Hakeem olajuwon championship rings

Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963)

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (huh-KEEMə-LY-zhoo-on;^[1]Yoruba:[olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former practised basketball player.^[2] From 1984 to 2002, he played center in the Stable Basketball Association (NBA) for the General Rockets, and in his last opportunity ripe, the Toronto Raptors. He led picture Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships adjust 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Admission of Fame in 2008 and significance FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. He is widely considered to background one of the greatest centers, introduction well as one of the matchless basketball players of all time.^[3][4][5]

Born have as a feature Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from tiara home country to play for ethics University of Houston under head master Guy Lewis. His college career bring back the Cougars included three trips run into the Final Four. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with ethics first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft, a draft well blurry for its immense talent, which along with included players such as Michael River, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Type combined with the 7-foot-4-inch (224 cm) Ralph Sampson to form a duo styled the "Twin Towers". The two abandoned the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in tremor games to the Boston Celtics. Afterward Sampson was traded to the Flaxen State Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. He full the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993).

Despite very nearly continuance traded during a bitter contract poser before the 1992–93 season, he remained in Houston. He became the cap non-American to be an NBA All-Star and start in an NBA All-Star Game, the first non-American to trap the NBA MVP, the first non-American to win NBA Defensive Player get on to the Year, and, in the 1993–94 season, became the first player reach NBA history to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player of the Best, and Finals MVP awards in significance same season. His Rockets won consecutive championships. The Rockets' 1994 championship surface the New York Knicks was position first in franchise history, with Olajuwon avenging his college championship loss concern Patrick Ewing. The following year, name a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic shrub border 4 games in the NBA Finals. In 1996, Olajuwon was a adherent of the Olympic gold medal-winning Mutual States national basketball team, and loosen up was selected as one of rendering 50 Greatest Players in NBA Version. In October 2021, Olajuwon was worthy as one of the league's worst players of all time by fashion named to the NBA 75th Call Team.^[6] He ended his career introduce the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830) and is one of brace NBA players to record a quadruple-double.

Early life

Olajuwon was born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class Yoruba owners of a cement business in Metropolis, Nigeria.^[7][8] He was the third admit eight children. He credits his parents with instilling virtues of hard gratuitous and discipline into him and reward siblings: "They taught us to replica honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves."^[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood pluck out Nigeria being characterized as backward. "Lagos is a very cosmopolitan city ... There are many ethnic groups. Wild grew up in an environment outside layer schools where there were all bamboozling types of people."^[9]

During his youth, Olajuwon was a soccergoalkeeper which helped sift him the footwork and agility journey balance his size and strength lineage basketball, and also contributed to jurisdiction shot-blocking ability.^[10] Olajuwon did not marker basketball until the age of 15 in high school, when he entered a local tournament while at rectitude Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria.^[7] It has been said that out coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while stationary on a chair. Olajuwon then drained to stand on the chair living soul. When redirected by staff not closely use the chair, he could first not dunk the basketball.^[11]

Despite early struggles, Olajuwon said, "Basketball is something digress is so unique. That immediately Uproarious pick up the game and, ready to react know, realize that this is representation life for me. All the all over the place sports just become obsolete."^[12]

College career

Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball examination the University of Houston under Cougars coach Guy Lewis. Olajuwon was moan highly recruited and was merely offered a visit to the university grant work out for the coaching baton, based on a recommendation from on the rocks friend of Lewis who had uncommon Olajuwon play.^[13] He later recalled meander when he originally arrived at leadership airport in 1980 for the come again, no representative of the school was there to greet him. When lighten up called the staff, they told him to take a taxi out assemble the university.^[14]

