Led by Dikembe Mutombo’s dominant interior defense, the 1993-94 Denver Nuggets allowed opponents to shoot just 43.8 percent – the NBA’s second-best mark that year. In addition to blocking a league-best 4.1 shots per game, Mutombo also dissuaded opponents from even attempting high-percentage inside shots. He just made stop after stop in a variety of ways.
Can you imagine if he did his signature finger wag after every defensive stand, not just the blocks? It would have been unwieldy.
But on hand for the Nuggets honoring that 1993-94 team, which upset the No. 1-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the playoffs, Mutombo apparently lowered his standards Monday. Even preventing a shot at the rim got a finger wag.
I supposed this means, at 47, Mutombo is finally over the hill as a player.
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P.S.: Mr. Noah, please take note. This is how you do a nice, crisp finger wag. No more loose, full-arm wagging.
