Celebrating the Life of Basketball Legend Dikembe Mutombo
On September 30, 2024, we lost a giant both in basketball and in life, as Dikembe Mutombo passed away at the age of 58. Renowned for his tenacious defense and trademark finger wag, Mutombo was equally celebrated for his humanitarian work and contributions to the global growth of basketball. The 7-foot-2 marvel was a beacon of hope, using his platform to improve health care and education in his native Congo and around the world. His influence reached far beyond the game, helping to globalize basketball and uplift communities. In honor of his enduring legacy, here are Dikembe Mutombo’s top five Topps cards.
Top Dikembe Mutombo Cards
2021 Topps Finest Basketball Black Refractor #FA-DM Dikembe Mutombo Auto /15
Player info
• Pro Basketball AHall of famer
• no. 55 is retired by atlanta
• no. 55 is retired by denver
Set info
• 55 autos in the set
what they’ve said
• “He is not just a Hall of Famer — he is irreplaceable.” – atlanta mayor andre dickens
1992-93 Topps Stadium Club Basketball #273 Dikembe Mutombo
Player info
• eight-time all-star
• four-time defensive player of the year
• three-time all league
Card info
• 400 card base set
what they’ve said
• “He’s 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’s done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people, so he was a role model of mine.” – philadelphia superstar joel embiid
1996-97 Topps Chrome® Basketball Pro Files #PF-13 Dikembe Mutombo
Player info
• one of two QBs to ever win four Super Bowls and go undefeated in the big game (with joe Montana being the other)
• inducted into the pro football hall of fame in 1989
Card info
• 220 card base set
• profiles is a 20-card insert
what they’ve said
• “Dikembe stands out to me as the one guy in the league who can disrupt the whole game defensively.” – pro basketball hall of famer david robinson on the back of this card
1998-99 Topps Chrome® Basketball Season’s Best #SB-24 Dikembe Mutombo
Player info
• ranked second in league history in blocks
• ranked 20th in league history in rebounds
• six-time all defensive team
Card info
• 220 card base set
• 30 cards in the season’s best insert
what they’ve said
• “I went to Dikembe Mutombo’s hometown with him. I went to his hospital, and you have no idea what that guy means to the world.” – Toronto’s basketball president masai Ujiri
1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Refractor #23 Dikembe Mutombo
Player info
• 1992 all-rookie first
• no. 4 pick in the 1991 draft
• Born in kinshasa, democratic republic of congo
Card info
• 326 card set
What they’ve said
• “He 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.” – milwaukee superstar giannis antetokounmpo
