Dikembe Mutombo Passes Away at 58 - Share Your Cards, Thoughts & More

[duron]

Originally Posted by dizzy4111

Very sad. One of my favorite players when I was growing up and learning the game.

Saturday night I had the thought that I should start a small Deke side PC so I got a '96 Finest Gold Refractor incoming from Ebay that I thought was a steal. 36 hours later he was gone. I'll post when I receive.

I picked these 2 up recently for set purposes:

Originally Posted by JimCa

Here are a few.... Nothing crazy.... Just doing what he did

Splendid

[the mesiah]

[Onepocketj]

Class act. I met him a few times over the years.
Always loved this picture from a couple years ago when he came to our corporate office with Yao to promote their wines.

[Archangel1775]

^----- Giants of the game!

[rustywest]

Dikembe is a legend of our game!

Who's got his Swat Team to show

[CapitalPCards]

Pulled this out of 2018 Prizm FB. Glad I kept it




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[duron]

Originally Posted by Onepocketj

Class act. I met him a few times over the years.
Always loved this picture from a couple years ago when he came to our corporate office with Yao to promote their wines.

That’s awesome

[LittleJimmies]

14 year old me, the proud owner of a 1993-94 TSC Nuggets Super Team redemption, had an amazing time watching Dikembe and crew upset the Sonics.



Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Beavers98]

I posted this in the other thread. I thought I'd post here as this one has a better feel, respect etc.

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal View Post
He's the reason you have to wag your finger playing streetball when getting a block or nice defensive stop

RIP Dikembe
That thought came to me as well. He was a fun player to watch and by all accounts a good person. I even got a chuckle out of the Geico commercials he was in more recently. RIP Dikembe Mutumbo.

[gomiamigo]

Forever a hero in PHL for helping lead us to the Finals, and doing as good a job as anyone in the world while the refs let Shaq elbow him in the face repeatedly on offense [as Shaq told Phil Jackson and Phil related in his book, 'then keep doing it!']

[GOATcards]

Where does Dikeme Mutombo rank among Centers all-time, and among all NBA players all-time?
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Dikembe Mutombo is one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history, known for his shot-blocking, rebounding, and presence in the paint. However, his overall ranking among centers and all NBA players is somewhat limited by his offensive production, which was not as dominant as many of his peers.

Ranking among Centers:
Top 20-25 Centers of All-Time: Mutombo's defensive impact puts him in the conversation for the top 20-25 centers of all time. While he was an 8-time All-Star, a 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, and led the league in blocks three times, his offensive game and ability to create shots were not at the same level as the all-time greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Shaquille O'Neal. Centers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, David Robinson, Moses Malone, Patrick Ewing, and George Mikan typically rank ahead of him due to their more balanced two-way contributions. Nonetheless, his defense alone makes him one of the best at his position historically.
Ranking among All NBA Players:
Top 75-100 NBA Players of All-Time: While Mutombo is often recognized for his defensive greatness, his overall ranking among all-time NBA players tends to fall in the top 75-100 range. His impact was largely specialized on defense, and although this made him one of the most valuable defenders in NBA history, his lack of elite offensive skills and fewer playoff successes compared to more versatile players limits his ranking. Players who contributed more across both ends of the floor or had greater postseason success (like winning championships) typically rank ahead of him.
In summary, Mutombo's legacy is primarily defined by his elite shot-blocking, rebounding, and defensive dominance, making him a top 20-25 center of all time and a top 75-100 player overall.


