Dikembe Mutombo and Bob Lanier sign autographs at the NBA Store on January 27 (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

NBA Store
666 Fifth Ave. at 52nd St.
Wednesday, January 27, free, 12 noon
212-515-6221
www.nba.com/nycstore
www.flickr.com/slideshow

With the NBA All-Star Weekend just around the corner — February 12-14 in Dallas — the NBA Store in Midtown is getting in gear with an all-star event of its own. On January 27 at 12 noon, eight-time All-Star Dikembe Mutombo and six-time All-Star Bob Lanier will be making a special appearance, signing autographs for anyone who buys at least $10 in merchandise at the store. Buffalo-born Lanier, who spent his career with the Pistons and the Bucks, was renowned not only for his prowess — falling just short of 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds to go with 1,100 blocked shots — but for his size 22 shoe. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the seven-foot, two-inch Mutombo was a defensive master first at Georgetown and then in the NBA, where he scored more than 11,000 points, grabbed more than 12,000 boards, and blocked more than 3,000 shots with six different teams. Fans and nonfans alike should swing by to see two of the game’s best big men and just marvel at their remarkable enormity.