SAN FRANCISCO – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today announced the creation of the NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award, an annual honor recognizing individuals or organizations dedicated to advancing health, education, and economic opportunities across Africa.
Named after the late four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Hall of Famer, the award commemorates Mutombo’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy. The inaugural presentation will take place at next year’s NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon, where the recipient will receive a financial grant and a donation from NBA Africa to a charity of their choice.
In a further tribute to Mutombo, NBA Africa will donate 55 basketball courts—a nod to his iconic jersey number—beginning in his hometown of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This initiative is part of the NBA’s larger goal to build 1,000 courts across the continent over the next decade.
“Dikembe devoted his life to helping others and brought joy to so many people across Africa and around the world,” Silver said. “This new award and the basketball courts built in his name will honor Dikembe’s extraordinary legacy as a global humanitarian.”
A dominant force in the NBA for 18 seasons, Mutombo was known for his defensive prowess and towering presence. Off the court, he made an equally profound impact through humanitarian work, including the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa. His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the U.S. President’s Service Award and the Congressional Humanitarian Award.
With this new award and infrastructure initiative, the NBA ensures that Mutombo’s passion for giving back continues to uplift communities across Africa for generations to come.
Source: African Publicity
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