Houston Rockets Re-sign Dikembe Mutombo

On August 26, the Rockets added to what has already been a successful and productive offseason by re-signing Dikembe Mutombo to a multi-year contract. The 7'2", 261-pound center came over to Houston last season in a trade from Chicago. Mutombo provided quality minutes as Yao Ming's primary backup and tutor, teaching Yao the finer points of post position, defensive play, and other little nuances that are necessary for a successful inside player in the NBA. Overall, Mutombo provides the Rockets with stability and a veteran player who has been battle-tested.

"It's been a great offseason and we've added a lot of athleticism," Rockets VP of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsay said at the press conference to announce Mutombo's re-signing. "But a big part of who we are last year, we wanted to retain that. Dikembe was a big part of that. His shot-blocking, defensive presence, and unbelievable rebounding were a great part of our club. The leadership he provided in the locker room was invaluable so we're here to announce his re-signing."

In thirteen NBA seasons, the Georgetown graduate has posted career averages of 11.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and three blocks per contest while playing for Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. Last season, at 38-years-old, the wily veteran was able to produce 4.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.26 blocks per game in only 15 minutes per contest. Yet his presence is not felt by his numerical statistics. "Mount Mutombo" provided the Rockets with an interior defensive presence unseen since the days of Hakeem Olajuwon. Mutombo was instrumental in Game 6 of the Rockets' playoff series versus the Mavericks last season. With the team on the brink of playoff elimination, Mutombo was huge, snaring 10 rebounds and blocking four shots, enabling the Rockets to participate in a Game 7. Now in the twilight of his illustrious career, Mutombo primary concern as a free agent this offseason was to find a team that could put him in the best position to win an NBA championship. He felt Houston gave him the best opportunity to pursue that goal.

"First I want to say thank you to Les (Alexander), my boss, and then the Rockets organization for bringing me back," Mutombo said. "It was like a dream. I felt that this team gave me a lot of opportunity last year by trying to do their best over the summer to bring me here. To be reunited with Patrick and to get the opportunity to play (again) with Yao, Tracy, and Juwan, I think it gave me a great chance to know those guys very well and to develop a great (team) chemistry that will make us the team of the future in the West, and we're about to become now the dominant team in the West. I'm glad to be back."

"Deke", as Mutumbo is referred to within the NBA circle, has played for five other teams during his career. Yet he says that last year's Rockets had solid chemistry and were a great group of guys to be around. Mutombo has seen much throughout his career, and while its more common to find a winning team with disgruntled players, the Rockets were a team that was able to win a lot of games while also enjoying themselves on and off the court. It was also a genuine situation that was more about loyalty and a commitment to winning as opposed to money.

"When the year (2004-05 season) ended, his (Mutombo's) instructions to me were, 'bring me back'," David Falk, Mutombo's agent, said at the press conference. "I think that, notwithstanding his age, he's proven that he's a great competitor and can win key games in the playoffs for a championship calibur team. I felt that while there was an opportunity to make more money (elsewhere), what I wanted more than anything else was for him to be happy. I just wanted him to finish his career on a really happy note, and I felt that the fans really embraced him. These are really classy people. It's a great organization; Les has been incredibly supportive. You can't put a price tag on that."

Mutombo, who has built a hospital in Congo and is reknowned as a worldwide ambassador for basketball, was a fan favorite of the Rockets last season. As one of the more generous NBA players towards the community, Mutombo was attractive to the Rockets, not only for his basketball talents, but also for his willingness to make a difference in the city of Houston. Just as well, the Rockets offered Mutombo the chance to compete for a ring. That factor was not lost when it came to his decision to rejoin the Rockets.

"We're going for a ring this year," Mutombo said. "That's our goal and that's something in all of our minds right now, is to come into training camp and work very hard to find the opportunity to win the championship. With our nucleus back, and all the additions that the organization made this year, we can have a great year."