Projected: Rounds 4-7, BONUS: Chandler Zavala (Sr., NC State, 6-3, 316), Zavalas functional strength and movement skills are prototypical for the position and he committed zero holding penalties in 17 starts at Raliegh (he previously spent three seasons at Fairmont State in Division II). 28 interesting facts calculated from Hakeem Olajuwon date of birth, date of death, age lived in months, weeks, days, hours and seconds. The Rockets won the series fairly easily, four games to one, shocking the sports world and landing Olajuwon on the cover of Sports Illustrated. OCyrus Torrence (Sr., Florida, 6-foot-5, 330 pounds), Torrence caught my attention when he played for Louisiana, and he didnt miss a beat after transferring into the SEC, becoming a consensus All-American. Hakeem Olajuwon Overview. 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. yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. Biography Hakeem Olajuwon is a well-known basketball player born in Nigeria on January 21, 1963. He dropped references to Abdul prior to entering the NBA and officially adopted Hakeem on March 9, 1991. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. In 2015, Olajuwon made a brief return to the court as a part of the NBA Africa Game. 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. In a career spanning 18 years, he has played for two teams: the 'Toronto Raptors' and the 'Houston Rockets.' Projected: Round 1, 2. He is an incredible player in the history of the NBA. Shortly after his retirement, his No. Like my coach says, "you don't block shots with your head." Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. "[7] Olajuwon himself traced the move back to the soccer-playing days of his youth. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. Height: 6' 10" (208 cm) Weight: 255 lbs (116 kg) Shoe size: 16 (US)/49 (EU) Hair color: Black. All this is part of the Dream Shake. He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning. 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 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. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. With a fortune like that, Olajuwon, his wife Dalia Asafi and their four children Rahmah, Aisha, Abdullah and Abdul are set for life. Malone, who was then a center on the NBA's Houston Rockets, played games every off-season with several NBA players at the Fonde Recreation Center. Hakeem Olajuwon, a 12-time All-NBA performer and 2-time Finals MVP, used finesse and power to lift the Rockets to a pair of titles in the mid-1990s. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. And when I break the fast at sunset, the taste of water is so precious.. After the 198384 season, Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. He took an elbow in the eye from the Chicago Bulls Bill Cartwright in the middle of the 1990-91 season, suffering a blowout fracture of the bones that surround the eyeball and forcing him to miss the Rockets next 25 games. Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. OLAJUWON, Hakeem Abdul (b. Denver 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1993 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1992 David Robinson . During the 198788 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden State Warriors. "[36], Nonetheless, he was not traded and the Rockets began the season with a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. [21] He teamed with the 1984 Rookie of the Year, 7ft 4in (2.24m) Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. In 1991-92, he missed seven contests early in the season after an episode of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). "[12], Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball at the University of Houston under Cougars coach Guy Lewis. Scott Jenkins. Hakeem Olajuwon made at least $110,291,426 playing professional basketball. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, Warriors' Green ejected from Game 2 for flagrant foul, Jackson Jr. named Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Interactive Stats Visuals for Kia DPOY Finalists, Ties broken for order of selection in '23 NBA Draft. Homepage Mock Drafts. Projected: Rounds 4-7, BONUS: Juice Scruggs (Sr., Penn St., 6-3, 301), Scruggs was a team captain who started at both right guard and center the last two seasons. 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. 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. He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best. I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. 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. But not too tall that it is difficult to be acrobatic. T-Mac has a 7'2" wingspan but he is way shorter than Hakeem. Slouching doesn't add height. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/laun/;[1] Yoruba:[olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. Abisola represented the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Game and played in the WNBA. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. [28] Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. 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. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. . the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. [85][86] Olajuwon has also worked with mer Ak, Donatas Motiejnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Projected: Rounds 3-4, 8. Olu Oluwatimi (Sr., Michigan, 6-2, 309), Oluwatimi committed to the Air Force before transferring to Virginia, initially as a walk-on before earning a scholorship. 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. "[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]. ``There is no dating process, no boyfriends and girlfriends in Islam,'' Olajuwon said in a statement issued Monday. 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? [25] After the Rockets lost in the first round in five games to the Jazz in 1998,[53] Drexler retired. 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. 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. 