You said:
rank the top NBA centers
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Ranking the top NBA centers of all time depends on various factors like individual accolades, overall dominance, two-way play (offense and defense), and impact on winning championships. Here's a breakdown of the top 10 centers based on these considerations:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Accolades: 6-time NBA champion, 6-time MVP, 19-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Longevity, scoring (all-time points leader until 2023), skyhook, two-way excellence
Impact: Dominated both ends of the floor for over 20 years, the most accomplished center in NBA history.
2. Wilt Chamberlain
Accolades: 2-time NBA champion, 4-time MVP, 13-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Unparalleled scoring and rebounding ability (once averaged 50.4 PPG in a season), extreme athleticism
Impact: Changed the game with his sheer physical dominance, though sometimes criticized for a lack of championships relative to his talent.
3. Bill Russell
Accolades: 11-time NBA champion, 5-time MVP, 12-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Defense, leadership, rebounding, unselfishness
Impact: The ultimate winner, with a record 11 championships, and arguably the greatest defensive player ever.
4. Shaquille O'Neal
Accolades: 4-time NBA champion, 1-time MVP, 15-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Dominance in the paint, size, power, and athleticism
Impact: One of the most unstoppable forces in NBA history at his peak, leading the Lakers to a 3-peat and earning 3 Finals MVPs in that stretch.
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
Accolades: 2-time NBA champion, 1-time MVP, 12-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Elite footwork, defense (all-time blocks leader), two-way versatility
Impact: Known for his "Dream Shake," Hakeem led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back titles and was one of the most skilled centers ever on both ends of the floor.
6. Moses Malone
Accolades: 1-time NBA champion, 3-time MVP, 13-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Scoring, rebounding (one of the best offensive rebounders ever), physicality
Impact: An elite scorer and relentless rebounder, Moses was the centerpiece of the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers title run.
7. David Robinson
Accolades: 2-time NBA champion, 1-time MVP, 10-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Athleticism, scoring, defense, leadership
Impact: Robinson was a dominant two-way player and a class act. His partnership with Tim Duncan helped solidify the Spurs dynasty.
8. Patrick Ewing
Accolades: 11-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Scoring, defense, consistency
Impact: The heart and soul of the New York Knicks in the 1990s, Ewing was a dominant force but was never able to win a championship.
9. George Mikan
Accolades: 5-time NBA champion, 3-time MVP (pre-NBA), 6-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Scoring, rebounding, physicality
Impact: The NBA’s first true superstar, Mikan dominated the early era of professional basketball and is credited with shaping the center position.
10. Nikola Jokić
Accolades: 1-time NBA champion (so far), 2-time MVP (as of 2024), 6-time All-Star
Key Strengths: Unparalleled passing for a big man, scoring, rebounding, basketball IQ
Impact: Jokić’s unique combination of playmaking, scoring, and rebounding makes him one of the most revolutionary centers in NBA history. His recent NBA title and Finals MVP catapult him into this top 10.
Honorable Mentions:
Dikembe Mutombo: Legendary defender and shot-blocker.
Willis Reed: 2-time NBA champion, Finals MVP for the iconic 1970 Knicks.
Alonzo Mourning: Defensive powerhouse and key part of Miami’s 2006 title team.
Walt Bellamy: Elite scorer and rebounder.
Artis Gilmore: Dominant in both ABA and NBA.
Mutombo’s exclusion from the top 10 here highlights how centers in the top ranks tend to be more dominant offensively, in addition to their defensive prowess.


You said:
provide a brief ranking of 11-30
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Here's a brief ranking of the 11-30 greatest NBA centers of all time, based on overall impact, accolades, and two-way play:

11-20:
Willis Reed – 2-time NBA champion, key to the Knicks’ success in the 1970s, Finals MVP.
Bob McAdoo – Scoring champion and MVP, also a versatile forward-center hybrid.
Walt Bellamy – Powerful scorer and rebounder, highly underrated.
Artis Gilmore – ABA and NBA star, dominant rebounder and shot-blocker.
Robert Parish – 4-time NBA champion, consistent presence in the Celtics’ dynasty.
Alonzo Mourning – 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, fierce competitor, 2006 NBA champion.
Dwight Howard – 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, dominant rebounder, and shot-blocker, NBA champion in 2020.
Nikola Jokić – Rapidly rising with his MVPs and 2023 NBA title, elite passer.
Dikembe Mutombo – 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, shot-blocking legend.
Bill Walton – Peak wasn’t long, but his MVP season and 1977 title with the Blazers cement his place.
21-30:
Pau Gasol – Versatile and skilled big man, 2-time NBA champion, essential to Lakers' success.
Nate Thurmond – Tenacious defender and rebounder, first to record a quadruple-double.
Yao Ming – Short career but dominant when healthy, global NBA ambassador.
Chris Webber – Skilled scorer and passer, though more of a power forward, he often played as a center.
Wes Unseld – Known for his rebounding and outlet passes, 1978 NBA champion, MVP.
Jack Sikma – Great shooter for a center, 1979 NBA champion, strong all-around game.
Marc Gasol – Defensive stalwart and key to the Raptors' 2019 championship.
Ben Wallace – 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, key part of the 2004 Pistons' title.
Rik Smits – Reliable scorer for the Pacers, key to Indiana’s success in the 1990s.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – Great shooter and presence for the Cavaliers, solid all-around game.
This list highlights centers who were excellent in either offensive, defensive, or both categories but did not quite reach the elite top 10 status. Players like Jokić and Dwight Howard are more recent, while others like Nate Thurmond and Walt Bellamy excelled in earlier eras.