Dikembe Mutombo undergoes treatment for brain tumor

Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has undergone treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor, the NBA announced Saturday.

Mutombo has been one of the NBA’s global ambassadors for years, recently attending the Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts and a pair of exhibition games in Saitama, Japan.

He was also present in September with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Congo, Mutombo’s home country.

“He is receiving the best treatment possible by a team of specialists working together in Atlanta and is in high spirits as he begins his treatment,” the former player’s family said in a statement released by the NBA. “Dikembe and his family have requested privacy at this time so they can focus on caring for him. They are grateful for his prayers and well wishes.”

The family did not provide further details, including what led to the discovery of the tumor.

“We know he’s going to approach this challenge with the same determination and courage that made him a legend on and off the court,” Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler said.

Mutombo, 56, played 18 seasons in the NBA with Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot center from Georgetown University was an eight-time All-Star, four-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-NBA and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in his career.

The last time Mutombo played was in the 2008-09 season and since then he has worked for charity and humanitarian organisations. Blinken acknowledged this during his visit to the Congo, assuring that Mutombo “has done a lot to unite the world.”

The retired athlete speaks nine languages ​​and created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 to improve the health, education and quality of life of people in the Congo. His founding led to the construction of a 170-bed hospital in Kinshasa, the capital, and that place has treated half a million people regardless of their ability to pay.

He has also served on the boards of several organizations, including the International Special Olympics, the CDC Foundation, and the National Board of the United States Fund for UNICEF.

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Dikembe Mutombo undergoes treatment for brain tumor