Sports / Basketball
Mutombo eyes return to Rockets
By JONATHAN FEIGEN (Houston Chronicle)
Updated: 2007-05-25 17:08
Center Dikembe Mutombo, a free agent who had been reconsidering his
intention to play another NBA season, said Thursday he told Rockets owner
Leslie Alexander on Wednesday that he wished to return to the Rockets for
another season.
Mutombo, who had not yet told his agent David Falk or Rockets general
manager Daryl Morey of his intentions, said that a dinner conversation
with former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon helped seal his decision.
"I've had a lot of time to think about it," Mutombo said. "I talked to my
family. I talked to my wife and kids. And also, I went to dinner with
Hakeem and he talked me into it.
"He said, 'why do you think you want to quit? You still have a lot to
show. You can come in and help Yao (Ming) for 10-15 minutes. You can
stick with basketball and do what you love to do.' For me, that is to
play basketball and my work with my hospital."
Mutombo, 40, averaged 3.1 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. He
averaged 10.4 rebounds in the 33 games Yao missed.
He will open his hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 15.
With Rick Adelman only becoming Rockets coach Wednesday, Morey said the
team has not entirely formed its free-agent strategy.
"Dikembe was a key part of our season last year, obviously," Morey said.
"We still feel like he has good basketball ahead of him. Obviously, he's
a community icon.
"I think in ways he can be very effective in his role. With coach
Adelman, we're still having discussions on our philosophy and strategy
going forward."
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