NBA Africa to build 55 DR Congo courts for Mutombo

NBA Africa and Quest Water Global will create or restore 55 basketball courts across the Democratic Republic of Congo by 2030, giving Dikembe Mutombo’s legacy a permanent presence in the country where his basketball journey began. The programme is intended to widen access to the sport and create more opportunities for young Congolese players.

The first court was unveiled on 29 September at Cercle Onatra in Kinshasa, the site where Mutombo first played. The number 55 has been marked at centre court. The next installation is planned for Mbuji-Mayi, Mutombo’s hometown, in the coming weeks. Quest Water Global is NBA Africa’s official infrastructure partner for the project.

The Kinshasa launch also included a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA session for 80 local coaches, supporting youth coaching and development. The Congolese initiative forms part of NBA Africa’s wider ambition to build or renovate 1,000 courts across Africa over the next decade.

Mutombo died in 2024 at the age of 58. The Congolese icon was an eight-time NBA All-Star and won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award four times. His influence also extended to humanitarian work, including support for the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, which opened in Kinshasa in 2007 in memory of his mother. The new courts are intended to reflect his belief in basketball as a vehicle for discipline, leadership, resilience and service.