The NBA is paying tribute to one of its best defensive players ever.

Late great center Dikembe Mutombo, who sadly died at just 60 following a clash with brain cancer, was one of the most unmovable post forces the league has ever seen.

While speaking at the NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon honoring Mutombo in San Francisco on Saturday, league commissioner Adam Silver revealed that he intends to pay tribute to the Hall of Famer long-term with a new honor.

Per Marc J. Spears of ESPN/Andscape, Silver is launching a new annual NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award, in tribute to “a person or an organization that works to advance health, education or economic opportunity across Africa. Mutombo was the NBA‘s first global ambassador.”

Mutombo was an all-time great, and one of the first stars native to Africa. It’s fitting that his name will be remembered long after his passing with this touching gesture.

Houston Rockets Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo #55 of Houston Rockets looks up at the clock in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets on April 17, 2006 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Rockets won 86-83.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

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