Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon 10 of 30 The most talented big man to ever play the game, Hakeem Olajuwon was nearly impossible to stop because of the wide array of post moves that he possessed. Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in January 1963, and lived there until he moved to Texas in 1980 to attend the University of Houston. In 1993-94 he had a storybook season, becoming the first player to be named NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Finals MVP in the same season. Although 1986-87 Fleer is widely considered to to be the main rookie card for Hakeem Olajuwon, 1984-85 Star holds the distinction of being the first NBA card for "The Dream." Several things weaken the rookie claim, including limited distribution and counterfeit and quality control issues, but the earliest . He is currently 6 feet 10 inches tall but may have lost a few inches due to age. Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. The following season he rallied the Rockets from a sixth seed in the playoffs to their second straight NBA crown, making Houston the fifth NBA franchise ever to win back-to-back titles. That's the way the game is going. Hakeem Olajuwon - Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (; Yoruba: [olauw]; born January 21, 1963), formerly spelled (and still pronounced as) Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. [55] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. "They taught us to be honest, work hard,. He recorded the highest maximum vertical reach ever measured in pre-draft workouts. Offense 83. In 1984, Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon was selected as the No. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks. . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He was second-team All-American, first-team All-Pac 12 and received the Morris Trophy (top Pac 12 offensive lineman) in 2022. Hart rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and was limited in Monday's practice before the Knicks later listed him as doubtful. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. Starting at one forward spot for the East squad, Barkley scored 17. In 1991-92, he missed seven contests early in the season after an episode of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). Born place: Lagos, Nigeria. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Jordan McFadden (Sr., Clemson, 6-2, 303), This three-year starter (former three-star recruit) and senior captain made double-digit starts at both tackle positions and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (top ACC blocker) in 2022. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. He always made great decisions on the court. The eight-year veteran, who later in the season became a naturalized United States citizen on April 2, 1993, was simply spectacular throughout the year. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft, a draft that included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player who played in the 'National Basketball Association' (NBA). Louisiana State University/Getty Images 4. He became the first non-American to be an NBA All-Star and start in an NBA All-Star Game, the first non-American to win the NBA MVP, the first non-American to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and in the 199394 season became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. [7] He is considered a Houston icon and one of the city's most beloved citizens. "[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. At the University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical education major. [59] FIBA rules prohibit players from representing more than one country in international competition, and players must go through a three-year waiting period for any nationality change. In the series final three games, Olajuwon scored 40, 35 and 30 points to lead the Rockets. With the ball, Hakeem displayed a vast array of fakes and spin moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). 6'1 or 6'2 becomes 6'3. Hakeem Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963. He weighed and weighs 215 pounds and has a wingspan of 6 8.75" and a standing reach of 8 0". Hakeem Olajuwon stepped up in overtime for the Rockets in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals. [26] However, they lost in the first round again, this time to the Lakers. Olajuwon led the Rockets to a championship in the 1994 NBA Finals in a seven-game series against the New York Knicks, the team of one of Olajuwon's perennial rivals since his collegiate days, Patrick Ewing. The Dream Shake is you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a pivot foot. At the ceremony, it was announced that a life-sized statue of Olajuwon would be on display at the Rockets new downtown arena, scheduled to open for the 2003-04 season. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. Navigation ToggleNBA Games Home Tickets Schedule 2022-23 Season Schedule League. You're tall enough to use your height to your advantage. In his sophomore and junior years he helped the Cougars advance to consecutive NCAA championship games, where they lost to North Carolina State on a last-second tip-in in 1983 and a Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown team in 1984. When he called the staff, they told him to take a taxi out to the university. The 80s: Hakeem Olajuwon & Patrick Ewing. In doing so he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton as the only players in NBA history (at that point) to lead the league in rebounding and shot-blocking in the same season. At that time, before the NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985, the first pick was awarded by coin flip. If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. I saw all these blessings God had given me. His impact in the city, however, did not go unrecognized. [89], On August 1, 2015, Olajuwon made a special appearance for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He also led the NBA in blocked shots in 1989-90 with 4.59 per game and in 1990-91 at 3.95 per contest. Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is a name that has come to be synonymous with the NBA franchise all across the world. 1963 Projected: Rounds 1-2, Avila was a consensus All-American who has been dominant at both center (2020-2021) and left guard (2022) for the Horned Frogs. Olajuwon also became the Rockets all-time leading scorer when he passed Calvin Murphy early in the season. Hakeem Olajuwon DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. [7] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man. Draymond Green is given a Flagrant 2 foul for stomping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis, who earns a technical foul for grabbing Green's leg. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . [21] He teamed with the 1984 Rookie of the Year, 7ft 4in (2.24m) Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. Long considered a physical marvel since his days at the University of Houston, his aesthetic and productive play highlighted by his Houston Rockets back-to-back NBA titles earned him a place among the games best. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. Hakeem's actual hieght is 6'10", his wingspan is 7'2", which makes his basketball hieght 7'0". Akeem OLAJUWON Hakeem 1986 Fleer ROOKIE CARD #82 PSA 7 NM HOF . Olajuwon dominated Ewing in their headtohead match-up, outscoring him in every game of the series and averaging 26.9 points per game on 50% shooting, compared to Ewing's 18.9 and 36.3%. Harris, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B. [31] He also expressed displeasure with the organization's efforts to surround him with quality players. ft inches. Hakeem Olajuwon. He's one of the richest NBA players to play the game. He also averaged a league-leading 3.95 blocks per game. Hakeem Olajuwon Overview. Career Summaries of the First 56 Final Four Most Outstanding Players, Milwaukee Bucks at Houston Rockets, March 29, 1990, Rockets return Kite to Orlando Heart problem causes center to fail physical, Olajuwon's salary short of fair market value, Olajuwon, Rockets trade shots/Club accuses star of feigning injury, Agent: Olajuwon remains firm on leaving Rockets, One more piece of bad news comes to the Rockets, Sun's Sir Charles tips MVP crown to Hakeem, Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever, Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best In The Mid 90s, nba.com/history player summary-Hakeem Olajuwon, "Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors Box Score, December 1, 1994", 1995 N.B.A. [7][8] He was the third of eight children. I know Hakeem was 6'10" but he always looked like he had very long arms which was one of the reasons he blocked so many shots. Then the marriage is arranged.'' The NBA star said he has worshiped for years at the same . Find out more. All rights reserved. From the Vault: Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon work out. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Projected: Rounds 2-4, Wypler is a bit undersized, but hes a technician who features the necessary athleticism to become a solid starter in the right scheme that utilizes his fluid movement ability. [15][17] Olajuwon won the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award.[18]. Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted by Houston Rockets, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1984 NBA Draft. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/ l a u n /; Yoruba: [olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. It would accomplish one of three things: one, to misdirect the opponent and make him go the opposite way; two, to freeze the opponent and leave him devastated in his tracks; three, to shake off the opponent and giving him no chance to contest the shot. Olajuwon was born in Nigeria on Jan. 21, 1963. Boom! He's more than three inches closer. The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. He averaged 5 points and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games. In 1993-94, Hakeem Olajuwon became the first player to be named MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season. But it's still fun to break down and compare the results! [78] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,[10] and his ranch near Houston. "[19] From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998.[20]. The Rockets were defending an 8684 lead when in the last second, Knicks guard John Starks (who had already scored 27 points) went up for what would have been a Finals-winning three. Olajuwon suited up for Team Africa in his No. It might be easy to forget that Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the NBA's all-time greatest centers, suited up for the Toronto Raptors.Olajuwon played 18 seasons in the NBA, earning a pair of championships and 12 NBA All-Star appearances. Olajuwon was not highly recruited and was merely offered a visit to the university to work out for the coaching staff, based on a recommendation from a friend of Lewis who had seen Olajuwon play. Projected: Rounds 2-3, 4. However, his production was slipping and he played just two more years in Houston, averaging less than 12.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg. The Rockets went from a 29-53 record before Olajuwons arrival to a 48-34 mark, but they were eliminated in five games by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs. $5.10 shipping. It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. [66] The couple have four children together. He credits his parents with instilling virtues of hard work and discipline into him and his siblings: "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves. His maturation as a player and in his faith carried onto the floor as a team leader, offensive powerhouse and defensive stalwart. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back in 1984. Hes the best pulling center in this draft class and he consistently terrorizes defenders at the second level. [83] In 2010, Olajuwon worked with Dwight Howard, helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus. 2007 Ultra SE Gold Medallion #251 Hakeem Olajuwon: $5.53: 2007 Ultra SE Season Crowns #SC6 Hakeem Olajuwon: $0.65: 2007 Ultra SE Snap Shots #SS17 Hakeem Olajuwon: $1.77: 2007 Upper Deck Artifacts #173 Hakeem Olajuwon: $1.73: 2007 Upper Deck Champions of the Court #HO Hakeem Olajuwon: $2.22: 2007 Upper Deck Chronology #38 Hakeem Olajuwon: $4.00 He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. Hakeem Olajuwon made $16,700,000 in 2001. He finished with 55 career starts, including 49 straight to finish his career (including double-digit starts at left tackle). The defender is waiting for me to come down because I jumped but I'm gone before I land. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. But the Rockets swept the series, making Houston the fifth NBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. For his spectacular play, Olajuwon was awarded his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award. "He put on a clinic," Drexler said . After four successful seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned his degree in economics and entered the transfer portal. The 10-year veteran was simply brilliant in the Finals, contributing 29.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.86 blocks per game. Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during the regular season. Scott Jenkins. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. The next year in the semifinals, the Cougars by this time known as Phi Slamma Jamma for their above-the-rim play soared above an equally athletic Louisville squad 94-81 in perhaps the most exciting end-to-end, high-flying act the NCAA Final Four has ever seen. The transformation was apparent when the Rockets advanced to the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. However, the Cougars were upset 54-52 in a thrilling championship game on a shot at the buzzer by North Carolina State, an overwhelming underdog. [30] Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. [72], In Olajuwon's college career and early years in the NBA, he was often undisciplined, talking back to officials, getting in minor fights with other players and amassing technical fouls. This is the sixth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). Welcome! Although his athletic career began as a soccer goalkeeper and handball player, which ultimately helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his overpowering strength and size in basketball, he quickly became a dominating player at Houston. [85][86] Olajuwon has also worked with mer Ak, Donatas Motiejnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Despite Olajuwons impressive performance, the leagues Most Valuable Player Award went to Robinson after he led the Spurs to the NBAs best record. Photo by Nick Juhasz- Wikimedia commons. Hakeem Olajuwon Next is Hakeem Olajuwon. He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning. Measurements can only tell us so much. 1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets. In a new interview with The Athletic, Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko writes that Sengun's "eyes light up . The Rockets all-time leader at the time of his retirement in a host of categories, including points, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots (All-time NBA leader with 3,830) had his jersey No. How Hakeem Olajuwon tried and failed to stop the 90s sneaker killings Read more The Hall of Fame center chuckled when asked if he thought Trump as president would be devastating to American Muslims. As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. He retired after playing one season for the Toronto Raptors in 2001-02, interrupting 20 years, including his college career, of playing in the city of Houston. Olajuwon recalled: "I really believed that Houston was going to win the coin flip and pick the first draft choice, and I really wanted to play in Houston so I had to make that decision (to leave early). [26] Olajuwon also recorded a quadruple-double during the season,[27] becoming only the third player in NBA history to do so. Hes light on his feet, aggressive and features prototypical size, but hell be 25 before training camp and still has holes in his technique despite the impressive resume. The man called Hakeem the Dream had now developed a set of patented moves involving great footwork with ball and head fakes with either his back to the basket or facing opponents abusing defenders. I think it's pretty obvious Barkley isn't 6'7", much less 6'8". He was also named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time, while reclaiming spots on the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. 00:00 / 00:00. 28 interesting facts calculated from Hakeem Olajuwon date of birth, date of death, age lived in months, weeks, days, hours and seconds. Homepage Mock Drafts. Shoots: The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. Check out some of the best plays and moments from Hakeem Olajuwon's 18 years in the NBA. Hakeem Olajuwon is Nigerian-American former basketball player. (if it was never cut): 916 cm or 9.16 meters (30 feet 0.8 inches) Nail length (if it was never cut): Top 5 songs on Billboard THE HOT 100 in . To paraphrase Shakespeare; a great basketball player by any other name is still a great basketball player. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\, Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are . The Rockets won the series fairly easily, four games to one, shocking the sports world and landing Olajuwon on the cover of Sports Illustrated. [54] After the season, Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position.