houston. The Rockets beat the Bulls 105-92. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Chicago Bulls’ Tyson Chandler (3) is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55, bottom) of Congo, during the second quarter Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo (55), of the Congo, defends against Chicago Bulls’ Eddy Curry (2) during the first quarter of their pre-season game Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Rockets player Dikembe Mutombo gives the thumbs up to a policeman who asked him to pose for a picture at the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, north of Beijing Friday Oct. 15, 2004. Team members of the NBA’s Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings toured the Great Wall Friday, two days before their game in Beijing. The Sunday match follows their game in Shanghai Thursday, the first ever NBA pre-season game to be held in China. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Houston Rockets players pose for photos on the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, north of Beijing Friday Oct. 15, 2004. Team members of the NBA’s Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings toured the Great Wall Friday, two days before their game in Beijing. The Sunday match follows their game in Shanghai Thursday, the first ever NBA pre-season game to be held in China. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo, top, shake hands with pupils at Yao Ming’s alma mater Gaoan Lu No.1 Primary School Wednesday Oct. 13, 2004 in Shanghai, China. Chinese player Yao Ming-led Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings are scheduled to play a game in Shanghai on Oct. 14, 2004. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Carlos Boozer, left, pushes the ball into the New York Knicks’ Dikembe Mutombo during the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004. The Cavaliers beat the Knicks, 92-86. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Houston Rockets’ Steve Francis (3) puts up a shot as he is fouled by New Jersey Nets’ Dikembe Mutombo during the first quarter Monday night, March 31, 2003, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New Jersey nets center Dikembe Mutombo jokes with players and television people as he walks around the floor before the Nets’ game against the Nuggets in Denver on Monday, Jan. 27, 2003. Mutombo, who is on the injured list with torn ligaments in his right wrist, was returning to the city and the team that he first played for in the NBA in 1991. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Brian Skinner (8) dunks in front of Philadelphia 76ers’ Dikembe Mutombo from the Congo, in the fourth quarter Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001, at the Gund Arena in Cleveland. The 76ers won 94-91. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Indiana Pacers’ Jeff Foster (10) slams over Philadelphia 76ers’ Dikembe Mutombo (55) during the first quarter in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 2, 2001. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Dikembe Mutombo, center, joins Fredric Berger, left, vice president of the Louis Berger Group Inc., in signing contracts concerning a proposed 300-bed hospital in Mutombo’s native Congo, Sunday, March 4, 2001, in Atlanta. Seated at left center is Mutombo’s wife, Rose, with their 2-week-old child, Jean-Jacques. Standing at rear is Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., a member of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation Inc. board of directors. Drs. Louis Kanda, second from right, and Mimi Kanda, right, watch. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)
Atlanta Hawks’ Dikembe Mutombo greets children after accepting a check from Miami International Aid, a group of Miami Dade Aviation Department employees, Friday, Sept.15, 2000, at Miami International Airport. The group gave the Atlanta Hawks star the check to help his foundation build a 300-bed hospital in his home country. (AP Photo/Ed Cox)
Atlanta Hawks’ center Dikembe Mutombo speaks to reporters during a news conference about his selection to receive the President’s Service Award, the nation’s highest honor for volunteer service, Friday, June 9, 2000, in Atlanta. Mutombo established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to aid poor and disadvantaged people in his native country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
