52. Dikembe Mutombo

Mutombo was a late bloomer not attending college until he was 22 years old. He played three years at Georgetown averaging just modest numbers. In 96 career games he averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game.

The Denver Nuggets made Mutombo the 4th overall pick in 1991. Mutombo came in and made an immediate impact averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks and was selected to his first all-star game as a rookie. It was odd for the Nuggets to have a defensive player in the mix because the team had a reputation through-out the 1980s of being an offense only team. Yet Mutombo fit their new style and became the teams new star.

Mutombo’s scoring would never again reach the 16 points a game he averaged his rookie year but his other numbers stayed the same or got better. In his third year in the NBA he helped the Nuggets reach the playoffs. The Nuggets quickly fell 2 games to zero to the top seeded Seattle Sonics, but was able to tie things up when the series moved to Denver. In game 5 the Nuggets stunned the Sonics and advanced to the second round. In the second round the Nuggets fell down 3 games to 0 to the Utah Jazz, but again rallied and forced a decisive game 7; but there was to be no miracle comeback and the Jazz prevailed in game 7.

In 1994-95 Mutombo was named defensive player of the year for the first time and lead the NBA in blocks again, he first lead the league the previous season and would lead the NBA in blocks three consecutive years from 94-96.

Following the 95-96 season Mutombo signed with the Atlanta Hawks. With the Hawks Mutombo has some of his best season. He won defensive player of the year three times with the Hawks; in 96, 97, and 01; as well as being selected to the all-star team 4 times as a member of the Hawks.

Mutombo played four and a half seasons with the Hawks before being traded in a blockbuster deal to Philadelphia for a package that included Theo Ratliff. With the Sixers Mutombo finally reached the NBA finals in 2001 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mutombo who had had very few injury problems for the first 10 years of his career found himself injured for most the 2002 after being traded to the New Jersey Nets. He played only 26 games for the Nets but was healthy enough to play in the finals again against the Lakers only to lose once again.

The Nets released Mutombo and he signed with the Knicks where he played sparingly due to another injury appearing in just 65 games for the Knicks. In the off-season he was traded to the Chicago Bulls but never played there and was repackaged in a deal with the Houston Rockets.

With the Rockets Mutombo became the back up to Yao Ming, though because of Yao’s injury problems Mutombo often found himself the starter. Mutombo played the last 5 years of his career with the Rockets from 2004-2009. He retired at age 42 part way through the 2009 season.

In 1,196 career games Mutombo averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. He will likely be selected to the hall of fame once he becomes eligible.

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