ATLANTA -- Basketball jersey number 55 will soon hang in the rafters of Philips Arena in honor of sports legend Dikembe Mutombo.
Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club CEO Steve Koonin and Head Coach Mike Budenholzer made the announcement Tuesday.
"There are very few players who have had the impact on- and off-the-court that Dikembe has had, and he's very deserving of this honor," Koonin said in a press release. "As a player, man and humanitarian, he represents everything we want to be associated with. November 24th is going to be a memorable night in our franchise's history, in Atlanta, in Fulton County, and for Dikembe and his family."
Mutombo's jersey will be retired during a special ceremony on Nov. 24 when the Hawks host the Boston Celtics. It will come just a few months after he's enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
His career stretched for 18 years in the NBA, including five seasons with the Hawks (1996 to 2001). He still holds third place in franchise history in field goal percentage, blocks, and rebounds per game.
Mutombo will become just the fourth Hawks legend honored in Philips Arena's rafters. He'll join Dominique Wilkins (#21), Lou Hudson (#23), Bob Pettit (#9) and Ted Turner.
