Sixers legend Dikembe Mutombo ranked 8th-best defender in NBA history

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The Philadelphia 76ers have had some legendary players walk through their building over the years. Players like Allen Iverson, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, and many others have passed through the City of Brotherly Love and given some fantastic performances on the court.

This edition of looking at Sixers history focuses on the late, great Dikembe Mutombo. Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at the 2001 deadline, Mutombo anchored the middle for the Sixers and helped them reach the finals as he provided a defensive presence next to Iverson.

His time with the Sixers was brief, but he averaged 2.4 blocks and was named an All-Star in 2002 in Philadelphia before he was moved to the then-New Jersey Nets that offseason. It was another season that was part of his defensive dominance on the floor and his work on that end earned him the respect of his peers.

HoopsHype ranked the top 79 defenders in NBA history and Mutombo was ranked No. 8 on the list:

Mutombo’s defense was also quite impactful, as the big man led the league in blocks three times in his career, including in 1995-96 when he averaged an astonishing 4.5 blocks per game. That was the sixth-highest single-season block average in league history. Mutombo was such a good shot-blocker, with excellent length and timing on block attempts, that even as a 37-year-old in 2003-04, he was averaging 1.9 blocks per game.

Mutombo ranks second all-time in total blocks at 3,289.

To acquire Mutombo, the Sixers had to give up All-Star Theo Ratliff, but the move proved to be worth it as Mutombo gave Philadelphia the type of defensive presence it needed to succeed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers legend Dikembe Mutombo ranked 8th-best defender in NBA history

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