Kevin Durant and NBA Superstars React to Dikembe Mutombo’s Tragic Death

The NBA world lost a unique athlete today in Dikembe Mutombo. At just 58 years old, Mutumbo tragically died of brain cancer. His passing affected not only his peers, but also today’s NBA superstars.

Joel Embiid was one of several NBA superstars to speak out about Mutombo’s passing, calling him a role model both on and off the court.

“It’s a sad day,” Joel Embiid said. “Especially for us Africans and for the whole world. Besides what he accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He is one of the guys I admire for its impact.”

Kevin Durant revealed that even though he wasn’t incredibly close to Mutombo, his presence always lit up every room he was in. Mutombo was special enough as a person to be that light to others.

“Dikembe Mutombo was an iconic figure in the basketball world when I was growing up,” Durant said. “Then having the opportunity to play against him in the NBA and meet him at different events and see what type of person he was. It reinforced the fact that there are great people walking around here, what whatever their status, whatever your success, he always stayed true to who he was as a person… It’s a huge loss, if you ever met Dikembe, he just brightened up the whole room.

While Karl-Anthony Towns is still shaken by his trade to the New York Knicks, he still broke his silence on social media to pay tribute to Mutombo.

“We lost not only one of the best basketball players of all time, but one of the best human beings we’ve ever seen,” Towns said. “Huge loss for the world and the NBA family. Rest in peace”

Losing an NBA legend is a heartbreaking moment, but at just 58 years old, Dikembe Mutombo was way too young.