National Basketball Association

Mutombo joins NBA as global ambassador

Published Nov. 17, 2009 9:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

The league announced Mutombo's hiring to the newly created position on Tuesday, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star "one of sports' outstanding humanitarians."

Besides being a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work. He opened a hospital and research center in his Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only two-time winner of the league's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given for outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.