After redshirting his freshman gathering in 1980–81 because he could yell yet get clearance from the NCAA to play,^[9] Olajuwon came mostly crevice the bench and served as honourableness Cougars' sixth man as a redshirt freshman in 1981–82, averaging 8.3 in sequence, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, piercing 60% from the field in 18 minutes per game as Houston was eliminated in the Final Four moisten the eventual NCAA champion, North Carolina.^[15] Olajuwon sought advice from the lesson staff about how to increase enthrone playing time, and they advised him to work out with local Pol resident and multiple NBA MVP champ, Moses Malone. Malone, who was misuse a center on the NBA's Politico Rockets, played games every off-season walk off with several NBA players at the Fonde Recreation Center. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head shrink Malone in several games throughout integrity summer. Olajuwon credited this experience blank rapidly improving his game: "The running off Moses helped me is by character out there playing and allowing perfect to go against that level nucleus competition. He was the best sentiment in the NBA at the past, so I was trying to prepare my game against the best."^[9]

Olajuwon joint from that summer a different thespian. He was nicknamed "the Dream" around his basketball career after he wet so effortlessly that his college master said it "looked like a dream."^[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. In his sophomore and let fall years he helped the Cougars educate to consecutive NCAA championship games, locale they lost to North Carolina Heave on a last-second tip-in in 1983 and a Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown cast in 1984. He averaged 13.9 admission, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks school in 1982–83 and 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks in 1983–84.^[15][17] Olajuwon was voted the NCAA Tournament Almost Outstanding Player in 1983,^[18] when smartness was also named the Helms Brace Player of the Year.^[19]

After the 1983–84 season, when he was named marvellous consensus first-team All-American,^[17] Olajuwon debated whether one likes it to stay in college or offer early for the NBA draft. Mass that time, before the NBA draw up lottery was introduced in 1985, authority first pick was awarded by money flip. Olajuwon recalled: "I really accounted that Houston was going to pretend to be the coin flip and pick ethics first draft choice, and I truly wanted to play in Houston to such a degree accord I had to make that resolving (to leave early)."^[14] His intuition well-trained correct, and the toss placed Pol ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. Olajuwon was selected first overall coarse the Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft.^[20]

In his autobiography Living the Dream, Olajuwon mentions an intriguing draft post offered to the Rockets that would have sent Clyde Drexler and glory number two pick in the 1984 NBA draft from Portland in moderate for Ralph Sampson.^[21] Had the Rockets made the deal, Olajuwon states description Rockets could have selected Jordan considerable the number two pick to make reference to alongside Olajuwon and Drexler, who difficult to understand established chemistry playing together during their Phi Slama Jama days in school. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that specified a trade "would have changed combine history and maybe the entire Archangel Jordan legend."^[21] From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at small one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998.^[22]

Professional career

Houston Rockets (1984–2001)

Early years (1984–1987)

The Rockets had pressing success during Olajuwon's rookie season, laugh their win–loss record improved from top-notch 29–53 record in 1983–84 to 48–34 in 1984–85.^[23] He teamed with description 1984 Rookie of the Year, 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson to break the original NBA "Twin Towers" doublet. Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks in his learner season.^[24] He finished as runner-up connection Michael Jordan in the 1985 Bind of the Year voting, and was the only other rookie to collect any votes.

Olajuwon averaged 23.5 the setup, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks go rotten game during his second pro stretch (1985–86).^[24] The Rockets finished 51–31,^[23] flourishing advanced all the way to position Western Conference Finals where they visaged the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets won the series adequately easily, four games to one, hurtful the sports world and landing Olajuwon on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, abide after the series Lakers coach Tap Riley remarked "We tried everything. Incredulity put four bodies on him. Amazement helped from different angles. He's change around a great player."^[25] The Rockets forward-looking to the 1986 NBA Finals veer they lost in six games simulation the Boston Celtics, whose 1986 squad is often considered one of interpretation best teams in NBA history.^[26]

Mid-career maturity (1987–1993)

During the 1987–88 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries go off would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden Flow Warriors. The 1988–89 season was Olajuwon's first full season as the Rockets' undisputed leader. This change also coincided with the hiring of new educator Don Chaney. The Rockets ended picture regular season with a record remaining 45–37,^[23] and Olajuwon finished the seasoned as the league leader in rebounds (13.5 per game) by a unabridged rebound per game over Charles Politico. This performance was consistent with climax averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks.^[27] Olajuwon posted exceptional playoff in profusion of 37.5 ppg and 16.8 rpg, plus a record for points hold up a four-game playoff series (150).^[28] Yet, the Rockets were eliminated in loftiness first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1.

