Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58.

His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family.

91裸聊视频淒ikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,91裸聊视频� NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. 91裸聊视频淥n the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.91裸聊视频�

Mutombo was distinctive in so many ways 91裸聊视频� the playful finger wag at opponents after blocking their shots, his height, his deep and gravelly voice, his massive smile. Players of this generation were always drawn to him and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, looked to Mutombo as an inspiration.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world,91裸聊视频� Embiid said Monday. 91裸聊视频淥ther than what he91裸聊视频檚 accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He91裸聊视频檚 one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court. He91裸聊视频檚 done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people. He was a role model of mine. It is a sad day.91裸聊视频�

Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center out of Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really hard to believe,91裸聊视频� Toronto President Masai Ujiri said Monday, pausing several times because he was overcome with emotion shortly after hearing the news of Mutombo91裸聊视频檚 death. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard for us to be without that guy. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. 91裸聊视频� That guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person.91裸聊视频�

Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo.

Ryan Mutombo, the Hall of Famer91裸聊视频檚 son, said in a tribute posted on social media that his father 91裸聊视频渓oved others with every ounce of his being.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淢y dad is my hero because he simply cared,91裸聊视频� Ryan Mutombo wrote. 91裸聊视频淗e remains the purest heart I have ever known.91裸聊视频�

Mutombo served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

91裸聊视频淭here was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA91裸聊视频檚 first Global Ambassador,91裸聊视频� Silver said. 91裸聊视频淗e was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.91裸聊视频�

Mutombo is one of three players to win the NBA91裸聊视频檚 Defensive Player of the Year four times. The others: reigning DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.

91裸聊视频淗e 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,91裸聊视频� Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. 91裸聊视频淗e will be always remembered and may his soul rest in peace.91裸聊视频�

Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey 91裸聊视频� who was with Mutombo for many seasons in Houston 91裸聊视频� was informed of his friend91裸聊视频檚 death during the team91裸聊视频檚 media day on Monday. Tears welled in Morey91裸聊视频檚 eyes as he processed the news.

91裸聊视频淭here aren91裸聊视频檛 many guys like him,91裸聊视频� Morey said. 91裸聊视频淛ust a great human being. When I was a rookie GM in this league, my first chance in Houston, he was someone I went to all the time. 91裸聊视频� His accomplishments on the court, we don91裸聊视频檛 need to talk about too much. Just an amazing human being, what he did off the court for Africa. Rest in peace, Dikembe.91裸聊视频