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Atlanta Hawks to retire Dikembe Mutombo’s number

By Charles Rahrig V

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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After several great years with the Atlanta Hawks franchise, former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo is being honored by the franchise.

Not many players were an interior force quite like Dikembe Mutombo.

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin announced on Tuesday that the team is finally going to honor the Hall of Fame center by placing his No. 55 in the rafters. After a successful run with the Denver Nuggets, Mutombo signed on with the Atlanta Hawks.

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In Atlanta, his career soared to new heights, where he went to four All-Star Games and won two of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards. After Atlanta, he would finish out his career with stops in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston, where he would make two appearances in the NBA Finals.

In total, Mutombo went to eight All-Star Games, won four Defensive Player of the Year awards and established himself as one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history.

Perhaps Mutombo’s greatest achievement, was becoming one of the leading NBA Global Ambassadors, when he came over from the The Democratic Republic of Congo, which helped pave the way for other talented players in Africa to get a shot at playing in the NBA.

He will be the fourth player to have his number retired by the Atlanta Hawks as he joins Bob Pettit, Lou Hudson and Dominique Wilkins. When people think of Atlanta Hawks basketball, Mutombo is one of the first names that come to mind. When people think of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game, Dikembe Mutombo comes to mind as well.

It’s a deserved honor for someone who had many wonderful moments with the Atlanta Hawks franchise. On Nov. 24, when the Hawks raise his number high for all to see in the Philips Arena, it will be one more great moment for the legendary center.

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