Mutombo flies 8-year-old Congo boy to U.S. to have tumor removed

As part of his ongoing humanitarian efforts in his native Congo, Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo paid for an 8-year-old boy with a tumor to be flown to the United States for surgery.

TMZ Sports captured the moment when Mutombo greeted the boy after he arrived at LAX on Wednesday.

"I met him in September when I was in Congo. I was touched what he's going through as a young boy who's 8 years old," Mutombo said. "Not going to school. The way he's been pushed away by the society. His mom has to keep him in the bedroom every day because people are talking bad about him."

Mutombo, who retired from the NBA in 2009, was presented with the Sager Strong Award at the 2018 NBA Awards in June. The honor is given to individuals who have exemplified courage, faith, compassion, and grace.