USA - Mutombo points to No. 2

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Dikembe Mutombo leans back in his chair, looks up at his locker and chuckles at the sight of the little plastic doll with the "bobblefinger" that sits on the shelf. Then his gaze moves to the chart that shows his progress up the list of the NBA's great shot-blockers and the smile turns inward, reflecting a sense of accomplishment.

One minute Mutombo is laughing and joking and demanding arrangements be made to stop the game whenever he gets seven more blocks to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3,189) for the No. 2 spot on the list.

But in the next minute he is a humbled son of Africa, proud to be taking his place in the pantheon behind all-time leader Hakeem Olajuwon (3,833).

"I'm so excited, so excited," Mutombo said. "I'm really thrilled about becoming one of the great shot-blockers who has played this game. To see myself up with my brother Hakeem Olajuwon, I think it's a great honor for me. To go into the history books as two African kings who came in and did something very special in this league, it is overwhelming to me and I think very significant."

Inspiration to Africans

The gangly youth who originally had dreams of traveling to America to become a doctor and then return home to help the people of his native Congo is now the 40-year-old man who has carved out a 16-year career in the NBA as a tireless shot-blocker, rebounder and compassionate ambassador for an impoverished continent.

"Hakeem's career, my career, I think it's a good inspiration for any African kids who come into this league after both of us are long gone," Mutombo said. "They can say, 'I want to reach and try to touch where my brothers have been.' "

Mutombo and Olajuwon had dinner last summer in Houston, sharing a meal and philosophies and dreams about bringing more African basketball players to the United States.

"We thought it would happen before now, and it should have," Mutombo said. "But there are NCAA regulations and rules from State Department, so much red tape that it is like a wall that those kids have to jump over. We just lost about 20 kids from our last (Basketball Without Borders) camp in Africa, who are already playing in Division III or two pro leagues in Europe.

"That is a common goal Hakeem and I share, maybe to find a way to open things up again. We talked a lot at dinner. I learned a lot from him. He's a proud man. So smart, really talented and skill-wise was so far ahead of any big man who ever played this game. His footwork, you can't even talk about. His rebounding. His blocked-shot record. Every day now I look at my bobblefinger doll and I look at this list and I say to myself, 'What a joy to be 1-2 with my brother.' "

Since Yao Ming went down with a broken bone in his right leg Dec. 23, the venerable Mutombo has moved into the starting spot at center. In six games, he has averaged 10 rebounds while playing 22.5 minutes, and his on-court time is increasing.

"It has motivated me and, at the same time, there's a lot of pressure," Mutombo said. "My teammates are saying, 'You gotta help us.' The coaches are saying, 'Deke, we need you.'

"When you're in that position, all you can do is try to respond. (Coach) Jeff (Van Gundy) is pushing me, testing me, and I think we're getting a good result from that."

No. 1 not in plans

His teammates have noticed.

"I respect the guy a lot," Juwan Howard said. "He's a professional. He never complains and he goes after it. That's what you call being a leader by example. When Yao was healthy, he got spare minutes. But look at him now. Look at all that he's done."

Of course, when he passes Abdul-Jabbar and gets to 3,190, Mutombo will only need 643 blocks to catch Olajuwon.

"Ohhhh noooo!" he says in that loud booming laugh. "I'm not going to be around. I'll be hanging up my jersey somewhere. I told Hakeem that I'm not going to be around to catch him. After this, I will go home and lay down."