Hes strong enough and has the football IQ to hold his own at the next level, but he could struggle with the quicker defensive linemen, especially in the run game. 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. 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. Akin to an athlete who shared his faith of Islam, Muhammad Ali, who devised the strategy of the rope-a-dope later in is career, Olajuwon introduced a new line of spins, fadeaway shots and jumpers, and he became virtually unstoppable on offense. Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. There are durability concerns. All of which became known as the Dream Shake.. Louisiana State University/Getty Images 4. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer. It leaves out a lot of people. The Rockets posted a 57win season in 199697 season when they added Charles Barkley to their roster. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. At seasons end, Olajuwon finished second to Charles Barkley in the voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. The Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. 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. [25] The Rockets set a new franchise record with 55 wins,[21] and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, pushing the Seattle SuperSonics to a seventh game before losing in overtime, 103100. Projected: Round 2, Bradford is big, strong and produced an elite 1.66-second 10-yard split at the combine. He averaged 26.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.17 blocks, which established him as the league-leader in blocked shots for the third time in four seasons. 1984-85 Star #237 PSA 7 Akeem Olajuwon True RC Rookie. Still, he would say, I find myself full of energy, explosive. 11, Hakeem Olajuwon used his agility and athleticism to dominate on the court and inspire a generation", The Dream Shake/Legendary, elusive move earns place in history, "SLAM 147: Hall of Famer and low-post wizard Hakeem Olajuwon is happy to share his knowledge with today's stars", "Hakeem Olajuwon's Net Worth: How "The Dream" Built a Staggering Fortune", "How Hakeem Olajuwon tried and failed to stop the 90s sneaker killings", "Can We Have Social Justice In A Commercial Culture? He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when. The Rise of the African Multinational Enterprise: The . [31][35] With the 199293 season approaching, a reporter for the Houston Chronicle said that Olajuwon being dealt was "as close to a sure thing as there is. The centers defensive prowess put an end to the Knicks attempt to win the series in Game 6, when he blocked John Starks potential game-tying three-point shot at the end of the game. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. Projected: Rounds 5-6, BONUS: Jaxon Kirkland (Sr., Washington, 6-6, 321), Kirkland is a team captain and three-time, first-team All-Pac 12 at both left tackle and guard. During the 1995 postseason run culminating in Houstons second NBA championship, the Rockets defeated the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic, two teams with great centers who were left bewildered by Olajuwons moves. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs. [30] Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. And even with the addition of Barkley before the 1996-97 season, which reinvigorated the Rockets, the team lost in six games to the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon is considered the best center in NBA. He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). 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. "[74] "His religion dominates his life", Drexler said in 1995. [7] He is considered a Houston icon and one of the city's most beloved citizens. The Boston Celtics, champs in 1981 and 1984, had a formidable front line of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish and defeated the Rockets in six games. On a night when he labored with his shot and was 3-for-19 from the field, Russell Westbrook made up for all the misfires by doing a little bit of everything for the Clippers in a tightly contested . His massive hands (11 1/4 inches) are almost impossible to escape once they're engaged. Slouching doesn't add height. For winning 2 championships for the Rockets in a difficult 90's era. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Defensive Player of the Year award as The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy. [78] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,[10] and his ranch near Houston. [62] He is one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA, which have only been possible since the 197374 season, when blocked shots and steals were first kept as statistics in the NBA. Position C. Height 7'0" (213cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 255 lbs (115 kg) Team Houston Rockets. That is the shake. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Hakeem Olajuwon has been associated with forty companies, according to public records. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. 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. inLagos,Nigeria This change also coincided with the hiring of new coach Don Chaney. [43] For his efforts Olajuwon was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. I can go this way or this way. 1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. In the NBA Finals, Houston met the Magic and the leagues great young center, ONeal. 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. Right, Born: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/laun/;[1] Yoruba:[olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. Boom! On the way there, they defeated the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers in a five-game Western Conference Finals. He returned to play close to a full schedule during the lockout season of 1998-99. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired. Olajuwon gained a reputation as a clutch performer and as one of the top centers in history based on his performances in the 199394 and 199495 seasons. For most of his career, he played for the Houston Rockets. [46] But despite a slow start by the team, and Olajuwon missing eight games toward the end of the season with anemia,[47] the Rockets repeated as champions in 1995. Hakeem Olajuwon [PSA 5 EX] 2 from. He missed two weeks early in the season due to an accelerated heartbeat. "[23] The Rockets advanced to the 1986 NBA Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics, whose 1986 team is often considered one of the best teams in NBA history.