In the News

Mutombo caught up in African gold scam
NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo fell into a gold-smuggling trap that saw millions of dollars handed over to a notorious Democratic Republic of Congo warlord, UN investigators said Sunday.

Ewing, Mourning, Mutombo to lead hoops camp
Former NBA All-Stars and Georgetown centers Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo will travel to South Africa next month for a Basketball without Borders camp.

Ewing, 'Zo, Mutombo lead S. Africa camp (AP)
Former NBA All-Stars and Georgetown centers Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo will travel to South Africa next month for a Basketball without Borders camp. Coaches Lionel Hollins of Memphis and Monty Williams of New Orleans also are part of the group working the Sept. 1-4 camp, the eighth held in South Africa.

Howard wins third straight Defensive POY (AP)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is the first player to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award three straight seasons. Only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, with four each, have won the award more times. The league announced Monday that Howard received 585 points, including 114 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sports writers and broadcasters.

Mutombo hopes Anthony stays with Nuggets (AP)
In town to support a friend, former Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo of Congo couldn't resist handing out a little friendly advice to Carmelo Anthony. Careful what you wish for. Since Mutombo serves as the global ambassador for the league, though, he didn't feel it was right to personally chat with Anthony about his situation, delivering his message instead through the media.

Dikembe Mutombo to Carmelo Anthony: Grass isn't always greener
In town to support a friend, former Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo couldn't resist doling out a little friendly advice to Carmelo Anthony.

Mutombo helps unveil courts in India (AP)
The NBA is taking another step in its plans to expand its presence in India, sending Dikembe Mutombo to take part in a pair of events this week. The former All-Star center, recently hired as the league's global ambassador, was in Mumbai on Wednesday to unveil two refurbished courts, along with a learning center, which the league said will benefit more than 1,500 children.

NBA sends Dikembe Mutombo to India for court, learning center unveiling
The NBA is taking another step in its plans to expand its presence in India, sending Dikembe Mutombo to take part in a pair of events this week.

NBA hires Dikembe Mutombo as global ambassador
Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.



Mutombo joins NBA as global ambassador (AP)
Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador. The league announced Mutombo's hiring to the newly created position on Tuesday, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star "one of sports' outstanding humanitarians." Besides being a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work.

Rockets sign Mutombo, 42, for rest of season
The Houston Rockets have re-signed 42-year-old center Dikembe Mutombo for the rest of the season. The move gives the Rockets an emotional leader and a backup to Yao Ming.

Mutombo says he wants to play another season
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo still isn't ready to retire.

Rockets' Mutombo wants to play another year
Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo still isn't ready to retire. "I'm going to consider to keep playing basketball. The next part will be to tell my lawyer, David Falk," Mutombo said in Thursday's online edition of the Houston Chronicle. "My body and my mind is responding to the thrill of the game. The coaches and the fans and everyone are in there." Mutombo, listed at 42 years old, had considered retiring last year and then decided to play one more season.

Rockets stay alive, rip Jazz 95-69 (AP)

Tracy McGrady scored 29 points, Luis Scola added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets staved off elimination Tuesday night by routing the Utah Jazz 95-69 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 10 rebounds as the Rockets cut their series deficit to 3-2 and forced Game 6 in Utah on Friday night.

Williams pushes Jazz to 3-1 series lead (AP)

Mehmet Okur can expect to get something nice from teammate Deron Williams. Okur bailed out Williams when he missed two free throws with 7.3 seconds left, then Okur made two from the line to seal an 86-82 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday that put the Jazz up 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. "Memo saved my butt.

Jazz beat Rockets for 2-0 series lead (AP)

Tracy McGrady disappeared again in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz took a commanding lead in their playoff series with the Houston Rockets. Deron Williams shrugged off an ankle injury and scored 22 points and Mehmet Okur added 16 points and 16 rebounds as the Jazz beat the Rockets 90-84 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Nuggets near playoffs, rout Rockets (AP)

Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith put the enigmatic Denver Nuggets on the cusp of the NBA playoffs. Iverson scored 33 points and Smith sparked the Nuggets out of their early doldrums with a 23-point performance in Denver's 111-94 rout of the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. All the Nuggets have to do now to reach the playoffs for the fifth straight time is beat lowly Memphis on Wednesday night at home.

McGrady's 35 lead Rockets by Blazers (AP)

Tracy McGrady scored 26 of his 35 points in the second half, and the Houston Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 95-88 Thursday night. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Houston. The Rockets, once atop the Western Conference with a 22-game winning streak, are currently in fifth place with the Phoenix Suns.

Kings deal Rockets costly loss, 99-98 (AP)

If the Sacramento Kings were in the Eastern Conference, they would be in the thick of the playoff race with huge meaning in every game. In the power-packed West, they have long been eliminated and must take solace in playing the role of spoiler. Ron Artest scored 30 points, Kevin Martin added 27 and the Kings dealt a blow to Houston's chances of winning the Southwest Division with a 99-98 victory...

Suns' Stoudemire makes 20-of-20 FTs (AP)

Amare Stoudemire scored 38 points, including a franchise-record 20-of-20 on free throws, and the Phoenix Suns won their seventh in a row by beating the Houston Rockets 122-113 on Saturday night. Stoudemire, who also had 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, broke the club record for consecutive free throws in a game of 17, set by Paul Silas against Atlanta on Jan.

Wells sends Rockets to another defeat (AP)

Former Houston swingman Bonzi Wells helped New Orleans hand the Rockets their second straight loss after a 22-game winning streak, scoring 20 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter in the Hornets' 90-69 victory Wednesday night. David West, returning from a right ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games, had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help New Orleans (46-21) pull a half-game ahead of the...

Rockets extend win streak to 21 (AP)

The Houston Rockets' 21st consecutive victory gave them the second-longest winning streak in NBA history and a share of first place in the Western Conference. Tracy McGrady scored 30 points and the Rockets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-80 on Friday night to break a tie with the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks for the second-best victory streak in league history.

Rockets win 17th straight behind McGrady (AP)

Tracy McGrady had 31 points and nine assists and Rafer Alston added a season-high 24 points, helping the Houston Rockets push their franchise-best winning streak to 17 games with a 113-98 victory over the Dirk Nowitzki-less Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Houston's streak is tied for seventh-best in NBA history.

Rockets re-sign Dikembe Mutombo
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has re-signed free agent center Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo (7-2, 260, Georgetown) has averaged 10.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.81 blocks in 1,148 career games (970 starts) with Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston. Last season with the Rockets, Mutombo averaged 3.1 points, [...]

Dikembe Mutombo, C - HOU
Rockets ink Mutombo to one-year deal Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.

Mutombo, 41, returns to Rockets for 16th season
The Houston Rockets signed Dikembe Mutombo to a one-year contract on Monday, extending the 41-year-old center's NBA career into a 16th season.

Mutombo to play last season with Rockets (AP)
The Houston Rockets signed Dikembe Mutombo to a one-year contract on Monday, extending the 41-year-old center's NBA career into a 16th season. "I'm going enjoy every second and every minute of my last year in the NBA," he said. "I hope my farewell tour will be a nice memorable one." The 7-foot-2, 260-pound Mutombo ended up playing a pivotal role for Houston last season, when Yao Ming broke a bone...