Hawks send condolences over death of Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo

The basketball world came together to mourn the passing of Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo, who died of brain cancer, per the NBA and various reports on September 30.

A veteran of 18 seasons in the NBA, Mutombo spent four-plus seasons with the Hawks from 1996-97 to 2000-01. The 7-foot-2, shot-blocking savant was an All-Star in four of his five seasons on the team.

The Hawks traded Mutombo to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021 but his impact is still felt.

Hawks Clint Capela offer thoughts on death of Dikembe Mutombo

No Hawks players felt Mutombo’s death than Clint Capela, who shared how deep his affinity and connection to the late star runs.

“He meant so much,” Capela told reporters on September 30. “He's from Congo, just like my mom. And my mom always, since I start basketball, she always talked to me about him. About how he made the country so proud. And I had the chance, whenever I got drafted by Houston, I met him. I met him the first day or second day.

“You have to do stuff outside and learn how to be a businessman, or be a great father, a great husband, and these are the values that he left. And it's just – it is tough.”

“I've always looked up to him. My whole country, Congo, he has such a good name. He always did so much for the country. The hospital and all that stuff, and I always feel that whenever I talk to him, I always felt that he was always humble. Had a lot of knowledge about more than basketball. That's when I've always been uh inspired to be just more than just a basketball player or just be identified as as a basketball player.

Hawks star Trae Young sent his heartfelt sentiments to the Mutombo family too.

“I definitely want to start this out by sending my condolences to the Mutombo family,” Trae Young told reporters on September 30. “I heard about it like an hour ago, so it's a heavy heart over here. I've met him plenty of times, and I know what he means not only to this city and what he's done for the basketball community – and the basketball fans here in Atlanta.

What he did back home, and building hospitals, and all the people he's affected across the world, that's just as important as what he's done over here. So I just want to send my condolences out … to his family.

“We lost a legend today for sure.”

The organization and those linked to the Hawks also shared their condolences.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Dikembe Mutombo’s passing,” the Hawks social media posted on X on behalf of principal governor Tony Ressler on September 30.

“Dikembe was a proud and honorable man, who lived up to the definition of a word that became synonymous with his name – humanitarian. He used his many gifts and his platform to improve the lives of everyone he encountered, especially in his homeland of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout Africa.

“On behalf of the entire Hawks organization, our thoughts, prayers and support are with Rose and their family at this difficult time.”

Mutombo’s son, Ryan, also shared a heartfelt message after his father’s death.

"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, Mutombo posted on IG.

At times, I thought of my dad as a super-human. The child in me would sigh to hear that this was never actually the case. My dad was a regular man who would stop at no lengths to honor the world, its people, and its creator. He loved others with every ounce of his being. That's what made him so accessible. That's what made him real.”