Was Dikembe Mutombo on the flight?

This question lingered in Mike Riley’s mind as he waited at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s. Back then, you could meet your guests right at the gate.

Riley was with Craig Esherick, another assistant men’s basketball coach at Georgetown. They had NBA player Michael Jackson, a former guard for the Hoyas who had played with the Sacramento Kings, as well as a French-speaking friend.

“Despite all the languages Dikembe could converse in, English was not one of them,” Riley remembers.

The coaches were doubtful. They had heard about Mutombo through a family connection, but they were skeptical based on previous experiences. Others had contacted them about African players who turned out to be shorter or couldn’t jump as advertised.

“It felt like everyone was trying to promote the kid just to bring him to America,” recounts Riley.

This time, however, they weren’t even certain if the player from Congo was on the flight.

As fewer passengers exited, they asked a flight attendant if anyone was left aboard. She mentioned there were a couple of latecomers.

“Is there a tall guy?” they inquired.

“Oh my God, he is really tall,” she replied.

When Mutombo finally stepped through the door, he had to lean down to pass through.

“Uh oh, we might have something special here,” thought Riley.

Every encounter with Mutombo, who sadly passed away last month at 58, was unforgettable. The towering and gentle man not only made it to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements on the court, but he also left a remarkable legacy outside of basketball.

He served as a global ambassador for the NBA and was a prominent figure in humanitarian work for his home continent. A devoted father, an exemplary teammate, and a champion for children’s welfare – these are just some of his attributes.

As the NBA season begins this week, his absence will be profoundly felt within the basketball community.

“He always spread joy wherever he went,” shared Jerome Williams, a former Hoyas power forward from 1994 to 1996, who benefited from Mutombo’s mentorship and later accompanied him on goodwill tours back to Africa when both were professionals.

YSL News Sports spoke with both Williams and Riley, who coached Mutombo for four years at Georgetown, to celebrate his legacy. There are vital lessons for everyone—parents, coaches, and athletes—from the big man with the deep voice and constant, welcoming smile.

“His laugh was reminiscent of the Cookie Monster,” Williams remembers. “He could speak several languages, and sometimes when he spoke English, it sounded so unique you could mistake it for another language, which was amusing to hear.

“He consistently brought happiness to every circumstance.”

Have a Desire to Learn, Explore New Paths, and Improve Yourself

Once Riley and the others drove from Dulles airport to Georgetown’s campus, they discovered that Mutombo could indeed speak English. At least, he distinctly mentioned two names: Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning.

However, at that time, no one was sure if Mutombo would follow in the footsteps of those iconic centers and make a notable impact at the school.

In the poor-quality videos the coaches had seen of Mutombo, it appeared he had been playing on a surface that was either grass or dirt, with baskets seemingly set at about 8 feet high.

“Can you jump and touch the rim?” Georgetown coach John Thompson asked him when he arrived at the gym.

Mutombo walked over to the standard 10-foot hoop, stood on his tiptoes, and grazed the bottom rim with his finger.

“Come on, son,” Riley recalls Thompson saying. “Let’s head upstairs. We need to talk.”

During their extensive discussion, the coaches recognized that Mutombo was “a refreshing person without any real baggage,” as Riley put it. He simply wanted to attend school and gain knowledge.

“You naturally root for good people,” Riley states. He utilized every opportunity. Standing at 7 feet 2 inches, Mutombo certainly made the most of his height, despite not being particularly skilled in basketball. His passing left much to be desired, and he often struggled to find his position on the court.

In facing life’s obstacles, we can choose to see them as challenges or chances for growth. Mutombo, it seems, embraced the latter perspective in his life.

“At Georgetown, Dikembe managed to juggle five regular courses along with an English class,” Riley notes. “I find it incredibly impressive how he adapted and improved his English skills.”

“Coming from where he did, he recognized the opportunities here, such as having access to a cafeteria with free meals. There was likely also a commitment to helping him succeed in this new environment.”

Although Mutombo was far from his homeland of Zaire, he didn’t view this distance as a disadvantage. He was at a well-respected university, under the guidance of a prominent basketball coach.

Interestingly, the coach found inspiration in Mutombo’s presence as well.

Embrace multiple skills. Be a source of energy.

Learning a new language was just one challenge. Mutombo had to grasp the nuances of basketball language: positioning at the elbow, moving to the wing, and understanding commands like “drive!” None of these phrases made sense to him initially.

Thompson needed to guide Mutombo to specific spots on the court, explaining the relevant terminology as he did so. Mutombo was eager to absorb all this knowledge.

“Dikembe is truly a joy to coach,” Thompson remarked in 1990, according to YSL News’s Steve Berkowitz, who then worked for The Washington Post. “He rejuvenates me like a filling station; I delight in working with him.”

