Charting damage by Dikembe

Updated: December 31, 2004, 12:53 AM ET
ESPN Research

Dikembe Mutombo honored LeBron James with a surprise birthday bash in Wednesday's game in Cleveland.

Dikembe Mutombo
Mutombo

In his last game as a teenager -- James turned 20 Thursday -- he went 0-5 from the floor with three points and five assists in 17 minutes. Despite the minimal output, James has a comfortable lead as the teenager with the most points, rebounds, assists, and steals in NBA history.

Then, James was accidentally elbowed in the face by Mutombo late in the first half. James underwent a CT scan Thursday that revealed a broken left cheekbone. Once the swelling in his face goes down, James will be fitted with a protective mask that he'll have to wear during games until the fracture is fully healed. The Cavaliers don't play again until Monday at Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Dikembe Mutombo's elbows have done a lot of damage over the years. Left in his wake were 25 affected players, five broken noses, 20 stitches. The log:

  • April 20, 2004: Kenyon Martin, hit in the eye and retaliated by clubbing Mutombo across the arm. Received a technical foul
  • March 31, 2003: Yao Ming, hit in the throat. Mutombo assessed flagrant foul
  • Feb. 4, 2002: Vince Carter, hit in the gut
  • May 16, 2001: Vince Carter, hit in the head. Carter did not return to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference playoffs
  • May 6, 2001: Chris Childs, broken nose
  • Feb. 26, 2001: Ray Allen, broken nose
  • Jan. 13, 2001: Corey Maggette, eye trauma
  • Dec. 28, 2000: Chauncey Billups, hit in the mouth, four stitches, fractured front tooth
  • Feb. 6, 1999: Jayson Williams, broken nose
  • May 4, 1999: Mark Strickland, broken nose
  • May 8, 1999: Lindsey Hunter, left eye
  • May 8, 1999: Christian Laettner, cut on face
  • April 9, 1999: Chris Childs, lost a tooth; Marcus Camby, shot to throat; Larry Johnson, hit in the head; Patrick Ewing, hit in the head
  • March 4, 1999: Kevin Willis, injured shoulder. Missed several games
  • May 6, 1997: Dennis Rodman, retaliated and ejected with second technical foul
  • April 12, 1997: Tom Gugliotta, broken nose
  • Jan. 30, 1997: Antoine Carr, knocked senseless
  • Jan. 4, 1997: Charles Oakley, four stitches to the lip
  • Oct. 22, 1996: Michael Jordan, bloodied nose (preseason game)
  • April 10, 1994: Robert Horry, hit in the head, fell to the floor
  • Dec. 30, 1993: Chris Webber; Mutombo later ejected for taunting Chris Gatling
  • Dec. 28, 1991: Robert Parish, hit the floor
  • Nov. 29, 1991: Ricky Pierce, 12 stitches in forehead

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