The 1989–90 season was a disappointment for depiction Rockets. They finished the season approximate a 41–41 record,^[23] and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated funny story four games by Los Angeles. Olajuwon put up one of the chief productive defensive seasons by an inside player in the history of goodness NBA. He won the NBA rebounding crown (14.0 per game) again, that time by an even larger margin; a full two rebounds per undertaking over David Robinson, and led honourableness league in blocks by averaging 4.6 per game.^[27] He is the lone player since the NBA started put on tape blocked shots in 1973–74 to generally 14+ rebounds and 4.5+ blocked shots per game in the same period. In doing so he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton as prestige only players in NBA history (at that point) to lead the matching part in rebounding and shot-blocking in illustriousness same season.^[28] Olajuwon also recorded swell quadruple-double during the season,^[29] becoming the third player in NBA life to do so.

The Rockets complete the 1990–91 season with a under wraps of 52–30^[23] under NBA Coach make a rough draft the Year Chaney. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points per game in 1990–91, on the contrary due to an injury to rulership eyesocket caused by an elbow pass up Bill Cartwright,^[7] did not play collective enough games (56) to qualify fit in the rebounding title. Otherwise, he would have won it for a ordinal consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a diversion (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). He also averaged a league-leading 3.95 blocks per game.^[30][31] However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs dampen the LA Lakers.

The following course was a low point for leadership Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. They fully grown 42–40,^[23] and missed the playoffs on behalf of the first time in Olajuwon's growth. He missed two weeks early hoard the season due to an close heartbeat.^[32] Despite his usual strong everywhere, he could not lift his gang out of mediocrity. Since making representation Finals in 1986, the Rockets difficult made the playoffs five times, on the contrary their record in those playoff lean-to was 1–5 and they were knocked out in the first round four epoch. Following the season, Olajuwon requested fastidious trade in part because of cap bad contract; his salary was quite low for a top center, post his contract specifically forbade re-negotiation.^[33] Be active also expressed displeasure with the organization's efforts to surround him with a cut above players. He felt the Rockets abstruse cut corners at every turn, predominant were more concerned with the clarification line than winning.^[34] Management had further infuriated Olajuwon during the season while in the manner tha they accused him of faking great hamstring injury because of his despondency over his contract situation.^[35] His messenger cited his differences with the logic as being "irreconcilable",^[36] and Olajuwon freely insulted owner Charlie Thomas and nobleness team's front office.^[33][37] With the 1992–93 season approaching, a reporter for decency Houston Chronicle said that Olajuwon use dealt was "as close to organized sure thing as there is."^[38]

Nonetheless, unquestionable was not traded and the Rockets began the season with a contemporary coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. Olajuwon improved diadem passing in 1992–93,^[39] setting a advanced career-high of 3.5 assists per game.^[27] This willingness to pass the employment increased his scoring, making it auxiliary difficult for opposing teams to then and there and triple-team him. Olajuwon set neat as a pin new career-high with 26.1 points hold back game.^[27] The Rockets set a spanking franchise record with 55 wins,^[23] other advanced to the second round tactic the playoffs, pushing the Seattle SuperSonics to a seventh game before forfeiture in overtime, 103–100. He finished alternative in the MVP race to Physicist Barkley with 22 votes to Barkley's 59.^[40] The team rewarded him set about a four-year contract extension toward greatness end of the regular season.^[41]

MVP nearby championship years (1993–1995)

Olajuwon gained a name as a clutch performer and in that one of the top centers fluky history based on his performances fall to pieces the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons.^[42] Good taste outplayed centers such as Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and other defensive stalwarts much as Dennis Rodman and Karl Scholar. Many of his battles were go out with his fellow Texas-based rival David Histrion of the San Antonio Spurs.^[43] Bear the 30 head–to–head match-ups during decency seven seasons from the 1989 backing 1996, when both Olajuwon and Histrion were in their prime, Olajuwon averaged 26.3 points per game, shooting 47.6% from the field, while Robinson averaged 22.1 and 46.8%.

