Everyone in the NBA has their own signature moves, such as Jordan sticking out his tongue, Iverson's "listening" gesture, and James always throwing some powder before the game, but he is not original either. Nate also has similar hobbies, Terry's "jet", O'Neal's dominance, Harden's salting, cousin Leigh's guidance, etc., but in terms of personality and style, no one can compare with Uncle Mu's "one step" Refers to Zen "skill".
The origin of "wagging your finger"
Whenever we see Uncle Mu block a shot during a game and lightly wag his index finger, it seems to be saying: You are too inferior. But do you know the origin of “finger wagging”? Its founder is actually an old lady from Africa.
In 1970, 4-year-old Mutombo waggled his finger for the first time during the hottest summer in Zaire. But he may not have known what he was doing at the time, and certainly he didn't know that action would become his trademark in the future. At that time, Xiao Mu was just imitating his mother, because he always wagged his finger to warn his son: Don't bully your brother anymore. As a result, this simple gesture and a bright smile lasted throughout Mutombo's childhood.
On April 7, 1980, the unofficial, documented first time Mutombo waggled his finger in a game, when a runaway attempted a layup, Mutombo came clean. Swish the ball cleanly out of the court. The boy raised his head and saw a huge finger waving in front of his eyes. From then on, whenever they saw that finger, people's hearts would flutter inexplicably. This was not just because of Mutombo's size and his seriousness. expression, but also because they all understood that all baskets in Zaire were going to be covered. But for Uncle Mu as a boy, wagging his fingers was just a release after he won the fierce physical confrontation in the paint.
After arriving in the American continent, Uncle Mu discovered that wagging his finger was like the "flying fairy from the sky" to these people in the mountains. Not only had they never seen it, they had never heard of it.
In the first game of Georgetown University, Uncle Mu unceremoniously slapped his opponent's shot to the audience in the second row behind the basket. Then in the midst of astonishment, the first For the first time, he wagged his finger in front of Americans. As he shook his fingers, he frowned at the same time, seeming thoughtful: Is this the so-called basketball kingdom? Since then, such scenes have occurred frequently, because rookie Mutombo averaged 2.2 blocks per game. Georgetown fans quickly embraced the arrogance of the Ewing successor, even setting up a zone behind the basket to welcome the basketball being slapped over. Then, in his first NCAA Big East game, he tied Georgetown's school record with 12 blocks. Since then, Uncle Mu has averaged 6.0 blocks per 40 minutes, ranking third in the history of Georgetown University's blocks (after Ewing and Mourning). But in the history of the NCAA, Uncle Mu has 278 finger-wagging opportunities, ranking first. This record is still elusive.
Mutombo, a freshman, led Georgetown University to the NCAA quarterfinals. At the same time, he also achieved very good academic results. It is said that this is also related to wagging his finger. Once, Uncle Mu only scored 77 points in a language test. When he saw that the score was not what he imagined, he came to the professor's office. Without saying a word, he just threw the test paper on the table and shook his hand at the professor. With his omnipotent finger on the court, under this powerful intimidation, the professor immediately admitted that he had made a mistake in calculating the score. Even better, after that, Uncle Mu's score never fell below 90 points. In addition to off the court and in the classroom, Uncle Mu's fingers also have unexpected uses. After a big win in his freshman semester, Uncle Mutombo went to a bar in Georgetown to relax. In full view of everyone, he shouted: "Who wants to sleep with Mutombo?" The open-mindedness of American girls was exposed. There was no time left, and countless women flocked to him, wanting to kiss the "fangze" of this college star. Unexpectedly, at this time, Uncle Mu shook his finger again: "Dikembe doesn't want fat girls."
After graduating from college, Uncle Mu was not sure whether he had the strength to enter the NBA. His mother, the creator of the finger-wagging gesture, came to Georgetown to persuade him, "Son, you have to test the quality of those people and wag your fingers at them!" So Uncle Mu gave up and became a The congressman chose to participate in the 1991 NBA draft.
When the Charlotte Hornets selected Larry Johnson from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the first pick, Uncle Mu's face was filled with tears. After being drafted by the Denver Nuggets, he stood up, walked past the Hornets' table, and glared angrily at their general manager. He put on a Nuggets baseball cap, looked directly at the audience, raised his index finger to the sky, and slowly shook it. The fellow Africans who were lucky enough to see this scene cheered and rushed to tell each other: "Our King of Africa is wagging his finger and going to take over." America!"
