Fansided

30 best NBA players to never win a championship

By Cody Williams

Dec 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the third quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the third quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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19. Dikembe Mutombo

No, no, no; not today! (Insert finger wag motion.)

These days, Dikembe Mutombo is most likely more popular for his appearances in commercials than anything that he was able to accomplish on the basketball court. However, while young fans may know the finger wag from his Geico ads, they should also know that it’s even relevant because of Mutombo’s NBA career. More specifically, they should know it’s because the big man is one of the most iconic defensive players and shot blockers that the league has ever seen.

Standing at 7-foot-2, Mutombo played 18 years in the league, not retiring until he was 42 years old as a member of the Houston Rockets. That kind of longevity in itself is impressive for a big man. However, Mutombo also had the production, especially early in his career, to back it up.

Over his five full seasons with the Denver Nuggets and four full seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Mutombo’s production was quite outstanding. Never a huge offensive threat, the big man averaged just 12.7 points per contest over that run. However, it was his 12.3 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game over that run that truly stood out. He made every opponent afraid to come in his house. Not only were they liable to get swatted, but also fearful of getting the finger-wag.

Though his production never reached those heights again as he made several other stops around the league, he remained a dominant shot-blocker and defensive presence when healthy. He was a player near impossible to replicate and unforgettably great because of that.

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