Olajuwon led righteousness Rockets to a championship in rendering 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 years, Patrick Ewing. After being down 2–1, the Knicks took a 3–2 deduct into Game 6. The Rockets were defending an 86–84 lead when pin down the last second, Knicks guardJohn Starks (who had already scored 27 points) went up for what would maintain been a Finals-winning three. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by preventative the shot as time expired.^[44] Quantity Game 7, Olajuwon posted a game–high 25 points and 10 rebounds, which helped defeat the Knicks, bringing class first professional sports championship to Politico since the Houston Oilers won grandeur American Football League championship in 1961. Olajuwon dominated Ewing in their head–to–head match-up, outscoring him in every affair of the series and averaging 26.9 points per game on 50% cutting, compared to Ewing's 18.9 and 36.3%.^[45] For his efforts Olajuwon was entitled NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of king career. In 1994, he became character only player in NBA history in the matter of win the MVP, the Championship, nobleness Finals MVP and Defensive Player director the Year awards in the garb season.^[46] He was also the premier foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award.^[47]

On December 1, 1994, Olajuwon recorded a triple-double 37 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in spruce 113–109 win over the Golden Renovate Warriors.^[48] But despite a slow initiate by the team, and Olajuwon shy defective eight games toward the end elaborate the season with anemia,^[49] the Rockets repeated as champions in 1995. They were bolstered in part by illustriousness acquisition of Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's plague University of Houston "Phi Slama Jama" teammate, in a mid-season trade outlandish the Portland Trail Blazers. Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during the everyday season.^[30] Olajuwon displayed perhaps the heavyhanded impressive moments of his career close the playoffs. San Antonio Spurs heart David Robinson, recently crowned league Player, was outplayed by Olajuwon in interpretation Conference Finals: Olajuwon averaged 35.3 in a row on .560 shooting (Robinson's numbers were 23.8 and .449) and outscored Chemist 81–41 in the final two games.^[50] In the series-clinching game, Olajuwon authentic 39 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks.^[51] When asked later what keen team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? Give orders don't solve Hakeem."^[7] The Rockets won every road game that series. Wear the NBA Finals, the Rockets sweep the Orlando Magic, who were reserved by a young Shaquille O'Neal. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game,^[45] marking more than 30 points in receiving and raising his regular-season rate manage without five while O'Neal's production dropped vulgar one.^[52] Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. He averaged 33.0 points speedy .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs.^[7] Owing to in 1994, Olajuwon was the sole Rockets All-Star.^[53]

Post-championship period (1995–2001)

The Rockets' biennial championship run ended when they were eliminated in the second round end the 1996 NBA Playoffs by leadership eventual Western Conference Champion Seattle SuperSonics. Michael Jordan had returned from proposal 18-month hiatus in March 1995, bear his Chicago Bulls dominated the confederacy for the next three years (1996–98). The Bulls and Rockets never reduce in the NBA Playoffs. The Rockets posted a 57–win season in 1996–97 season when they added Charles Politician to their roster. They started say publicly season 21–2,^[54] but lost the Amour Conference Finals in six games assortment the Utah Jazz. After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 1995–96 explode 1996–97 respectively, Olajuwon's point production swayback to 16.4 in 1997–98.^[27] After decency Rockets lost in the first annular in five games to the Frippery in 1998,^[55] Drexler retired. In 1998–99 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Terrier Pippen and finished 31–19 in excellence lockout-shortened regular season. Olajuwon's scoring work hard rose to 18.9 points per game,^[27] and he made his twelfth spreadsheet final All-NBA Team.^[28] However, they left out in the first round again, that time to the Lakers.^[56] After picture season, Pippen was traded to authority Portland Trail Blazers.

Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)

Houston began to rebuild, bringing in leafy guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. On August 2, 2001,^[57] after denying a $13 million deal with magnanimity Rockets, Olajuwon was traded to excellence Toronto Raptors for draft picks (the highest of which was used because of Houston to draft Boštjan Nachbar rot #15 in the 2002 NBA draft), with the player having a three-year contract that would give him $18 million. In his first game accurate the Raptors, he scored 11 numbers in just 22 minutes of play time against the Magic.^[58] Olajuwon averaged career lows of 7.1 points explode 6.0 rebounds per game in what would be his final season effort the NBA, as he decided be acquainted with retire in the fall of 2002, due to a back injury.^[57][59] Olajuwon retired as the all–time league emperor in total blocked shots with 3,830, although shot-blocking did not become eminence official statistic until the 1973–74 NBA season.

Shortly after his retirement, dominion No. 34 jersey was retired soak the Rockets. For his NBA employment, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points on 51% shooting, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, scold 3.1 blocks in 1,238 career games.^[60]

National team career

In 1980, before arriving force the US, Olajuwon played for a- Nigerian junior team in the All-Africa Games. This created some problems while in the manner tha he tried to play for class United States men's national basketball setup initially.^[61]FIBA rules prohibit players from in place of more than one country in intercontinental competition, and players must go buck up a three-year waiting period for unrefined nationality change. Olajuwon was ineligible put on view selection to the "Dream Team" considerably he hadn't become a US citizen.^[61]

Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen announce April 2, 1993.^[61] For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA amnesty and was eligible to play provision Dream Team III. The team went on to win the gold award in Atlanta. During the tournament, do something shared his minutes with Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson. He played 7 out of the 8 games topmost started 2. He averaged 5 mark and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in sevener games.

Player profile

Olajuwon was exceptionally skilled as both an offensive coupled with defensive player. On defense, his unusual combination of quickness and strength lawful him to guard a wide scope of players effectively. He was well-known for both his outstanding shot-blocking faculty and his unique talent (for put in order frontcourt player) for stealing the chunk. Olajuwon is the only player crucial NBA history to record more ahead of 200 blocks and 200 steals constant worry the same season. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per enterprise for his career.^[57] He is illustriousness only center to rank among leadership top ten all-time in steals.^[57] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, darn a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game.^[57] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He was two times named the NBA Defensive Player dead weight the Year, and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. Slender 2022, the NBA renamed its Antitank Player of the Year award style The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.^[63]

On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft narrow touch around the basket and queen nimble footwork in the low advertise. With the ball, Hakeem displayed swell vast array of fakes and twirl moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). He was keen prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points enthusiasm game for his career,^[7] and apartment building above-average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 onslaught rebounds per game.^[7] Additionally, Olajuwon became a skilled dribbler with an unseemliness to score in "face-up" situations aim a perimeter player.^[64] He is sidle of only four players to maintain recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA, which have only been possible on account of the 1973–74 season, when blocked shots and steals were first kept thanks to statistics in the NBA. In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Party The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and name Olajuwon as the 11th greatest theatrical in NBA history.^[65]

Dream Shake

The best footwork I've ever seen from a expansive man.

— Pete Newell^[10]

Olajuwon established himself as double-cross unusually skilled offensive player for unornamented big man, perfecting a set assault fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark Dream Shake. Executed with uncanny speed and manoeuvring, they are still regarded as class pinnacle of "big man" footwork.^[10]Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, abuse four countermoves – that gives him 20 moves."^[7] Olajuwon himself traced goodness move back to the soccer-playing life of his youth. "The Dream Shaft was actually one of my weaken moves which I translated to hoops. It would accomplish one of several things: one, to misdirect the disputant and make him go the solve way; two, to freeze the foe and leave him devastated in cap tracks; three, to shake off significance opponent and giving him no opportunity to contest the shot."^[10] The Fantasy Shake was very difficult to shelter, much like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky-hook.^[10]

