No one in the game was bigger, or better, at getting people to think about others beyond themselves than Dikembe Mutombo.

The finger wag. The enormous smile. The unmistakable voice. Dikembe Mutombo played defense at a level and with a flair that few others in basketball history ever possessed, all among the many reasons why he’s immortalized in the Hall of Fame. On the court, he stopped people. Off the court, he helped people.

He was a defensive force on the court who changed the way the game of basketball is played. But more importantly, Dikembe truly changed the world and improved countless lives through his humanitarian work in Africa.

Former Atlanta Hawks first-round pick A.J. Griffin announced that he has decided to step away from basketball, confirming previous reports. The 21-year-old Griffin was waived by the Houston Rockets on Sept.

A former first-round NBA draft pick is leaving basketball to become a minister. AJ Griffin, who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the 16th pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, announced in a video on Sunday that he is leaving the sport behind “to follow Jesus.