The basketball world lost a gentle giant and an amazing human being on Monday morning when it was announced that Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away at the age of 58. Mutombo was one of the great defensive players in NBA history and did so much for his native country of Africa.

The basketball world lost a literal and figurative giant on Monday when it was announced that Hall of Famer and former Sixers center Dikembe Mutombo passed away at 58 following a battle with brain cancer.

Mutombo was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, a humanitarian and a beloved figure in the global basketball community.

Four-time NBA defensive player of the year and 2015 Hall of Fame inductee Dikembe Mutombo died after a battle with brain cancer.

The basketball Hall of Famer starred at Georgetown before becoming a four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA.

NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died from brain cancer at the age of 58. The eight-time NBA All-Star, who retired in 2009, spent 18 years playing in the league for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks,

Dikembe Mutombo, the Hall of Fame center whose playful finger-wags after blocking shots — which he did 3,289 times in his career — has died at the age of 58 due to brain cancer, the NBA announced. Mutombo died surrounded by his family,

Former Denver Nuggets star and NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died after a battle with brain cancer. Mutombo died Monday. He was 58 years old.