Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  82 responses

Dikembe Mutombo: ‘It’s Over for Me’

by Marcel Mutoni

From the moment he crumpled the floor, you just knew. And evidently, he knew as well. Dikembe Mutombo’s basketball career came to an abrupt end last night, following a horrific knee injury in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Portland Trailblazers.

The Houston Chronicle caught up with a reflective Deke in the locker room following the Rockets’ Game 2 loss:

“It’s over for me for my career,” said Mutombo…It’s not something that I planned. All I can say right now is I had a wonderful run of 18 years and stayed injury-free. I thank God a lot for all this blessing and putting such great people around me for all of my career in the NBA. I’m just happy. I have to go out with my head high and not be disappointed and have no regrets. I have so many things I can be so thankful for over my 18 years.”

“I have so many great memories,” Mutombo said. “Making it to the NBA Finals, winning the Defensive Player of the Year, winning a blocked shot title. There are so many things I can smile and be happy about all of my accomplishments. Nobody ever thought the big fellow would be the person they’re carrying out of the arena. I was going out like a wounded soldier. I think that was one of the best memories, giving myself up for this league and my team and my teammates.”

There will certainly never be another one like him. Thanks for the memories, Deke.

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  • truthteller

    Dikembe Mutombo…you will be missed! I’m sure we’ll see you in Sprinfield!

  • Danny W

    What a classy gentleman. Lotta love Deke.

  • http://allanzuss@yahoo.com Mendel

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLqrdxvCGs

    Unfortunatly we are reaching a generation where this does not mean too much to many people.

    If this posting does not break 100 the slam community has no respect.

  • Huff Dials Long Distance

    This reminds me of when Aaron Scott Zeev got hit in his shveds.
    Just like Dikembe, he was carted off the court with fans cheering for his well being.

    Alright I just got something to say to AD.

  • donlaker

    i say no no no no like mutumbo, i will miss his big index finger, and it is not fair , dikembe went out like a warrior, not like ,t mac, who went out like a garden salad, and now he(tbac) says on jim rome show that he wasnt motivated last year but next year will be different (shades of vince carter in toronto),see you soon as a coach somewhere mutumbo go rockets without the cancer called t bac (tmac)

  • http://www.stonesthrow.com/ Michael NZ

    Mutombo is one of the few remaining guys who have been in the league right since I first started watching the NBA as a kid in 93. Shaq is still around. But so is Lindsay Hunter. You’ll be missed Dikembe.

  • Bill Russel

    A true legend in every way a great man and a great player, an exceptional defender. See you in Springfield Deke

  • Jacob

    Excellent player, even better human being, thank you for the memories Deke, you are still one of my favorite all time players

  • Jacob

    check out Chris Broussards piece on Mutombo on ESPN.com, its pretty good I didnt know his real name was Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo

  • Jacob

    my bad, Chris Sheridan

  • http://www.mykal1.blogspot.com MyKal

    Hall of Fame?

  • http://www.basketballjerseyworld.com nba-jersey-king

    GREAT GREAT PLAYER! Very underrated. You will be missed in the NBA. Hope he stays involved somehow – maybe as a defensive coach/shot blocking coach for some team (come to Miami)

  • capitantrueno

    back when I started watching games with Deke, it was him with LaPhonso Ellis & Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Dale Ellis running the show.
    Remember: Deke blocked the Reignman in his prime on a regular basis… in the playoffs.

  • J.G.

    Damn, Sure gonna miss one of the greatest defensive players ever to play this game we love

  • Samcobilibob

    thank GOD he should

  • http://www.stonesthrow.com/ Michael NZ

    Hall of Fame? Unquestionably.

  • j4zzm4n

    youbwill be missed mr.mutombo one of my continent’s finest ever athletes.the finger waggle he did should never be imitated by anyone in the league.a class act and true sportsman.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Hall of fame…? Try Hall of THE WORLD.
    I just feel bad for the man, who couldn’t go out on his own terms… You are legendary.

  • http://myspace.com/2grownup2beshownup Jack

    Legend. Thanks for it all Deke. Much love.

  • http://www.nba.com JE

    See you next year, Deke.

  • http://phoenixsunsrising.blogspot.com/ Hersey

    Great guy. Best memory for me was Nuggets over Sonics. That run was fun to watch.

  • http://www.broy7.com/roy/index nate the great

    Hall of fame, noble peace prize, president.. how bout we cut out the small talk and just say deke is god!

  • Johnny F

    One of the best defenders Of all time, and a good guy. I think he deserves to be a future hall of famer. Mount. Mutombo well miss u.

  • http://deleted airsmith

    so depressing

  • John

    great player and person. Cant believe its over for him! when i look back and remember watching him in his 4th season in the NBA to now, makes me feel old :( and reminds me of all the great players that have gone through that era. All the Alonzo Mournings, Mugsy Bogues’ etc

  • http://www.Slamonline.com CP34MVP

    Much Respect Deke. Future Hall Of Famer.. Man I Wish It Didn’t Have To Go Down Like This.

  • chintao

    OK, too much love in here. While I must admit that Dikembe grew on me and I really appreciate what he has meant to the league, I get disturbed when there’s no negativity around. To wit, I offer the following: What about how Mutombo’s clumsy ass used to injure his own players in practice? Also, don’t forget how he “inadvertently” knocked Chris Childs’s tooth out. Childs waited outside the lockerroom for Dike. After the Mount failed to materialize, Childs rushed into the Hawks lockerroom only to find that Mutombo had made tracks out a back exit. That’s pretty much all I got. We all will miss you, big man.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Blinguo

    @ Mendel, Will this current 75+ combined with the 50+ Links Deke Farewell post up, totaling 125+ be enough for you?

  • bulldog

    Quite simply- He is my Hero. And I ain’t got too many of those. Thanks for the fond memories and best of health, my friend. May you receive 1000 fold the blessings you have given to others.

  • nastierthanyou

    Heaven’s got a center.

  • snyper48

    As an african, as an angolan and most important as a person that Loves the NBA since 1988,I would like to say that I’m proud of Deke’s career in the NBA.Most of the guys dont realize the amount of work that Deke had put out just to stay in Georgetown,he was not a basketball player at all and we all realize that he’s older than 42.Even though he made it to the league, he never forgot his roots, he always got back and tried to help, not to build a good image like so many athletes but he did from his heart.All around Africa Mutombo is a Hero and we know he wasnt the best player but he was always a real african man.So much props to Mount Mutombo, we’ll miss you.

  • Bostwik

    It’s a shame he had to go out like. I;ll miss seeing him play.

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