Dikembe Mutombo
Graham travels to the Congo in Africa to meet with Dikembe Mutombo. The legendary NBA center shows Bensinger the life-saving work his foundation is doing in the region, including building a state-of-the-art hospital in the capital city of Kinshasa. Mutombo shares the struggles in the Congo including extreme poverty and violence that has plagued the country. Mutombo also reflects on highlights from an NBA career that lasted nearly twenty years.
Dikembe Mutombo
EPISODES
Dikembe Mutombo brings the gift of hearing to the Congo
Dikembe Mutombo discusses the “miracle” of helping others hear for the first time via the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Dikembe Mutombo: Mom could have been saved
Dikembe Mutombo recalls his mother’s unfortunate death due to restrictions and limitations in the Congo, why he built a hospital to help prevent future deaths and his surprise at the lack of donations from fellow NBA players during fundraising for the hospital.
Dikembe Mutombo on dire straits of Congolese healthcare
Dikembe Mutombo shares stories to illustrate the sad state of medical care in the Congo, including hospitals keeping newborn babies as hostages until families pay their medical bill. Plus, Mutombo explains his efforts to improve local healthcare.
Dikembe Mutombo: The extreme poverty of the Congo
Dikembe Mutombo addresses the extreme poverty in the Congo, where food, water and clothing are scarce.
Dikembe Mutombo: Finding electricity so I could study
Dikembe Mutombo recounts his rigorous early education in the Congo, his American dream and studies at Georgetown.
Dikembe Mutombo: I thought basketball was boring
Dikembe Mutombo discusses his reluctance to play basketball as a kid, busting his chin open when learning how to rebound and how his family persuaded Dikembe to stick with it.
Dikembe Mutombo: Built my career on Bill Russell’s advice
Dikembe Mutombo on building his career around advice he received from Bill Russell while at Georgetown, blocking 12 shots in his first game as a Hoya and a life-changing signing with the Denver Nuggets.
Dikembe Mutombo: Dominating the NBA as a rookie
Dikembe Mutombo recounts career highlights including the ’94 NBA All-Star Game and facing Shaq and the Lakers in the ’01 Finals.
Dikembe Mutombo: Looking up to Hakeem, mentoring Yao Ming
Dikembe Mutombo discusses the influence of Hakeem Olajuwon on his career and teaching Yao Ming about philanthropy.
Dikembe Mutombo: Finger wag cost me a lot of money
Dikembe Mutombo talks about the finger wag that became his signature, despite frequent complaints from coach Rick Pitino, NBA league fines, technical fouls and even a call from the commissioner.
Dikembe Mutombo: Michael Jordan’s dunk was weak
Dikembe Mutombo doesn’t recognize the dunk Michael Jordan had on him at the ’97 All-Star Game as a legit dunk and explains why he has a poster of himself blocking Jordan in his basement.
Dikembe Mutombo: Rebounding from Congo’s civil war
Though 5 million have died in the Congo’s civil war, Dikembe Mutombo looks with hope to the region’s future.
Dikembe Mutombo: People thought I was a monster
Dikembe Mutombo’s 7’2″ frame resulted in bullying and even in people running from him in a Congolese market. He shares how now those same people who ran from him years ago now run to him and call him “Moses” and their savior.
Dikembe Mutombo: A tour of my hospital in the Congo
Dikembe Mutombo shows the life-saving work of his foundation through the $40 million hospital he built in the Congo.
