A knee injury ends Mutombo's career

[Drucci]

Really sad news reported by ESPN :

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo said his lengthy career is finished after a knee injury knocked him out of the Rockets' playoff game Tuesday night against the Trail Blazers.

"For me, basketball is over," he said.

Mutombo
Mutombo

Mutombo, an 18-year NBA veteran, appeared to get tangled with Portland center Greg Oden and came down hard on his left leg late in the first quarter of Game 2.

He stayed prone on the court under the Blazers' basket for several moments before he was taken away by stretcher. A preliminary examination revealed a knee strain and he was ruled out the rest of the game.

Afterward in Houston's locker room, the 7-foot-2 veteran was on crutches and fighting back tears.

"Nobody ever thought they'd be carrying the big guy out like a wounded soldier," he said.

The 42-year-old will be examined by doctors in Houston on Wednesday.

Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star who won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award four times and stands in second on the NBA's career blocks list with 3,289. He has played for Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston.

Mutombo played 18 minutes in Game 1 of the series and had nine rebounds. The Rockets won the opener, 108-81, before the Blazers evened the series with a 107-103 victory on Tuesday.

"I've had a wonderful 18 years of staying injury-free, so I just want to go out with my head up, no regrets," he said.

Though he hasn't seen the Houston's doctors yet Dikembe seems to have accepted that this is the end for him. It's really a bad news and it hurts to see him end his career because of an injury. Plus he was probably going to get to the second round of the playoffs this year. Thanks for everything, Dikembe, you'll be remembered as a great center and a great guy off the court.

[xmuscularghandix]

One of the games great people. Very sad to see him go.

[BrickJames]

Never good to see anyone get injured, but I just can't possibly fathom that 50 yr old Decrepit Mutumbno got hurt!  Unbelievable...

Where are the Monday morning QBs who think Ainge passing up Decrepit for Less is Moore was a bad move now?  Guess what, it's Wednesday.

[Bankshot]

Never good to see anyone get injured, but I just can't possibly fathom that 50 yr old Decrepit Mutumbno got hurt!  Unbelievable...

Where are the Monday morning QBs who think Ainge passing up Decrepit for Less is Moore was a bad move now?  Guess what, it's Wednesday.

Wow, I guess you're no fan of Mutombo, huh?

I was watching the game when it happened.  Felt real sorry for the guy.  Mutombo continues to play for his country. He does a lot for his country with his money.  Don't know how anyone can't appreciate that.

[Redz]

Never good to see anyone get injured, but I just can't possibly fathom that 50 yr old Decrepit Mutumbno got hurt!  Unbelievable...

Where are the Monday morning QBs who think Ainge passing up Decrepit for Less is Moore was a bad move now?  Guess what, it's Wednesday.

Yeh, knee injuries never happen to younger guys.

[BrickJames]

Never good to see anyone get injured, but I just can't possibly fathom that 50 yr old Decrepit Mutumbno got hurt!  Unbelievable...

Where are the Monday morning QBs who think Ainge passing up Decrepit for Less is Moore was a bad move now?  Guess what, it's Wednesday.

Yeh, knee injuries never happen to younger guys.

Seriously though - I was amazed at the amount of people whining in the game thread during game 1 about how Ainge messed up passing on Mutumbo.  Typical CB overreactionaryism,  That's all I'm saying.

And yes, young guys do have knee injuries (Powe, Rondo...)  What's your point?

[bostonfan23]

Sad, fun to watch and great person

[cordobes]

I was watching the game as it happened. It was terrible; Deke didn't deserve to end his amazing career like this.

The basketball knowledge of people claiming Mutombo was decrepit
and Ainge didn't commit a mistake passing on him must be questioned. He was playing superbly once again. 

[GroverTheClover]

I'm not going to lie, I was fighting back tears when Deke was carried onto the stretcher. He's always been one of my favorite players on and off the court. A knee injury for a 42 year guy is a terrible way for him to end his Hall of Fame career.

He was still playing a very solid backup role for the Rockets. I would have loved him in green.

[ACF]

Sad, fun to watch and great person

[cdif911]

I actually agree with Brick on this one

[BrickJames]

I was watching the game as it happened. It was terrible; Deke didn't deserve to end his amazing career like this.

The basketball knowledge of people claiming Mutombo was decrepit
and Ainge didn't commit a mistake passing on him must be questioned. He was playing superbly once again. 

Man, I know nothing about basketball.   Never touched a basketball in my life, or watched a game even.  I just look at box scores in the newspaper and write my thoughts on the internet.

All I know is I wish we had another guy on the roster with a knee injury.  Mikki Moore is the sole reason we are struggling to stay competitive with a team coached by Vinny Del Negro.  IMO, this is poor general management.  Ainge definitely made so many mistakes this year.  Seriously, what is that guy thinking?  He has no idea how to run a team.

[BrickJames]

I actually agree with Brick on this one

Impossible!

[BrickJames]

Sad, fun to watch and great person

Let me take a step back from defending reason for a moment and appeal to the emo side of this.

I agree, sucks for a guy as classy and passionate as Deke to go out this way in the middle of playoff run no less.  I was cracking up in Game 1 vs Portland where he did the finger-wag at a ref who called a foul on him.

[cordobes]

I was watching the game as it happened. It was terrible; Deke didn't deserve to end his amazing career like this.

The basketball knowledge of people claiming Mutombo was decrepit
and Ainge didn't commit a mistake passing on him must be questioned. He was playing superbly once again. 

Man, I know nothing about basketball.   Never touched a basketball in my life, or watched a game even.  I just look at box scores in the newspaper and write my thoughts on the internet.

All I know is I wish we had another guy on the roster with a knee injury.  Mikki Moore is the sole reason we are struggling to stay competitive with a team coached by Vinny Del Negro.  IMO, this is poor general management.  Ainge definitely made so many mistakes this year.  Seriously, what is that guy thinking?  He has no idea how to run a team.

So, are you saying both you and Ainge predicted Mutombo's knee injury? Amazing, my compliments.