[24]. "[9], During his youth, Olajuwon was a soccer goalkeeper, which helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his size and strength in basketball, and also contributed to his shot-blocking ability. Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most decorated players in basketball history with 12 All-Star berths, an MVP award and two Defensive Player of the Year awards among his many. 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. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 199596 and 199697 respectively, Olajuwon's point production dipped to 16.4 in 199798. [40] He outplayed centers such as Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and other defensive stalwarts such as Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. But in 1993-94, Olajuwon attained the pinnacle of achievement when he won both the league and NBA Finals MVP awards while leading Houston to its first-ever NBA crown. She can't. In a Life magazine story, San Antonios David Robinson seemed perplexed. Advertisement. He's one of the richest NBA players to play the game. In his autobiography Living the Dream, Olajuwon mentions an intriguing draft trade offered to the Rockets that would have sent Clyde Drexler and the number two pick in the 1984 NBA draft from Portland in exchange for Ralph Sampson. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. Before I come down, I make my move. Olajuwon was selected first overall by the Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft. [55] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Undersized or not, he was an awesome athlete and would thrive in any era. Matched against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points to Robinsons 25.5. 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. The Rockets won the title after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. "[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]. After that amazing accomplishment, Olajuwon went on to win a pair of NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, before retiring in 2002. 1963 Hakeem's actual hieght is 6'10", his wingspan is 7'2", which makes his basketball hieght 7'0". [83] In 2010, Olajuwon worked with Dwight Howard, helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus. You haven't had a dominant center win a championship in 8 years, and don't talk about Olajuwon. [75] Olajuwon was still recognized as one of the league's elite centers despite his strict observance of Ramadan (i.e., abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month), which occurred during the playing season throughout his career. When he played an afternoon game, he would pant for water but did not drink a drop. Houston Rockets, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1984 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2008 (Full List), More Hakeem Olajuwon pages at Sports Reference. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. 28 interesting facts calculated from Hakeem Olajuwon date of birth, date of death, age lived in months, weeks, days, hours and seconds. They finished 4240,[21] and missed the playoffs for the first time in Olajuwon's career. He would follow with a prayer for strength and have no food or liquid until sunset. 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. San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, recently crowned league MVP, was outplayed by Olajuwon in the Conference Finals: Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points on .560 shooting (Robinson's numbers were 23.8 and .449) and outscored Robinson 8141 in the final two games. And he certainly experienced a resurgence in 1992-93. But it's still fun to break down and compare the results! In other words, he is a smidgeon under 6 feet 11 inches -- or 7 feet if you want to throw in shoe height. Hakeem Olajuwon. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Hakeem Olajuwon has a net worth of $300 million. I never knew Hakeem was 6'10.75" I always heard he was 6'10" flat. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points per game in 199091, but due to an injury to his eyesocket caused by an elbow from Bill Cartwright,[7] did not play in enough games (56) to qualify for the rebounding title. Harris, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B. Later in his career signed a shoe endorsement deal with LA Gear, and became the face of Spalding's athletic shoe line and endorsed a sneaker that retailed in various outlets (such as Payless ShoeSource) for $34.99. One way to do that is with the help of legendary Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon. $5.30 shipping. He started at least one game at four different positions over the last three seasons (every spot except left tackle) and he didnt allow a single sack his final season in Fort Worth. Ironically enough, Ewing was part of the class, too, providing another link between the longtime on-court rivals. Olajuwon was born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class Yoruba owners of a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. ft inches. Olajuwon credited this experience with rapidly improving his game: "The way Moses helped me is by being out there playing and allowing me to go against that level of competition. For his NBA career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points on 51% shooting, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks in 1,238 career games. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks. Or write about sports? He's a small forward playing center." Highlights of Hakeem Olajuwon taking the defenders off the dribble from the perimeter are truly a sight to see. Take a look back at Hakeem Olajuwon's best plays from the 1993-94 season. Permission was granted and a basketball superstar was born. If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. Olajuwons production simply increased as he developed into one of the games top big men. Compare the numbers of the three finalists for the leagues top defensive honor. He's currently listed at 7'2, has a 7'8 wingspan and a 9'7 standing reach. 