Basketball: Mutombo named NBA Hall of Famer
Eight-time NBA All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo was named Monday as one of 11 (inductees this year to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mutombo, the dominant 7-foot-2 center starred at college basketball powerhouse Georgetown University, had played 18 standout NBA seasons,
using his finger-wagging index finger as a signature gesture after blocking opponents' shots.
"It's a dream come true I never thought about being a basketball player," the Congolese-native said. "I thought about studying medicine and helping people. It's amazing."
Mutombo will be joined in the Hall of Fame class of 2015 by three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Lisa Leslie, two-time college coach of the year John Calipari, ABA and four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood, seven-time All-Star Jo Jo White and ironman NBA referee Dick Bavetta, who officiated 2,635 consecutive games during his 39-year career.
John Isaacs, ABA star Louie Dampier, coaches Lindsay Gaze and Tom Heinsohn and contributor George Raveling were previously announced during NBA all-star weekend in February.