Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired. ``Families meet, talk, get to know one another. They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves, the NBA great has said. He buys in cash-only purchases, as it is against Islamic law to pay interest. "[65], Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996, in Houston. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. 21 January 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria), basketball player who starred on the University of Houston team and the professional Houston Rockets, whom he led to consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) titles in 1994 and 1995.Olajuwon was the third of six children born to Salam and Abike Olajuwon, middle-class Muslims who owned a thriving cement business in Lagos . Here are my top 10 interior offensive linemen: 1. [25] This willingness to pass the ball increased his scoring, making it more difficult for opposing teams to double and triple-team him. He's incredibly short, but Blair's 7-2 wingspan saves him. You put him in the mix and you jump stop and now you have choice of pivot foot. Now, the first time when you showed that quickness, he has to react to that quickness, so you can fake baseline and go the other way with your jump hook. Projected: Rounds 4-5, 9. Maybe 6'0.5. In Game 2, after Robinson had been given the trophy, Olajuwon took off. . He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. He also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. 1984-85 Star #237 PSA 7 Akeem Olajuwon True RC Rookie. Joe Tippmann (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-6, 313), Tippman is big for a center, but he looks like a tight end on the move. JPowers: It's a long running joke that Hakeem Olajuwon is nowhere near (like 2-3 inches away from) the 7 feet he is listed at by the NBA. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. 2020-21 PANINI ONE AND ONE Hakeem Olajuwon ( ROCKETS ) AUTOGRAPH AUTO Card /75. Compare 0; Music. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Twitter: DR34M (formerly Akeem Olajuwon) (The Dream, Little Moses) Position: Center Shoots: Right 7-0, 255lb (213cm, 115kg) . He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are . On defense, his rare combination of quickness and strength allowed him to guard a wide range of players effectively. Join our linker program. I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. [10] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves that gives him 20 moves. [85][86] Olajuwon has also worked with mer Ak, Donatas Motiejnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Projected: Round 1, 2. He was the third of six children. He won rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively. But beginning in 1992-93, midway through his career, Olajuwon got even better, taking himself and the Rockets to new levels of success. That's the way the game is going. But Drexler was terrific in the playoffs and Olajuwon averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting from the field, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.81 blocks per game in the postseason as Houston captured its second consecutive title. He played 7 out of the 8 games and started 2. Right, Born: Thirty years ago today Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon became only the third play in NBA history to record a quadruple-double with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. In his rookie year, Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds while shooting .538 from the field and finished second to Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting. Offense 97. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. He always made great decisions on the court. [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. After winning the championships, Olajuwon maintained his productive play over the next two seasons. He finished second in the MVP race to Charles Barkley with 22 votes to Barkley's 59. Hes a grinder who has experience at right guard and left tackle (he looked much more comfortable inside). After Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. There are small adjustments needed to sharpen his technique, but his processing, strength and athleticism are NFL-ready. 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. I dribble so now I can use either foot. Olajuwon improved his passing in 199293,[37] setting a new career-high of 3.5 assists per game. Defenders say 'Wow, he's quick,' but they don't know that where I'm going is predetermined. "[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. Despite Olajuwons impressive performance, the leagues Most Valuable Player Award went to Robinson after he led the Spurs to the NBAs best record. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. 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. yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. Slouching doesn't add height. ", "Hakeem: For the record/'Kunta Kinte' image was way off". Below are the players who stood out at . And in 1989 he became the first player to finish among the leagues top 10 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots for two straight seasons. If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. $5.30 shipping. Whether the contract squabbles had affected Olajuwons 1991-92 performance may never be known, but that year he failed to make an All-NBA Team or an NBA All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career. "[16] He and his teammates (including Clyde Drexler) formed what was dubbed "Phi Slama Jama", the first slam-dunking "fraternity", so named because of its above-the-rim prowess. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks. Advertisement. If that's true then how do you explain that Shaq is almost 4" taller than Kemp, and has a 7'7" wingspan and 9'8" standing reach (same as Yao Ming), but Kemp's highest touch is 3" more than Shaq? He retired from the game as one of only 4 . With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. Sow has proven patient in pass protection and comfortable on the move in the run game. When you jump, you turn as you land. The Rise of the African Multinational Enterprise: The . 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. ). The two big men had similar numbers as Olajuwon averaged 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists to ONeals 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists. On April 10, 2008, the Rockets unveiled a sculpture in honor of him outside the Toyota Center. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 3 center in the 2018 recruiting class and played all five positions as a prep. In 1982, Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were on a Houston squad that made it to the NCAA semifinals but lost 68-63 to the North Carolina Tar Heels, led by James Worthy and Michael Jordan. [44] He was also the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award. During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. They started the season 212,[52] but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Utah Jazz. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. He was nicknamed "the Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream. He averaged 5 points and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games. 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. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. 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. When asked whether the league was becoming more guard-oriented and big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, "For a big man who is just big, maybe. 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. Heres who Id sign, Draymond Green ejected from playoff game for flagrant foul, Svechnikov can only watch as Hurricanes open NHL playoffs, Kings beat Warriors 114-106 to take 2-0 series lead, Patrick Wisdom hits 2 more homers as Cubs pound Athletics, Brewers stay hot, top Mariners 7-3, but concern about Burnes, Fried shuts down Padres, Riley hits 2-run homer for Braves, Stars Pavelski leaves after a hit becomes minor on review. [50] Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem, saying, "I'm not changing the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it". [83] In 2010, Olajuwon worked with Dwight Howard, helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus. [22] He finished as runner-up to Michael Jordan in the 1985 Rookie of the Year voting, and was the only other rookie to receive any votes. [45] He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. 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. Take a look back at Hakeem Olajuwon's best plays from the 1993-94 season. [2] From 1984 to 2002, he played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and, in his last season, the Toronto Raptors. Olajuwon also became the Rockets all-time leading scorer when he passed Calvin Murphy early in the season. Olajuwon's parents were middle-class and owned a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. However, due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs, the Rockets instead unveiled a bronze monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006. 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. Medical evaluations will be paramount after he was in a serious car accident in 2019 and suffered a potentially career-threatening back injury. He missed two weeks early in the season due to an accelerated heartbeat. Foreign-born players migrating to U.S. college basketball in ever-higher numbers. KG's basketball hieght is over 7' but he doesn't want ppl to know, I guess he feels he has an advantage if players think he's under 7'. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. [78] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,[10] and his ranch near Houston. [28][29] However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs by the LA Lakers. "[9], Olajuwon returned from that summer a different player. [11], Despite early struggles, Olajuwon said: "Basketball is something that is so unique. Solve Hakeem? said Robinson. He was a prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game for his career,[7] and an above-average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game. 00:00 / 00:00. When I watch him play, hell go down in the post comfortably, naturally, and hell execute it perfectly."[87][88]. Since making the Finals in 1986, the Rockets had made the playoffs five times, but their record in those playoff series was 15 and they were eliminated in the first round four times. Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 2008 (Full List) [89], On August 1, 2015, Olajuwon made a special appearance for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The 80s: Hakeem Olajuwon & Patrick Ewing. Olajuwon believes that his religious faith supported his drive to a great career. Following his playing days, Olajuwon spent many NBA offseasons teaching some of the leagues young stars including Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire and others ways to improve their footwork in the post. This created some problems when he tried to play for the United States men's national basketball team initially. Hakeem Olajuwon. "[7] The Rockets won every road game that series. Defense 96. 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. For winning 2 championships for the Rockets in a difficult 90's era. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Hakeem Olajuwon. 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