By Veronica An
In 2008, Dikembe Mutombo surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in total number of shots blocked; ranking him second in the NBA. Mutombo ended his NBA career with 3,289 blocks (2.8 block per game) which places him behind Hakeem Olajuwon for all-time most blocked shots. Mutombo was selected fourth by the Denver Nuggets in the 1991 draft and was chosen for his proven defensive skills. As a sophomore at Georgetown University, he once blocked 12 shot sin a single game. In is rookie season, Mutombo was selected for the All-Star team and earned the nickname “Mt. Mutombo” for his defensive skills, power, and height. He received he NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. Mutombo also distinguished himself as the oldest player in NBA history to pull down more than 20 rebounds when he captured 22 in a 2007 game. He ranks second for all-time career triple doubles in points, rebounds, and blocks. Mutombo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 after playing 18 seasons in the NBA. In addition to his NBA career, Mutombo is know for his humanitarian work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.