Hoops Habit
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Best Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee from each NBA franchise

By Daniel Lubofsky

INGLEWOOD, CA- JUNE 7: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during Game Three of the 1991 NBA Finals on June 7, 1991 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA- JUNE 7: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during Game Three of the 1991 NBA Finals on June 7, 1991 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Dikembe Mutumbo, Denver Nuggets (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Best Denver Nuggets Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo epitomized the defense-first mentality across nearly two decades of NBA basketball. It first came about the moment he stepped onto the floor as a rookie in the Mile High, where he’d go on to spend the first five years of his career as a Denver Nuggets.

To be a great shot blocker, one should ideally have the necessary size and length to expand their reach. The art is also about timing and discipline, two factors Mutombo showed from day No. 1 in the league. He averaged 3.0 blocks per game as a rookie and would go on average a staggering 3.8 a night during his time in Denver.

Mutombo stood 7’2” but was more athletic than many who stood shorter than him. He led the league in blocks from 1994-96, swatting those who challenged him while also deterring plenty others from even trying. It didn’t matter the opponent or the move, he rarely bit on any sort of fake and did his best to make sure every shot within reach was contested.

There are great shot blockers who are horrific defenders and vice versa, but that wasn’t the case with Mutombo. In an era featuring some of the best big men to ever play the game like David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe was a tough matchup due to his size, quickness and self-control when it came time to stay on the ground.

Seeing as how he only averaged 12.9 points per game, his talent wasn’t that of a traditional best player, capping Denver’s overall ceiling. Fans of those Nuggets teams from the 90s, however, will always cherish the 1994 playoffs that saw their team pull off the first-ever 1-8 upset against the Seattle SuperSonics led my Mount Mutombo himself.

He’s got the second-most blocks in NBA history as well as the 20th spot on the all-time rebounders list. Mutombo wasn’t a two-way force, but he controlled the side of the floor most players tend to ignore.