Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58.

His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family.

香蕉视频直播淒ikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,香蕉视频直播� NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. 香蕉视频直播淥n the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.香蕉视频直播�

Mutombo was distinctive in so many ways 香蕉视频直播� the playful finger wag at opponents after blocking their shots, his height, his deep and gravelly voice, his massive smile. Players of this generation were always drawn to him and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, looked to Mutombo as an inspiration.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world,香蕉视频直播� Embiid said Monday. 香蕉视频直播淥ther than what he香蕉视频直播檚 accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He香蕉视频直播檚 one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court. He香蕉视频直播檚 done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people. He was a role model of mine. It is a sad day.香蕉视频直播�

Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center out of Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really hard to believe,香蕉视频直播� Toronto President Masai Ujiri said Monday, pausing several times because he was overcome with emotion shortly after hearing the news of Mutombo香蕉视频直播檚 death. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hard for us to be without that guy. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. 香蕉视频直播� That guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person.香蕉视频直播�

Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo.

Ryan Mutombo, the Hall of Famer香蕉视频直播檚 son, said in a tribute posted on social media that his father 香蕉视频直播渓oved others with every ounce of his being.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淢y dad is my hero because he simply cared,香蕉视频直播� Ryan Mutombo wrote. 香蕉视频直播淗e remains the purest heart I have ever known.香蕉视频直播�

Mutombo served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

香蕉视频直播淭here was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA香蕉视频直播檚 first Global Ambassador,香蕉视频直播� Silver said. 香蕉视频直播淗e was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.香蕉视频直播�

Mutombo is one of three players to win the NBA香蕉视频直播檚 Defensive Player of the Year four times. The others: reigning DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.

香蕉视频直播淗e was always there to talk to me and advise me on how to approach the season and take care of my body and icing after games and stretching and trying different things like yoga,香蕉视频直播� Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. 香蕉视频直播淗e will be always remembered and may his soul rest in peace.香蕉视频直播�

Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey 香蕉视频直播� who was with Mutombo for many seasons in Houston 香蕉视频直播� was informed of his friend香蕉视频直播檚 death during the team香蕉视频直播檚 media day on Monday. Tears welled in Morey香蕉视频直播檚 eyes as he processed the news.

香蕉视频直播淭here aren香蕉视频直播檛 many guys like him,香蕉视频直播� Morey said. 香蕉视频直播淛ust a great human being. When I was a rookie GM in this league, my first chance in Houston, he was someone I went to all the time. 香蕉视频直播� His accomplishments on the court, we don香蕉视频直播檛 need to talk about too much. Just an amazing human being, what he did off the court for Africa. Rest in peace, Dikembe.香蕉视频直播