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Atlanta Hawks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hawks

By Phil Watson

May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 9: Atlanta Hawks’ center Dikembe Mutombo (C) drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns’ forward Clifford Robinson (R) defends during the first quarter, 09 November 2000, in Phoenix. At left is Phoenix Suns’ center Chris Dudley. (MIKE FIALA/AFP/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 9: Atlanta Hawks’ center Dikembe Mutombo (C) drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns’ forward Clifford Robinson (R) defends during the first quarter, 09 November 2000, in Phoenix. At left is Phoenix Suns’ center Chris Dudley. (MIKE FIALA/AFP/Getty Images) /

125. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, July 15, 1996.. C. 1996-2001. Dikembe Mutombo. 3. player

It was a big deal when the Atlanta Hawks signed former Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo as a free agent in July 1996.

He brought a defensive presence to the middle that the Hawks had been lacking.

ATL_03_MUTOMBO
ATL_03_MUTOMBO /

Mutombo was twice the Defensive Player of the Year—1996-97 and 1997-98—in Atlanta, and was a four-time All-Star, an All-NBA selection in 1997-98 and a three-time All-Defensive pick.

He led the NBA in rebounding in 1999-2000 after finishing second in 1996-97, third in 1998-99 and fourth in 1997-98, and was second in blocks in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1999-2000 and fourth in 1998-99. He also placed second in field-goal percentage in 1999-2000.

In February 2001, Mutombo was traded with Roshown McLeod to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Toni Kukoc, Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed and Pepe Sanchez.

In parts of five seasons in Atlanta, Mutombo averaged 11.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in 36.2 minutes per game, shooting .529/—/.692.

He earned All-American honors as a senior at Georgetown, averaging 15.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and a whopping 4.7 blocks per game that season.

Mutombo was the fourth overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 1991 NBA Draft and he was an All-Rookie selection in 1991-92, Defensive Player of the Year in 1994-95, a three-time All-Star and an All-Defensive pick in 1994-95.

He led the NBA in blocks three straight years for the Nuggets (1993-94 through 1995-96).

With Philadelphia, Mutombo was Defensive Player of the Year again in 2000-01, an All-Star in 2002 and a two-time All-NBA and All-Defensive selection. He led the NBA in rebounding in 2000-01.

He was traded to the New Jersey Nets in August 2002 before being waived in October 2003. Two days later, Mutombo signed with the New York Knicks, who traded him in August 2004 to the Chicago Bulls.

In September 2004, he was traded again, this time to the Houston Rockets and he remained with them until retiring in April 2009.

Mutombo is 38th in NBA history with 1,196 games, 19th with 12,359 rebounds, second with 3,289 blocked shots, 37th with an average of 10.3 rebounds per game and seventh with an average of 2.8 blocks per game.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

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