Mutombo gave Biyombo permission to use his finger wag
It's now a signature move for Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo to dish a complimentary finger wag along with every blocked shot, but it wasn't always that way.
Biyombo first had to get permission from the father of the finger wag: Dikembe Mutombo.
"I got the licence from Mutombo (to use the finger wag)," a jovial Biyombo explained after recording 26 rebounds and four blocks to secure a 99-84 victory in Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
@CheleNik very good.
— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) May 22, 2016
The permission originally came with a stipulation: Mutombo wanted Biyombo to follow in his footsteps by joining the Hawks in Atlanta, where Mutombo's No. 55 hangs from the rafters.
"I saw him one time and we were having this conversation. He was telling me 'I haven't given you permission to use my finger yet, so you will have to come to Atlanta so I can give you permission,'" Biyombo said.
But Mutombo granted the Raptors big man permission anyway so his fellow countryman can carry on the paint-protecting, finger-wagging legacy.
"But I love him, he's like my big brother, and I've had several conversations about him, especially defensively, how he was able to impact the game, and of course, once he gave me permission to use his finger wag, then I guess I just want to live his legacy, and to show him some love as my big brother," added Biyombo.