“Many kids don’t realize that they not only come to learn but also bring something to the table. Dikembe understands that beautifully. Even when I’m frustrated with him, he can say things that lift my spirits. At our age, we all need that boost.”

Though Mutombo’s towering height initially opened doors for him in the U.S., his drive to master the fundamentals of basketball ensured his lasting success.

“While he may not have had outstanding innate talent, he applied what he learned effectively,” Riley explains. “Growth comes not just from coaching but from one’s own desire to improve.”

Mutombo participated in intramural basketball and the school’s summer Kenner League, learning the important timing needed for successfully blocking shots through practice.

In his inaugural season at Georgetown (1988-1989), he set a record for the Big East by achieving 12 blocks in a single game against St. John’s.

“His teammates held him in high regard because they recognized that if their defense faltered, he was there to cover for them,” Riley shares. “They adored him and loved to share stories about his experiences back home. He would often quip, ‘You Americans have it way too easy.’

“There was never any negativity. He genuinely celebrated others’ successes just as much as his own. He had this booming voice that could be heard loud and clear.”

Ohhh, ohhhh, ohhh, Coach Riley!

Riley’s wife couldn’t help but laugh when they walked into a restaurant in Georgetown and were greeted by Mutombo in such a grand fashion.

“That was her first encounter with him,” Riley recalls. “He shook her hand and dove right into a story. I had to urge him, ‘Come on, let’s move along. We don’t have time for Dikembe’s tales!’”

There are always ways to uplift your teammates

Mourning, who served as a mentor to Mutombo, once noted that it was genuinely hard to dislike him. During their first season together, they reached the Elite Eight, and the duo formed a powerful front line over the course of two more NCAA tournament teams.

Throughout his life, Mutombo consistently offered support in a brotherly manner.

“He was a big help, always encouraging us to believe in ourselves,” Williams recalls.

When Williams transferred to Georgetown in 1994 from a junior college in Maryland, he found himself pitted against a player who would go on to win the NBA’s defensive player of the year title.

“Dikembe was the embodiment of a role model,” states Williams, who enjoyed a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight run with the Hoyas and went on to play for nine seasons in the NBA, while Mutombo excelled for 18 seasons.

“He wasn’t the team’s leading scorer,” Williams recalls. “His contribution was in rebounding, setting screens, and blocking shots. He showed me that being a solid rebounder can make you a valuable role player.”

The takeaway? Develop a variety of skills and be adaptable in different roles or positions. It’s a crucial lesson for any young athlete aspiring to be part of a team.

Mutombo had yet another impressive moment on the court.

“He was determined to block as many of our shots as possible to make it clear that it was going to be a tough game, and that motivated all of us,” Williams commented.

As he rose to prominence, Mutombo made his blocks even more memorable by waving his finger in front of the crowd.

“The famous ‘no, no, no’ finger wag became legendary; it became his signature move,” Williams recalls. “While he said ‘No, no, no’ on the basketball court, he consistently said ‘Yes, yes, yes’ to the community.”

Coach Steve: Jerome Williams helps young athletes learn how to promote themselves early on

Remember your roots and help others rise

Williams shares that their friendship began when Mutombo invited him over for a barbecue during the summer breaks from college. Their bond grew stronger after that.

“I noticed early on how he interacted with his children,” Williams says. “He was a loving dad who not only enjoyed time with them but also imparted valuable life lessons, much like he did for others.”

This was just the beginning and a hint of the work they would accomplish together in Africa through the NBA. Mutombo invited him to South Africa and Botswana, where they worked on developing facilities for kids and, of course, played basketball with them.

“We always encouraged them to persevere, to believe in themselves, and to strive to be their best. No excuses—that was his message,” Williams explains. “Many NBA players hail from Africa, and he was one of the pioneering figures who energized Basketball Without Borders.”

“From Africa, the initiative reached places like China, India, and South America, and I joined many of those trips. The NBA has grown into a truly global sport, and it all started with the outreach efforts he led.”

Mutombo utilized his wealth to return and support his homeland, officially known as the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1997.

He played a vital role in establishing the Biamba Mari Mutombo Hospital there, named in tribute to his mother.

In recent times, Mutombo was often seen at Hoyas games, cheering on his son Ryan as he played for Mutombo’s university. (Mutombo and his wife, Rose, raised seven children, including four nieces and nephews they adopted.)

At times, Williams, whose daughter Gabby graduated with Ryan, would join him on the sidelines.

“His well-known quote—I still share it with kids today—is: Whenever you reach the top and fulfill your dreams, make sure you come back down and help lift someone else up.”

Mutombo attributed this saying to his grandmother, and it perfectly encapsulates his character, a man who always found his way home.

“I’m thankful for the chance to meet certain people, and Dikembe is certainly one of them,” Riley reflects. “He introduced me to experiences I had never known. His presence always brought joy, and he was genuinely happy to see me whenever we came together.”

“His passing is truly felt by many.”