The era of wagging fingers
The early 1990s was the most vital era of the NBA, and those stars who could not sit still were on the court. But he was most afraid of two things: one was the punches and kicks from the bad boys of the Pistons, and the other was when a big hand with tangled veins suddenly appeared in front of him when he was flying for a layup, and slapped the ball away hard. In November 1991, Uncle Mu made his debut for the Nuggets in the NBA. 14 seconds later, he slapped away a hook shot from his opponent. Then against the Hornets, Uncle Mu dunked Larry Johnson's (the man who stole him the No. 1 pick) dunk directly onto the backboard. At that moment, the Denver fans were excited. Uncle Mu took a step toward Johnson and the Hornets' bench and wagged his finger. That day, Uncle Mu completely changed the NBA. The image of him wagging his finger was repeatedly played by various television stations, and the league seemed to be divided in half: one half loved this gesture to death; while the other half despised such showoff. In the following game, many superstars, such as Mullin, Dumars, Hornacek, Malone, and Jordan were angry at his finger-wagging.
Think about it, "eating hot pot" is embarrassing enough, but the most disgusting thing is what happens next - the guy looks at you expressionlessly, and then shakes his hateful index finger towards the audience . But the fans love it, and Uncle Mu is unapologetic.
It is not difficult to imagine how many people have had the urge to rush up and press or break this index finger. Many people protested to the league, suggesting that this "disdain for opponents" should be stopped, but Stern didn't seem to mind Mutombo's fingers flying around the arena. Of course, some referees believed that his actions were provocative, but most believed that the habits of African brothers should be respected. This may be a celebration of African tribes, not to mention that every time he wagged his finger, he was facing the audience. In addition, "wagging your finger" can trigger countless screams in the audience every time. As someone said, "Why stop Dikembe from wagging his finger? Don't they know that the audience is here just to see this?"
As a result, in the 1990s, everyone began to work hard to create their own signature moves, which has continued to this day.
Say no to piracy
During the Rockets' 22-game winning streak in the 2007-08 season, when the Nets helped the Rockets achieve their 19-game winning streak, Uncle Mu made the Toyota Center boil five times. . After giving two consecutive big shots to Jefferson and Flying Carter, the emotions of the entire audience reached its peak, but what followed was an even greater excitement - Kostic's hook was slapped to the bench by Uncle Mu. superior! In the first quarter of the game, Uncle Mu shook his finger four times.
What happened next was even more incredible. After receiving a long pass from Carter, Jefferson made a powerful dunk on Uncle Mu's head, which became the only highlight of the game. After the dunk, Jefferson, who had been very depressed throughout the game, roared and looked at Uncle Mu with great joy. He raised his index finger, but before Uncle Mu could teach him a lesson, the referee gave him a technical foul. Unconvinced, Jefferson rushed directly to the referee and was hugged by his teammates.
Jefferson He asked the referee loudly: "Why?"
The referee calmly asked: "Did you wag your finger just now?"
Jefferson: "Yes!"
"Who did you shake it at?"
Jefferson: "Uncle Mu!"
"So I give you a technical foul!"
Jeff Sen: "I'm just imitating him. Uncle Mu also shook his finger in our direction just now!"
Referee: "You can shake your finger at the audience, but you can't shake it at a certain person. That's the rule. "
Jefferson: ".
"
Perhaps Jefferson doesn't know that he is not the first person to be sentenced to a technical foul for retaliating against Uncle Mu. Back then, Jordan once wanted to vent his anger on Pippen, who was blocked by Uncle Mu. After the dunk on Uncle Mu's head, he also shook his finger at him and was sentenced to a technical foul. How could anyone else be an exception?
Uncle Mu said sincerely after the game: "Shake." The finger is mine and I own the copyright to it. It's wrong to want to imitate me. It's like a CD. If you copy it secretly, it's piracy. I really want to tell those young people, stop learning from me, and think about how to create something of their own. ”
Heiba ??became famous in one fell swoop
Uncle Mu was unfortunate because he did not win a championship ring in his career; however, Uncle Mu was lucky because he won He won the title of four-time Defensive Player of the Year. He created the first black eight miracle in NBA history. His finger-wagging action became an immortal scenery on the NBA sidelines.
