It’s tough not to like Dikembe Mutombo, one of the NBA’s greatest ambassadors. So why the heck did Isiah Thomas treat the guy like excrement?

‘It’s still a wound,’ Mutombo said. ‘My wife and I still talk about it. It’s still a bit sad to see the commissioner coming and all those people coming to celebrate the 17 years of my career and accomplishments and you look back and say that about (four) years ago, I had a guy tell me that I couldn’t play basketball no more, to go to the beach and onto vacation. That’s the same guy who’s losing his job tomorrow. … I never said nothing (to Thomas),’ Mutombo said. ‘The last time we played at the Garden (Jan. 9), my wife asked me to go shake his hand, to just forgive him. I went and shook his hand and I told him, ‘On behalf of my wife, I want to shake your hand and I forgive you for everything you’ve done to me.’”

At this moment, who would you rather have in the middle – inspirational shot blocker Dikembe Mutombo or unable-to-jump Eddy Curry? Neat stat: Mutombo has blocked more shots in 17 seasons (3,261) than Curry has rebounds in seven seasons (2,692).

NBA, Rockets, to honor Mutombo tonight (Houston Chronicle via True Hoop)