NBA world left saddened as Dikembe Mutombo is battling brain cancer

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The news that NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo is battling brain cancer recently shocked the NBA world

On Saturday the NBA released a statement which confirmed that Dikembe Mutombo is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumour. The NBA released the statement on behalf of Mutombo and his family. The statement confirmed that Dikembe was in good spirits and is set to receive treatment from specialists in Atalanta.

Mutombo and his family have asked for privacy so that they can focus on his treatment. People in the NBA community were rather shocked to hear this Dikembe Mutombo brain cancer news.

Dikembe Mutombo played in the NBA for 18 seasons and collected several awards and accolades over that period. Mutombo was a defensive behemoth and won 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards. In addition, this, Mutombo was an NBA All-Star 8 times and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Teams 6 times.

Mutombo finished his career ranked second in All-time career blocks only behind Hakeem Olajuwon. Mutombo was rather well-known for his patented finger wag which he used to punctuate every block.

Did Dikembe Mutombo ever win an NBA Championship?

No, Dikembe Mutombo never won an NBA Championship. This was the case because Mutombo was never surrounded with enough talent to win an NBA title.

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Philadelphia 76ers’ Dikembe Mutombo, top, and Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal vie for a loose ball during the second half of game 3 of the NBA finals in Philadelphia, Sunday, June 10, 2001. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mutombo made the NBA Finals twice during his career, once with the Philadelphia 76ers and once with the New Jersey Nets. Other than these two Finals runs, Mutombo made the playoffs but had rather unsuccessful runs.

Mutombo’s career will always be remembered for his emphatically driven defense and unforgettable finger wags.

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