Dr. Groesbeck Parham remembers walking the streets of Atlanta with the late Dikembe Mutombo. "I was there visiting, and he had to get his passport renewed, so we parked the car and we were walking here and then we went and had lunch and whatnot.

Dikembe Mutombo’s towering presence on the basketball court made him a household name. With his signature finger wag and unmatched shot-blocking ability, he dominated the NBA for nearly two decades. But it’s his legacy off the court that set him apart as a true icon of compassion,

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The NBA is honoring one of its most beloved and influential players by announcing the NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a new award honoring the late Dikembe Mutombo on Saturday, recognizing his contributions both on and off the court.

The NBA is paying tribute to one of its best defensive players ever. Late great center Dikembe Mutombo, who sadly died at just 58 following a battle with brain cancer on Sept. 30 last year, was one of the most unmovable post forces the league has ever seen.