Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo retires

[Motownkid]

---

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo said his lengthy career is finished after a knee injury knocked him out of the Rockets' playoff game Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

"For me, basketball is over," he said.

Mutombo, an 18-year NBA veteran, appeared to get tangled with Portland center Greg Oden and came down hard on his left leg late in the first quarter of Game 2 and did not return.

He stayed prone on the court under the Blazers' basket for several moments before he was taken away by stretcher. A preliminary examination revealed a knee strain.

Afterward in Houston's locker room, the 7-foot-2 veteran was on crutches and fighting back tears.

"Nobody ever thought they'd be carrying the big guy out like a wounded soldier," he said.

Mutombo, the league's oldest player at 42, will be examined by doctors in Houston on Wednesday.

"Dikembe is one of the statesmen of this league," teammate Shane Battier said. "There's not a better guy. To see him in pain is tough to see. He cares so much about this game that he doesn't want to end his career like that. That's the tragedy of it, too."

Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star who won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award four times and stands in second on the NBA's career blocks list with 3,289. He has played for Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston.

In 1,196 career games, Mutombo has averaged 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

Moreover, Mutombo is known for his humanitarian work. He founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 to benefit the people of his homeland of Kinshasha in the Congo. In 2007, he opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center there, named after his mother.

The Rockets re-signed Mutombo in December after he played in 39 games with the team the previous season. He was a free agent and had considered retirement.

He played in nine regular-season games with the Rockets, averaging 1.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.22 blocks.

Mutombo played 18 minutes in Game 1 of the series and had nine rebounds. The Rockets won the opener, 108-81, before the Blazers evened the series with a 107-103 victory on Tuesday.

"I've had a wonderful 18 years of staying injury-free, so I just want to go out with my head up, no regrets," he said.

[nirdle_phogi]

ka-taas gud sa iyahang name? hehe

[tackielarla]

Nothing but props and admiration to one of the NBA's classiest players! Mabuhay ka Dikembe!

[lunateec22]

To Deke,

Thanks for bringing life to the Atlanta Hawks in the late 90's. You will always be remembered as one of the best centers in the NBA and top 5 centers in the Hawks' franchise history.

Thank you for being the author of the finger-wagging move whenever you block a shot and for registering 3, 289 blocks, second in the NBA all-time blocks list.

[popoy2]

karon pako kahibaw nga ing.ana d.i. kataas iya name sa karon pang ni.retire na cya.hehehe

[revolt!]

maka ring unta to siya katong oras napa nila iverson sa 76ers... pero sayang lakers mangud

[clarkhkent]

karon pako kahibaw nga ing.ana d.i. kataas iya name sa karon pang ni.retire na cya.hehehe

naka basa ko ani sa una bro kalimot ko asa...tungod sa kataas wa nalang nako humana og basa

anyway usa ni sa pinaka sikat sa unang panahon panahon nilang MJ...whew igo na lang ta sa paghandum ani nila...og katong ilang mga classic games sa una...


abi nako dugay pa ni cya mo retire just like ni robert parish...lelz

[aykiman]

paytir!!

sayang lang na wala jud siyay ring..

[Motownkid]

Wedding ring

Kung wala pa ni na-injured, basin moduwa pa ni hantod 60+ years old.
Tie ni silang Big Ben upat ka DPOY awards..

[rtarheelgirl]

grabe ka taas sa name. di masud sa papel