Uncle Mu was a child. He showed unparalleled basketball talent during his tenure and worked hard to enter the Congolese national team. But it was from Georgetown University that Uncle Mu became known. Herman Heinig, then the U.S. Ambassador to Congo, helped him enter. This prestigious school in the United States. In 1988, Uncle Mu's first year after entering Georgetown University, he immediately became the defensive pacesetter of Georgetown University, averaging 2.27 blocks per game. Uncle Mu's outstanding performance in college attracted the attention of the NBA. The team paid great attention to him, and many people were optimistic that he could become the No. 1 pick in the draft.
However, when the 1991 draft kicked off, Uncle Mu passed by the Hornets. The team picked Larry Johnson with the first pick in the first round, and Uncle Mu was not picked up by the Nuggets until the fourth pick. Such a basin of cold water caught Uncle Mu off guard and gave him the motivation to continue. Reasons to work harder on professional basketball.
Although Uncle Mu averaged 16.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in his rookie season, he only became famous two years later. In the 1993-94 season, Uncle Mu sent out the league's most 336 blocks and ranked among the top three in the league with 11.8 rebounds per game. However, his greater lethality came in the playoffs when the Nuggets had a record of 42 wins and 40 losses. Entering the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, their opponent was the SuperSonics (now the Thunder), the team leader in the regular season with 63 wins and 19 losses, led by "Glove" Payton and "Rain Man" Kemp. Lisuo played the first two games, which was also a true reflection of the strength of both sides. Even Nuggets head coach Dan Issel said at the time: "To be honest, we participated in the playoffs this year just to accumulate experience. ”
The head coach’s pressure relief put the Nuggets boys in a relaxed mood to play, especially Uncle Mu, who was even more relaxed. As a result, in the third game, Uncle Mu was completely Dominating the inside, the Nuggets also pulled back a big win. In Game 4, the Nuggets narrowly defeated the SuperSonics in overtime. When the score reached 2:2, Uncle Mu said: "I didn't. I don't like to be rude, but this is the playoffs and no one will open the door to steal. You have to learn to take the initiative and make yourself more comfortable. ”
On May 7, 1994, local time in the United States, in the fifth game of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 98-94 in overtime on the road. Won three games in a row after falling behind by -2, performing the first "Black Eight Miracle" in NBA history (win-win from 5 games in the first round)
Nuggets center Dikembe Muto. Mbo played 45 minutes and scored 8 points, 15 rebounds and 8 blocks.
In the life-and-death battle, Uncle Mu played even more fiercely. He allowed the opponent's arrow figure "Rain Man" Kemp to score only one goal in the entire first half. 6 points. In the end, the Nuggets defeated the SuperSonics 98:94 in overtime and completed the Black Eight.
The Nuggets went down in history for their first black eight, and Uncle Mu also became famous for his 31 blocks in 5 games in the series!
It’s not a pity to lose in the finals
In 1995, the 29-year-old Mutombo won the Defensive Player of the Year with impressive statistics of 321 blocks and 1,029 rebounds. From 1996 to 1996, Uncle Mu continued to be the block leader. However, after his contract with the Nuggets expired in 1996, he joined the Atlanta Hawks for 5 years and $56 million. In Atlanta, Uncle Mu became a true superstar, averaging 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in his first season. Mutombo teamed up with Laettner, Blaylock, and Steve Smith to allow the Hawks to win 11 consecutive games at the beginning of the 1997-98 season. After the Hawks won two block titles and two Defensive Player of the Year trophies, Uncle Mu became the league's rebounding leader in 1999 and 2000.
Undoubtedly, Uncle Mu's years in Atlanta were wonderful, but his age has made him no longer the darling of the Hawks. In 2001, the Hawks felt that Uncle Mu was getting old, so they traded the "African Mountain" from the 76ers for the shot-blocking king Ratliff. The Eagle's behavior seemed to show disdain for the poor wife, but as a blessing in disguise, Uncle Mu had the opportunity to reach the finals. In the 26 games he played for the 76ers that season, Uncle Mu showed no sign of aging. Instead, he averaged 11.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. More importantly, Uncle Mu played in the finals of that season with Iverson, which was an unprecedented experience for him. Although the 76ers were eliminated by the Lakers 4-1 in the Finals, Uncle Mu's tough defense against O'Neal was impressive.
