Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who died of brain cancer on Sept. 30 at 58, was quite simply one of the finest human beings ever to don an NBA uniform. Every young sports fan should strive to emulate him.

Mutombo’s on-court legacy itself is impressive: Four times the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, three-time shot-blocking champion, two-time rebounding champ, eight-time All-Star, and second all-time leader in career shots blocked.