He played three seasons at Houston and help push the Cougars into the Final Four each year. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team, he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players. Age if still allive and other unique data for Hakeem Olajuwon. Check out some of the best plays and moments from Hakeem Olajuwon's 18 years in the NBA. In 1984, Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon was selected as the No. 1984-85 Star #237 PSA 7 Akeem Olajuwon True RC Rookie. Maybe 6'0.5. 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. 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? Compare the numbers of the three finalists for the leagues top defensive honor. Projected: Rounds 4-7, BONUS: Jarrett Patterson (Sr., Notre Dame, 6-5, 306), Patterson is a two-time team captain who was a four-star recruit at offensive tackle, but spent three seasons as the Irishs starting center and moved to left guard his senior season. 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. He would awaken before dawn to eat precisely seven dates the traditional Muslim fast-breaking food and to drink a gallon of water. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game,[43] scoring more than 30 points in each and raising his regular-season rate by five while O'Neal's production dropped by one. The smooth, athletic guard helped Portland reach the Finals twice and later won a title with Houston. Projected: Round 1, 2. Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. [25] Olajuwon posted exceptional playoff numbers of 37.5 ppg and 16.8 rpg, plus a record for points in a four-game playoff series (150). 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 . His foot size was also about 22 inches, one of the largest in the NBA. Ironically enough, Ewing was part of the class, too, providing another link between the longtime on-court rivals. Sometimes they kill for them. 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. The ties were broken through random drawings conducted by NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars. 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. Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 2008 (Full List) 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. [48] In the series-clinching game, Olajuwon recorded 39 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks. He finished second in the MVP race to Charles Barkley with 22 votes to Barkley's 59. [59] For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA exemption and was eligible to play for Dream Team II. You're tall enough to use your height to your advantage. [25] After the Rockets lost in the first round in five games to the Jazz in 1998,[53] Drexler retired. [55] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. Below are the players who stood out at . $5.10 shipping. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. Sow has proven patient in pass protection and comfortable on the move in the run game. Hakeem Olajuwon. "[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 four successful seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned his degree in economics and entered the transfer portal. . Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM. [7] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. 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. The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man. 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. 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. 3h 46m. Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963), Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Hakeem Olajuwon, List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most blocks in a game, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, "Olajuwon, Hakeem definition of Olajuwon, Hakeem in English from the Oxford dictionary", "Hakeem refuses to be shaken by Trump's Muslim ban", "Hakeem Olajuwon Remembered: The Best Center of All Time", "Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history? It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. [19] Had the Rockets made the deal, Olajuwon states the Rockets could have selected Jordan with the number two pick to play alongside Olajuwon and Drexler, who had established chemistry playing together during their Phi Slama Jama days in college. [45] He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. 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. 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. Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 199293 season, he remained in Houston. He was the third of six children. This created some problems when he tried to play for the United States men's national basketball team initially. 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 . The Rockets won the title after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria, Draft: In a new interview with The Athletic, Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko writes that Sengun's "eyes light up . Do they just measure out both their arms? Later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,[73] becoming a more devout Muslim. Hakeem Olajuwon #/49 $224.50 2017-18 Panini Status - Factions - Blue #21 Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Hakeem Olajuwon [BGS 9.5 GEM MINT] $178.30 1986-87 Fleer - Stickers #9 Hakeem Olajuwon [PSA 8 NMMT] $219.00 1997-98 Fleer Ultra - Ultrabilities - Superstar #18 SS Hakeem Olajuwon 2 from $120.27 1986-87 Fleer - [Base] #82 Center In the NBA Finals, Houston met the Magic and the leagues great young center, ONeal. He won rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/laun/; Yoruba: ; born January 21, 1963), formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. 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. Joe Tippmann (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-6, 313), Tippman is big for a center, but he looks like a tight end on the move. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich began his first full season with the Rockets, preaching defense and imploring the team to feed off of Olajuwons energy. Menu. ). 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, and after the series Lakers coach Pat Riley remarked "We tried everything. Projected: PFA, Manchester City has a job to finish in the Champions League quarterfinals, Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard will remain with the Jumbo-Visma team until the end of 2027, Ryan Hartman scored 12:20 into the second overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 in their playoff opener Monday night, and into Tuesday morning, Alex Iafallo scored in OT to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers to open their first-round playoff series, Daniel Vogelbach homered and drove in three runs, Brett Baty delivered an RBI single in his season debut and the New York Mets rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-6 for their fifth straight victory. 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. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of "big man" footwork. The difference in height is 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches. I can go this way or this way. We put four bodies on him. He is currently 6 feet 10 inches tall but may have lost a few inches due to age. [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. He and Sampson became the first teammates since Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor in 1970 to both average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds. Projected: Rounds 4-5, 10. It was a draft class full of talent, as Michael Jordan went third. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. I didn't dabble in the faith, I gave myself over to it. He was second-team All-American, first-team All-Pac 12 and received the Morris Trophy (top Pac 12 offensive lineman) in 2022. His height puts in around the right range where you're able to make a lot of acrobatic dunks. Olajuwon attended the 2013 NBA draft to bid farewell to retiring commissioner David Stern as Stern made his announcement for the final pick of the first round. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft 2015 Mock Draft History Complete Draft History Draft Lottery History . Shortly after his retirement, his No. [84] In the 2011 offseason, LeBron James flew to Houston and spent time working with Olajuwon. 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. 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. And he certainly experienced a resurgence in 1992-93. Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks in his rookie season. Medical evaluations will be paramount after he was in a serious car accident in 2019 and suffered a potentially career-threatening back injury. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 199596 and 199697 respectively, Olajuwon's point production dipped to 16.4 in 199798. Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. 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. He could extend 12 feet, 5 inches from a standing position. 6'4 is the number that gets played with a lot. Compare 0; Music. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. Olajuwons high school, the Muslim Teachers College, was an entry in the basketball tournament at the All-Nigeria Teachers Sports Festival in Sokoto but Olajuwon was on the handball team. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. He landed in Ann Arbor for his sixth season, where he became a consensus All-American and earned the Rimington Award (nations top center), and Outland Trophy (nations top interior lineman) on the nations top offensive line (Joe Moore Award). In his first game with the Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic. 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. Olajuwon's scoring production rose to 18.9 points per game,[25] and he made his twelfth and final All-NBA Team. They started the season 212,[52] but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Utah Jazz. [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. However, the team lost a tough Game 7, 103-100 in overtime, against a Seattle SuperSonics team led by Gary Payton and a young, explosive Shawn Kemp. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Data Provided By 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. [10] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves that gives him 20 moves. That immediately I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is the life for me. Abisola represented the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Game and played in the WNBA. In 1994, he became the only player in NBA history to win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. Projected: Round 2, Bradford is big, strong and produced an elite 1.66-second 10-yard split at the combine. In fact, when he played against the Boston. If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. Here are my top 10 interior offensive linemen: 1. There are durability concerns. The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. His maturation as a player and in his faith carried onto the floor as a team leader, offensive powerhouse and defensive stalwart. , athletic guard helped Portland reach the Finals twice and later won a with. Titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively seasons by an interior player the... Before dawn to eat precisely seven dates the traditional Muslim fast-breaking food and to drink a gallon of water 230! 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