Basketball Hall of Famer and longtime NBA global ambassador Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 following a battle with brain cancer, the league announced on Monday (September 30).

"Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.. "On 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.

"There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA's first Global Ambassador. He 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. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people. He was always accessible at NBA events over the years - with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation."

Mutombo, who played for six franchises during his 18-year NBA career was widely regarded as one of the best shot-blockers in history, ranking second all-time with 3,289 and winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four-times. The Republic of Congo native was also known for his humanitarian work, specifically toward improving the living conditions of his homeland, which included his Mutombo Foundation building a $29 million, 300-bed hospital in his hometown of Kinshasa, the first modern medical facility to be build in that area in nearly 40 years, as well as growing the game of basketball globally.

Mutombo was selected by the Denver Nuggets at No. 4 overall in the 1991 NBA Draft and led the franchise to a playoff upset of the No.1 seed Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, becoming the first eight seed to defeat the top seed in an NBA playoff series. The center would later spend five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks from 1996 to 2000, before stints with the Philadelphia 76ers (2001-02), then-New Jersey Nets (2002-03), New York Knicks (2003-04) and Houston Rockets (2004-09).

Mutombo led the NBA in blocks three times (1994-96), rebounds twice (2000, 2001) and was an eight-time NBA All-Star (1992, 1995-98, 2000-02), an All-NBA Second Team selection (2001), a two-time All-NBA Third Team selection (1998, 2002), a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection (1997, 1998, 2001) and three-time All-Defensive Second Team selection (1995, 1999, 2002).

Mark Simone