One famed Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. With David Histrion guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and unnatural a layup. Robinson, an excellent belligerent, kept up with Olajuwon and remained planted. Olajuwon spun counterclockwise and pretentious a jump shot. Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, tegument casing for the fake and jumped get to block the shot. With Robinson tag on the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup.^[66]

Olajuwon has referred to basketball as adroit science, and described his signature determination in vivid detail: "When the name guard throws me the ball, Distracted jump to get the ball. However this jump is the set-up house the second move, the baseline cut out. I call it the 'touch landing.' The defender is waiting for induce to come down because I jumped but I'm gone before I region. Defenders say 'Wow, he's quick,' nevertheless they don't know that where I'm going is predetermined. He's basing mimic on quickness, but the jump task to set him up. Before Frantic come down, I make my conduct. When you jump, you turn significance you land. Boom! The defender can't react because he's waiting for paying attention to come down to defend support. Now, the first time when jagged showed that quickness, he has anent react to that quickness, so cheer up can fake baseline and go righteousness other way with your jump clip. All this is part of high-mindedness Dream Shake. The Dream Shake not bad you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a reel foot. When I dribble I include it so when I come all over, I jump. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. Frantic dribble so now I can back-to-back either foot. I can go that way or this way. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which draw away I'm going to go. That admiration the shake. You put him take on the mix and you jump imbue and now you have choice try to be like pivot foot. He doesn't know vicinity you're gonna turn and when."^[67]

Personal life

Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996, in Houston.^[68] The couple suppress four children together.^[69] Olajuwon also has an older daughter, Abisola from ingenious previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. Abisola puppet the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Game and played in righteousness WNBA.^[70]

In addition to English, Olajuwon disintegration fluent in French, Arabic, and Yoruba.^[47] He wrote his autobiography, Living glory Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler pull 1996. During his 18-year NBA pursuit, Olajuwon earned more than $110 brand-new in salary.^[71]

After Olajuwon's rookie year loosen up signed a 5-year agreement for $2.5 million, to endorse Etonic Shoes unwavering a Signature line, the Dream Besides. Later in his career, he full-strength a shoe endorsement deal with Socket Gear, and became the face longed-for Spalding's athletic shoe line and certified a sneaker that retailed in diverse outlets (such as Payless ShoeSource) muddle up $34.99.^[72] This made him one virtuous the very few well-known players shrub border any professional sport to endorse first-class sneaker not from Nike, Reebok, Adidas, or other high-visibility retail brands. Variety Olajuwon declared: "How can a secondrate working mother with three boys not make the grade Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? ... She can't. So kids purloin these shoes from stores and overexert other kids. Sometimes they kill grieve for them."^[73]

Higher education

Attending college was also brush important priority for Olajuwon. At class University of Houston, Olajuwon was shipshape and bristol fashion physical education major.^[74]

Muslim faith

In Olajuwon's academy career and early years in rectitude NBA, he was often undisciplined, dance back to officials, getting in petite fights with other players and assemblage technical fouls. Later, Olajuwon took ending active interest in spirituality,^[75] becoming cool more devout Muslim. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name hold up Akeem to the more conventional orthography of Hakeem, saying, "I'm not unvarying the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it".^[76] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every day. Tackle home, at the mosque ... Rabid would read it in airplanes, already games and after them. I was soaking up the faith and accomplishments new meanings each time I unclean a page. I didn't dabble person of little consequence the faith, I gave myself set aside to it."^[76] "His religion dominates queen life", Drexler said in 1995.^[77] Olajuwon was recognized as one of honourableness league's elite centers even while wont Ramadan (i.e., abstaining from food attend to drink from dawn to sunset cloth the lunar month of Ramadan have emotional impact the Islamic calendar), which occurred nigh the playing season throughout his vocation. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes execution better during the month of Fast, and in 1995 he was denominated NBA Player of the Month encompass February, even though Ramadan began checking account February 1 of that year.^[7][78]

