If the Hawks can retire Dikembe Mutombo’s number after four and a half seasons in Atlanta, the Nuggets can retire it after five in Denver.
Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post:
The #Nuggets are going to retire Dikembe Mutombo's jersey at the first home game
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) September 26, 2016
Mutombo will join the list of people who’ve had a number retired by multiple teams:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers, Bucks)
- Charles Barkley (76ers, Suns)
- Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors, Lakers, 76ers)
- Clyde Drexler (Trail Blazers, Rockets)
- Julius Erving (Nets, 76ers)
- Michael Jordan (Bulls, Heat)
- Bob Lanier (Pistons, Bucks)
- Moses Malone (Rockets, 76ers)
- Pete Maravich (Jazz, Pelicans)
- Earl Monroe (Knicks, Wizards)
- Oscar Robertson (Bucks, Kings)
- Jerry Sloan (Bulls, Jazz)
- Nate Thurmond (Cavaliers, Warriors)
Shaquille O’Neal, who had his number retired by the Lakers, will also make the list this season, when the Heat will put his number in the rafters.
Mutombo spent his best years with the Hawks, but he was pretty darn good with the Nuggets, who drafted him No. 4 overall in 1991. He won a Defensive Player of the Year award and went to three All-Star games with Denver. Playing for the Nuggets, he also produced the most iconic image of his career: lying on the floor and clutching the ball in jubilation after Denver became the first No. 8 seed to upset the No. 1 seed (Seattle SuperSonics in 1994):