NBA Africa and Quest Water Global announce on Monday say dem go work together for plenti years to build or renovate 55 standard and 3x3 basketball courts across di Democratic Republic of di Congo by 2030, to honour di late Dikembe Mutombo. Di four-time NBA Defensive Player of di Year and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer die on 30 September 2024 for Atlanta because of brain cancer.
Di project dey support one bigger NBA Africa promise to build or fix 1,000 courts across di whole continent for di next ten years, and e don make Quest Water Global become di league official infrastructure development partner for DRC. Di partnership start last Tuesday with di opening of one outdoor court for Cercle Onatra for Kinshasa, na di club wia Mutombo start im career before e comot go United States.
Every court go show Mutombo iconic number 55. One second court dey set to open inside di next weeks for Mbuji-Mayi, im hometown. NBA Africa also hold one Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA training session for 80 local coaches to mark di launch.
John Balanko, CEO of Quest Water Global, tok say di collaboration show say both of dem believe say "healthy, thriving communities need more than one thing – dem need clean water, safe spaces, and di opportunity to grow." Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa, tok say di project go create more chances for young Congolese people to "follow for im enormous footsteps both as players and leaders."
Mutombo, wia dem pick fourth overall for 1991, spend 18 seasons for NBA and dem name am All-Star eight times. E finish im playing days as di second-leading shot blocker for league history before e become NBA first global ambassador afta im retire for 2009. Di Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital wia e build for Kinshasa open to di public for 2007.