Such a finals experience is hardly perfect, but for Uncle Mu, he has no regrets. Because in that series, Uncle Mu tried his best. Unfortunately, the Lakers were too strong at the time. What was even more tragic was that he met O'Neal at his peak.
Wrapped in Horse Leather, Leaving the Hero
If "Wrapped in Horse Leather" is the lifelong pursuit of battlefield generals, then falling on the court is the best destination for basketball heroes. Uncle Mu is such a brave man. He was injured and fell down in the second game of the 2009 playoffs. This tragic fall brought an end to his career. Uncle Mu's days with the 76ers were beautiful but short-lived. He then wandered with the Nets and Knicks, and finally joined the Rockets in 2004. In Houston, Uncle Mu became Yao Ming's substitute. He found his own value and began to use his experience and defense to help the team.
When he first arrived, Uncle Mu made it his mission to help Yao Ming grow faster. He said: "It will be very good for him (Yao Ming) to have more confrontations in training. I can help He has to learn some tricks to improve his blocking and rebounding abilities." With Uncle Mu's targeted help, Yao Ming has made great progress, and the two have become very good friends in the process. Of course, Uncle Mu not only mentored Yao Ming, he also provided help to other young players and became a locker room leader in Houston. At the same time, Uncle Mu did not forget his main task. Although his scoring and rebounding data during his time with the Rockets have dropped to single digits, he used defense to become Yao Ming's strong backing. During the period when Yao Ming was injured, Uncle Mu was still able to get mad as a young man and played vigorously as the main center, especially during the Rockets' 22-game winning streak in the 2007-08 season. Yao Ming suffered a season-ending injury after 12 consecutive wins. Just when people thought the Rockets' winning streak was about to come to an abrupt end, Uncle Mu stepped up and built a solid defense with blocks and rebounds, ultimately helping the Rockets achieve an epic victory. 22 consecutive wins.
Uncle Mu's outstanding performance earned the praise of both head coaches Van Gundy and Adelman. The latter even regarded the "African Mountains" as the team's trump card in the playoffs. Although Uncle Mu is older and his scoring is low, Uncle Mu's defensive experience and awareness make the coaching staff feel reassured. But just when Adelman had high hopes for Uncle Mu, he suddenly collapsed while fighting for the team in the 2009 playoffs and bid farewell to the court completely. Uncle Mu left the court, but his spirit remains in the hearts of Rockets players. Yao Ming said: "He had a very glorious career and did many things that we, the younger generations, admire.
He's not just a great player, he's a role model. "
Mountains of Africa
In 2006, Uncle Mu announced that he would become a U.S. citizen, thus becoming a true American national. In an interview, Uncle Mu said: "I am very happy to join American nationality. It feels good to be a real American here. "It is true that Uncle Mu has become famous and accumulated a lot of wealth in the United States. He has every reason to like it here, not to mention the life here is 10,000 times better than in his hometown.
However, Uncle Mu's change of nationality is by no means For the sake of pleasure, Uncle Mu hopes to seek more assistance from the U.S. government as an American to help build hospitals in his hometown. As we all know, it is helpful to seek help from the U.S. government as a Congolese. Not to mention the damage to the country, the help received is also very limited.
Uncle Mu said: "I will work hard to open the door of the US government's foreign aid to benefit more African people. "The emperor has paid off. In 2007, a hospital named after Mutombo's mother was officially opened in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. Building a hospital for the people in his hometown is Uncle Mutombo's most famous charity activity, and small charity activities in life are even more There are too many to mention.
&: Dikembe Mutombo, born in Congo, Africa on June 25, 1966, is a former Congolese-American professional basketball player who serves as a center. p>
Dikembe Mutombo was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft. During his career, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers. New Jersey Nets (now renamed Brooklyn Nets), New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He was selected to the NBA All-Star team in his rookie season; won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award 4 times; was selected 3 times. NBA All-Defensive First Team
On April 22, 2009, Dikembe Mutombo announced his retirement due to a knee injury. Officially selected into the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Hawks retired Mutombo's No. 55 jersey. The mayor of Atlanta announced that November 25 would be the local "Dikembe." Mutombo Day. On October 29, 2016, Colorado announced that October 29 would be named "Mutombo Day." On October 30, the Denver Nuggets retired Mutombo's Jersey No. 55. In the 2017-18 season, Mutombo won the SEG Strong Award.