In a blowout of the Lakers in 2007, Mutombo blocked five shots, moving past Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become second in career blocked shots. Only Hakeem Olajuwon, the former Rockets great and an inspiration to Mutombo as a fellow African, collected more. Mutombo finished with 3,289. Olajuwon had 3,830.

Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo died Monday from brain cancer. The Congolese American earned eight-time All-Star selections and was named the NBA's defensive player of the year four times during his pro career.

Today we mourn the loss of a true ambassador of our game, Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo,” the Rockets said in a statement.

The center who won multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and whose philanthropy helped his native Congo died of brain cancer, per reports.

In addition to being a Hall of Fame player, Mutombo is being remembered as a Hall of Fame person, thanks in large part to the work he did in Africa.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive player’s in NBA history, Dikembe built a successful career on and off the court.

Dikembe Mutombo, the Hall of Fame NBA center, who was a towering defender on the court and an ambassador for the game off of it, has died from brain cancer. He was 58. The NBA confirmed Mutombo’s death,

Take a look back on the life of NBA Hall of Famer and former Denver Nuggets center, Dikembe Mutombo, after he died of brain cancer at the age of 58.