55 as the number of Dikembe Mutomboand the number of seconds during which the Denver public applauded to pay tribute to their former kingpin, who died on September 30 at the age of 58.
It was in the middle of the first quarter of the match against the Thunder that the franchise broadcast a tribute video, while the Nuggets players and coaches wore a T-Shirt with a raised finger since the warm-up: “Not In My House.”
“I feel very privileged to have been able to know him, coach him and spend time with him”, reacted Mike Malone, the Nuggets coach. “He will be missed by many, many people.”
His name and number near the bench
Like the Celtics with Bill Russell or the Warriors with Jerry West, the Nuggets also decided to pay tribute to their former pivot with his name and number 55 painted near the Nuggets bench.
“His legacy goes far beyond the field” recalls Mike Malone. “There's everything he does for his country, building hospitals… That's what we expect from people, is that when they succeed, they find a way to return the favor and improve the lives of others. Dikembe Mutombo will always be remembered as an ambassador for the sport, on and off the field, with a huge, huge heart. »
