Deke calls it quits (split from playoff thread)

[coolhandluke]

Dang! Aaron Brooks hit some crazy threes to rally the Rockets. 11 points in 27 seconds! Still too little, too late. Good win by the young Blazers led by Roy and Aldridge even though the game was largely a free throw fest with the refs practicing their whistling skills.

It was sad to see Deke go down with a knee injury and be taken out in a stretcher. This may well turn out his last game if he decided to hang up his boots after this season. At least, he got an ovation from the Portland crowd.

EDIT: He called it a career after the game. Sucks to go out like that. Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, you were one heck of a player and a great person.

 

[Larry89]

Wow it was just painful to see Mutombo go down like that, he was crying when he was on his back, his career ended on a stretcher... He's a hero and one of the greatest nba athletes ever.

For Mutombo

 

[coolhandluke]

It's over for Deke!

“It’s over for me for my career,” said Mutombo, who will be analyzed by team doctors when the Rockets return to Houston today.

An eight-time NBA All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Mutombo is one of the game’s great humanitarian and had a distinguished 18-year career with Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston.

“It’s not something that I planned,” he said. “All I can say right now is I had a wonderful run of 18 years and stayed injury-free. I thank God a lot for all this blessing and putting such great people around me for all of my career in the NBA. I’m just happy."

“I have so many great memories,” Mutombo said. “Making it to the NBA Finals, winning the Defensive Player of the Year, winning a blocked shot title. There are so many things I can smile and be happy about all of my accomplishments."

“Nobody ever thought the big fellow would the person they’re carrying out of the arena. I was going out like a wounded soldier. I think that was one of the best memories, giving myself up for this league and my team and my teammates.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6385553.html

 

[VF21]

Mutumbo was a class act - an ultimate team player and a great humanitarian. The NBA lost more than just a player; they lost another role model for young players.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

(I split this off into its own thread. Somehow, I just thought Deke deserved better than to have his involuntary retirement buried in the middle of the playoffs thread.)

Thank you for making the NBA better than it was when you joined, Deke!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Not the way a guy like Deke deserves to go out. Too bad.

That Nuggets/Sonics upset was one of my all time favorite series in which I didn't have a general rooting interest.

 

[Variant]

One of the all time greats... we were fortunate to be able to watch him play for so many years.

 

[PurpleHaze]

A great player for the ages - an even greater humanitarian.

 

[KingKong]

I once bumped into him at the British Passport Office in New York. I think it was when he had just gotten traded to the Nets, so 2002? Seemed like a nice enough guy, shook hands with him, and wished him luck for the upcoming season. Unfortunately he was plagued with injuries that season, if I recall correctly. Anyway, I wish him nothing but best.

 

[Aenadin]

Mount Mutombo... he will always be that commanding presence... his presence in the paint will always be remembered for every block shot

its a sad way to go out... but he was always a fighter......now.. i really wish that the rockets can get their inspiration and drive to play FOR mutombo... and go give him that ring that so eluded him

he deserves a ring!

 

[Jerryaki]

sucks to go out like that. hope he has a speedy recovery.

 

[Aenadin]

I know dikembe wasnt a king but.. heres to one of the greats... I salute you dikembe!!

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Gotta love Deke.

He was always a fun guy to watch, and even though he was never on a team I was a fan of I always liked him... He kind of has that Vlade Divac thing about him were he's loved by so many different fans of different teams because of what he does off the court and his overall goofyness. Just a good guy, I'll miss him.

 

[kennadog]

Eighteen years is an incredible run. Too bad it ended this way. Great player and even greater human being. All the best to you, Deke, and I wish you continued success and achievement in the rest of your life. I know you will continue to do great things.

 

[kingsnation]

I will miss him greatly. One of those consistents in sports. It will now be very different to not see him year after year altering shots and games with his d.

He will make an excellent coach one day.

Dikembe, you will be missed by basketball fans all over the world.

Thank you. And get well very very soon.

 

[Superman]

Yeah, that really sucked. It was pretty obvious when it happened that it was going to be the last play of his career.

 

[bloom]

I was hoping he would come back cause I didn’t want to see him go out like that, but he’s had a wonderfully long career. I wish him the best into the future.

 

[bloom]

I love this video.

[yt=Dikembe Mutombo]bDKQhCgLqxU[/yt]

 

[pkballr]

His finger wag. Man, I wish the NBA could go back to that.

Respect.

 

[acisking]

I always thought and still think that Dikembe Mutombo was a better player than Alonzo Mourning though in many senses he didn't get the same recognition (especially in recent seasons). The man was always the better defender of the two (as evidenced by his 4 DPOY) and a better rebounder as well. Even in the previous game, Mutombo was able to come in and pull 9 boards and block a couple shots. His offensive game was nothing special but he always seemed to make the big plays when he had to.

As an aside, I think in a sense it was an appropriate way for him to go out - blocking a shot like he always did. Regardless of who was better between the two, both Mourning and Mutombo made exits by making the defensive plays they were famous for.