Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo, one of basketball’s most feared shot blockers, died following a battle with brain cancer, the NBA announced on Monday.
Mutombo was 58.
He rejected 3,289 shots, the second most in NBA history, during his long career that included stops in Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston.
Many of those blocked shots were followed by an intimidating finger wag, telling opponents that it was in their best interest not to shoot the basketball within reach of his 7-foot-2 frame.
Younger fans who might not have been familiar with Mutombo’s NBA career (1991-2009) were introduced to his finger wag during a Geico car insurance ads that comically featured his blocks and taunts.
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