2020-21 PANINI ONE AND ONE Hakeem Olajuwon ( ROCKETS ) AUTOGRAPH AUTO Card /75. He was noted for both his outstanding shot-blocking ability and his unique talent (for a frontcourt player) for stealing the ball. Olajuwon was born in Nigeria on Jan. 21, 1963. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Offense 97. He dropped references to Abdul prior to entering the NBA and officially adopted Hakeem on March 9, 1991. In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Olajuwon as the 11th greatest player in NBA history.[63]. 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing better during the month of Ramadan, and in 1995 he was named NBA Player of the Month in February, even though Ramadan began on February 1 of that year.[7][76]. Olajuwon's parents were middle-class and owned a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. He is know. Olajuwon was the third of six children and acquired the basic values that pushed him to succeed from his parents, who were middle-class and owned a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. They were bolstered in part by the acquisition of Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's former University of Houston "Phi Slama Jama" teammate, in a mid-season trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. Olajuwon believes that his religious faith supported his drive to a great career. [7] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. With a fortune like that, Olajuwon, his wife Dalia Asafi and their four children Rahmah, Aisha, Abdullah and Abdul are set for life. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team." In his first game with the Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic. As a No. Olajuwon was ineligible for selection to the "Dream Team" as he hadn't become a US citizen.[59]. 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. He played in the late 80's until he retired in 2002. Find out more. . His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. He played in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Born: January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria ng College: Houston High School: Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season, as their winloss record improved from a 29-53 record in 198384 to 4834 in 198485. The dominant center is starting to get eliminated. 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. In October 2021, Olajuwon was honored as one of theleague's greatest players of all-time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team. During this run, Olajuwon came back from two serious injuries. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with Olajuwon and remained planted. 10 watching. He is currently 6 feet 10 inches tall but may have lost a few inches due to age. I grew up in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. > Archive 75: Hakeem Olajuwon| 75 Stories: Hakeem Olajuwon. Anyone know his wingspan? Hakeem Olajuwon Next is Hakeem Olajuwon. On Oct. 27, 1984, Hakeem Olajuwon made his debut for the Houston Rockets. 1 draft pick for the Houston Rockets in 1984, Olajuwon paired up with the 7-foot-4-inch Ralph Sampson to create a basketball duo known as the Twin Towers. He won rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively. Following the season, Olajuwon requested a trade in part because of his bad contract; his salary was considerably low for a top center, and his contract specifically forbade re-negotiation. [56] Olajuwon averaged career lows of 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in what would be his final season in the NBA, as he decided to retire in the fall of 2002, due to a back injury. [74] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every day. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 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. Denver 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1993 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1992 David Robinson . It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. 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. Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Camp, where he teaches young frontcourt players the finer points of playing in the post. To paraphrase Shakespeare; a great basketball player by any other name is still a great basketball player. More importantly, he led a Rockets team that had finished 42-40 the previous year to a 55-27 mark and the Midwest Division championship. Defenders say 'Wow, he's quick,' but they don't know that where I'm going is predetermined. [50] Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. The smooth, athletic guard helped Portland reach the Finals twice and later won a title with Houston. However, due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs, the Rockets instead unveiled a bronze monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006. In 199899 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen and finished 3119 in the lockout-shortened regular season. 1. yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. [25] He is the only player since the NBA started recording blocked shots in 197374 to average 14+ rebounds and 4.5+ blocked shots per game in the same season. Hakeem Olajuwon DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. After four successful seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned his degree in economics and entered the transfer portal. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that such a trade "would have changed league history and maybe the entire Michael Jordan legend. "[9], Olajuwon returned from that summer a different player. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the second consecutive season and made his third straight All-Star Game appearance. [7] As in 1994, Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.[51]. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Twitter: DR34M (formerly Akeem Olajuwon) (The Dream, Little Moses) Position: Center Shoots: Right 7-0, 255lb (213cm, 115kg) . Olajuwon improved his passing in 199293,[37] setting a new career-high of 3.5 assists per game. Had to pick a center [ for an all-time best Team ], I make my.... Year to a full schedule during the 1989 and 1990 seasons 's greatest players of all-time being... Playing time against the Spurs in the 1985 NBA All-Star game and was named the! 11 points in 199596 and 199697 respectively, Olajuwon was again named Finals.. 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