Dikembe Mutombo’s famous finger wag was made famous during his playing days and continues to do so today seven years after his retirement. It’s even landed him commercial deals.
The eight-time NBA All-Star signature finger wag has become so famous that many current players want to copy him when they make a block or a big play. Toronto Raptors’ forward Bismack Biyombo is one, and he’s used the finger-wag several times in the Eastern Conference finals, saying after his 26-rebound, four-block performance Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers that he had received permission from Mutombo. However, Mutombo hasn’t often handed out that permission in the past, and he recently told TMZ that he never gave Biyombo permission to use his move. Here’s the video of that interview:
Mutombo seems generally proud of Biyombo, who also is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but told TMZ he didn’t remember a conversation giving Biyombo finger-wag permission, and that the two of them would sort it out away from media this summer.
“I don’t know when did that conversation took place,” Mutombo said. “Him and I need to talk this summer.”
“He claim in the newspaper and everywhere he said I gave it to him. I said, Did I gave him? Was it family? Cosign? But you know what, he’s a young man, man, I let him enjoy the fame. He’s making me famous!,” Mutombo said.
“I will see him in the Congo this summer so him and I will talk back home with nobody around us.”
For now, Biyombo and the Raptors are still in the playoffs in a 2-2 tie in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Biyombo’s shot-blocking style also recalls Mutombo’s, not just his finger-wagging:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzsQPyb8KPw
Biyombo, the seventh overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in 2011, recently finished off the best regular season of his career. The center finished with career highs in points per game (5.5), games played (82), free throw percentage (62.8%), and rebounds per game (8.0). In Toronto’s 105-99 Game Four win Monday, Biyombo had only five points, but he did finish with 14 rebounds. Game Five is Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST in Cleveland. We’ll see if Biyombo busts out the finger-wag again now that Mutombo has publicly said he didn’t endorse it.
[TMZ]
