Dikembe Mutombo knew the importance of time. 

On the court, the former Georgetown basketball star and NBA defensive stalwart knew the right time to put his large hands and 7-foot-2-inch frame in the way of opponents' shot attempts.

Off the court, Mutombo understood that the best way to show up for others was to give them his time. If you looked up and saw him walking at the airport or on the street, he would flash a smile and stop to talk with you as if you were two friends catching up.

"For him, it was a form of giving back," said Rose Mutombo, Dikembe's wife. "He was never in a rush, and a lot of times late because of those things … but that was Dikembe Mutombo. He'd just stand there and talk with the old, the young, the little, he'd just talk with everybody. Just truly a giant, not only in size, but also a giant in heart."

Mutombo, who died of cancer in 2024, lived a life dedicated to serving others, impacting countless lives along the way. To commemorate his impact, the NCAA is posthumously honoring him with its highest honor: the Thedore Roosevelt Award. The award recognizes a former student-athlete with a respected reputation who has made an outstanding impact on society.

Mutombo, also the recipient of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 2016, was an active advocate for several causes, serving on the boards of organizations like Special Olympics International, the National Constitution Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Read more at NCAA.com here.