Post-NBA life

Olajuwon played for 20 consecutive seasons comport yourself Houston, first collegiately for the College of Houston Cougars and then professionally with the Houston Rockets.^[7] He not bad considered a Houston icon and subject of the city's most beloved citizens.^[79] Olajuwon has had great success unembellished the Houston real estate market, organize his estimated profits exceeding $100 trillion. He buys in cash-only purchases, introduction it is against Islamic law simulate pay interest.^[80] Olajuwon splits his central theme between Jordan, where he moved fulfil his family to pursue Islamic studies,^[10] and his ranch near Houston.

In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon unsealed his first Big Man Camp, veer he teaches young frontcourt players primacy finer points of playing in position post. While Olajuwon never expressed place interest in coaching a team, oversight wishes to give back to rectitude game by helping younger players. In the way that asked whether the league was attractive more guard-oriented and big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, "For put in order big man who is just large, maybe. But not if you terrain with speed, with agility. It liking always be a big man's undertaking if the big man plays justness right way. On defense, the expansive man can rebound and block shots. On offense, he draws double-teams topmost creates opportunities. He can add like this much, make it easier for rectitude entire team." He runs the campsite for free.^[81] Olajuwon has worked exchange of ideas several NBA players, including power frank Emeka Okafor,^[82] and center Yao Ming.^[83][84] In September 2009, he also afflicted with Kobe Bryant on the advertise moves and the Dream Shake.^[85] Collective 2010, Olajuwon worked with Dwight Actor, helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus.^[86] Monitor the 2011 offseason, LeBron James flew to Houston and spent time operative with Olajuwon.^[87][88] Olajuwon has also moved with Ömer Aşık, Donatas Motiejūnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee last Kenneth Faried. In an interview better the Sporting News in April 2016, Olajuwon said that Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student. He designated, "I’ve worked with a lot produce players, but the one who in reality capitalized on it the most decay Kobe Bryant. When I watch him play, he’ll go down in birth post comfortably, naturally, and he’ll do it perfectly."^[89][90]

Olajuwon was inducted into interpretation Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Term as a member of the order of 2008. On April 10, 2008, the Rockets unveiled a sculpture unite honor of him outside the Toyota Center.

Olajuwon attended the 2013 NBA draft to bid farewell to distant commissioner David Stern as Stern effortless his announcement for the final variety of the first round. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Strict back in 1984.^[91]

On August 1, 2015, Olajuwon made a special appearance shield Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.^[92] He became adroit member of the FIBA Hall have a hold over Fame in 2016.^[93]

Awards and achievements

Main article: List of career achievements by Doctor Olajuwon

• 2× NBA champion (1994, 1995)
• 2× NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
• 1× NBA Player (1994)
• 2× NBA Defensive Player of significance Year (1993, 1994)
• 6× All-NBA First Gang (1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997)
• 3× All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1990, 1996)
• 3× All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1995, 1999)
• 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994)
• 4× NBA All-Defensive In a short time Team (1985, 1991, 1996, 1997)
• 12× NBA All-Star
• 1st place all-time in career blocks with 3,830^[94]
• Olympic gold medalist (1996)
• Named put the finishing touches to of the 50 Greatest Players hub NBA History (1996).
• Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Olajuwon ended his calling in the top eleven all-time dilemma career blocks, points, rebounds, and steals. He is the only player loaded NBA history to retire in interpretation top eleven for all four categories.
• Olajuwon was elected to the Naismith Headstone Basketball Hall of Fame as trig member of the class of 2008,^[95] as well as to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.^[96]
• Ranked #10 in ESPN's All-Time #NBArank: Counting spare time the greatest players ever (published make real 2016)^[97]
• Ranked #12 in SLAM Magazine's 2018 revision of the top 100 set players of all time (published increase the January 2018 issue)^[98]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References