Image Credit: Getty Images for UNICEF USA
Dikembe Mutombo’s passing has left many grieving, including not only those in the National Basketball Association (NBA) community but also his family and wife. On Monday, September 30, the NBA announced that the late Hall of Famer had passed away. After undergoing treatment for a brain tumor in 2022, he leaves behind loved ones who stood by him in his final moments, according to the NBA.
“NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away today at the age of 58 from brain cancer. He was surrounded by his family,” the organization wrote on X. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver extended his condolences to the Mutombo family, stating, “On behalf of the entire NBA family, I send my deepest condolences to Dick’s wife, rose, and their children; his many friends; and the global basketball community, which he truly loved and which loved him back.”
The former basketball star had a life beyond sports; in addition to being a humanitarian, he was also a father and husband. To learn more about Dikembe’s family life, keep reading.
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 12: Global Humanitarian Award Honorees Dikembe Mutombo and Rose Mutombo attend the Fourth Annual UNICEF Gala at The Foundry At Puritan Mill on April 12, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for UNICEF)
Who Is Dikembe Mutombo’s Wife?
Dikembe Mutombo’s wife is Rose Mutombo. The two initially met in the 1990s.
How Long Were Dikembe and Rose Together?
The couple reportedly tied the knot in the 1990s and remained together ever since.
Does Dikembe Mutombo Have Children?
Dikembe Mutombo’s son, Ryan, shared a special message honoring his father ❤️
(via ryanmutombo/IG) pic.twitter.com/hHvrpJwFDx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2024
Since their union, the couple has welcomed three children and adopted four more during their relationship. One of their children, Ryan, shared a post on social media in honor of his late father, whom he referred to as “super-man.” The post, shared by SportsCenter, read, “My dad will forever be my hero. Not because of his success – not because of the millions who, over the last four decades, have come to know and love him. My dad is my hero because he simply cared. He remains the purest heart I have ever known.”
Per ESPN, Ryan followed in his father’s footsteps as a basketball player and currently plays center for Georgia Tech, the same position Dikembe held.
