NBA Africa and Quest Water Global have announced a multi-year partnership to build or renovate 55 full-size and 3-on-3 basketball courts across the Democratic Republic of the Congo by 2030, in honor of late NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo.
The initiative will see Quest Water Global become the NBA’s Official Infrastructure Development Partner in the DRC and forms part of NBA Africa’s broader commitment to build or renovate 1,000 basketball courts across Africa over the next decade.
The partnership began on September 29 with the unveiling of a new outdoor basketball court at Cercle Onatra in Kinshasa, where Mutombo began his basketball journey with Basketball Club Onatra before moving to the United States.
The court features Mutombo’s iconic No. 55 jersey number at center court and is expected to serve thousands of young people in the surrounding community each year. NBA Africa also hosted a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic for 80 local coaches to mark the occasion.
NBA Africa expects to unveil a second court in Mbuji-Mayi, Mutombo’s hometown, in the coming weeks.
“Dikembe believed basketball was a powerful tool for teaching young people discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership, and service to others,” said Rose Mutombo, adding that the new courts could inspire young people to pursue education and explore opportunities through sport.
Quest Water Global CEO John Balanko said the partnership reflects a shared belief that thriving communities need access to clean water, safe spaces and opportunities for young people.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi said the initiative would expand access to basketball in the DRC while helping young people follow in Mutombo’s footsteps “both as players and leaders.”
Mutombo, who died in 2024 aged 58, was selected fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft and spent 18 seasons in the league. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Beyond basketball, Mutombo became widely known for his humanitarian work. He helped establish the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, named after his late mother, which opened in 2007 and provided healthcare services to communities in the Congolese capital.
The court-building programme is expected to combine Mutombo’s sporting legacy with his longstanding commitment to youth development and community service, while increasing opportunities for basketball participation in the DRC.
The initiative also supports NBA Africa’s broader efforts to expand access to the sport across the continent through youth development, infrastructure, social responsibility, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL).