On November 24th, the Atlanta Hawks paid homage to one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. Hall of Famer/ NBA ambassador Dikembe Mutombo’s number 55 was retired and hung last night in Philips Arena and HHS1987 was on the scene to catch it all.
The tribute began as soon as guests entered Philips Arena, where fans received Mutombo-centric game programs and commemorative “No, No, No” finger-wagging foam hands. The mid-90’s-themed giveaways feature Mutombo’s autograph, name and jersey number, as well as the team’s logo from his playing days and the date of his jersey retirement. Other pregame elements included a projection video dedicated to the 18-year veteran and a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by a member of the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, a favorite of Mutombo’s.
During halftime of the Atlanta Hawks matchup against the Boston Celtics NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Hawks Principal Owner and Chair of the Board of Directors Tony Ressler, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Atlanta Hawks star Steve Smith gave a few remarks about Mutombo’s career. From there, Dikembe Mutombo addressed the Hawks crowd and his jersey was revealed.
The video was shot by HHS1987’s Eldorado (Terrell Thomas)
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