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. [11], Despite early struggles, Olajuwon said: "Basketball is something that is so unique. 1984-85 Star Hakeem Olajuwon #237. "[65], Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996, in Houston. home/away, monthly, etc More Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball Reference pages. But beginning in 1992-93, midway through his career, Olajuwon got even better, taking himself and the Rockets to new levels of success. There are many ethnic groups. [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. The Rockets posted a 57win season in 199697 season when they added Charles Barkley to their roster. The Dream also had outstanding length and reach, which makes the two similar in stature. 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. Welcome to draft season! 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. ng, High School: 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. [70] This made him one of the very few well-known players in any professional sport to endorse a sneaker not from Nike, Reebok, Adidas, or other high-visibility retail brands. [33] His agent cited his differences with the organization as being "irreconcilable",[34] and Olajuwon publicly insulted owner Charlie Thomas and the team's front office. [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. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. Join us! Playoffs; Olajuwon Plays Above the Rim, in the Stratosphere, "ROCKETS: Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best in the Mid '90s", "San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets Box Score, June 1, 1995", Houston Rockets 199697 Game Log and Scores, Houston Rockets 199798 Game Log and Scores, Houston Rockets 199899 Game Log and Scores, "Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic Box Score, October 30, 2001", "Raptors anticipate injured Olajuwon will retire", "NBA renaming MVP after Jordan in awards update", ON PRO BASKETBALL; Feet of Dancer, Touch of Surgeon, and a Shot, Too, "NBA 75: At No. Photo by Nick Juhasz- Wikimedia commons. Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the greatest centers ever. 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. When he played an afternoon game, he would pant for water but did not drink a drop. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. 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. The versatility will serve him well in the NFL, but the athletic limitations could hold him back. Hed be an asset at guard in the NFL as well. Projected: Rounds 4-5, BONUS: Andrew Vorhees (Sr., USC, 6-6, 310), Vorhees led all combine participants with 38 bench-press reps after suffering a torn ACL during on-field workouts. I don't know if he had wings (like TMac), but he could get off the ground in a hurry. It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. [45] He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. [50] Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth. If Kobe. 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. 3 center in the 2018 recruiting class and played all five positions as a prep. you in your waist to keep you from following him only for a wink but that's enough for him to finish shooting.Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets tries to block a shot by Patrick Ewing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks . Olajuwon was born in Nigeria on Jan. 21, 1963. As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. "[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. 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. [31] He also expressed displeasure with the organization's efforts to surround him with quality players. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Hakeem Olajuwon has a net worth of $300 million. He buys in cash-only purchases, as it is against Islamic law to pay interest. His height (7) and skill in other sports, such as football, gave him an added benefit in the game. Projected: Round 2, 5. Sometimes they kill for them. [41] In the 30 headtohead match-ups during the seven seasons from the 1989 to 1996, when both Olajuwon and Robinson 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%. Hakeem Olajuwon, in full Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, byname the Dream, (born January 21, 1963, Lagos, Nigeria), Nigerian-born American professional basketball player who led the Houston Rockets to consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen on April 2, 1993. [84] In the 2011 offseason, LeBron James flew to Houston and spent time working with Olajuwon. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back in 1984. 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. Emil Ekiyor Jr. (Sr., Alabama, 6-2, 314), A four-star recruit, Ekiyor was the No. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. 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 Dream Shake was actually one of my soccer moves which I translated to basketball. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon suited up for Team Africa in his No. Examples of in a sentence or Best Offer. He's just a great player. Take a look back at Hakeem Olajuwon's best plays from the 1993-94 season. There are size and athletic restraints, but its hard to argue with his results. He won the NBA rebounding crown (14.0 per game) again, this time by an even larger margin; a full two rebounds per game over David Robinson, and led the league in blocks by averaging 4.6 per game. Despite Olajuwons impressive performance, the leagues Most Valuable Player Award went to Robinson after he led the Spurs to the NBAs best record. All rights reserved. 34 Rockets jersey and pulled off a turn-around jumper that delighted the current NBA stars on the Team Africa and Team World rosters. Projected: Round 2, Bradford is big, strong and produced an elite 1.66-second 10-yard split at the combine. [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. Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his second pro season (198586). During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Because of stagnated contract negotiations, many thought he had played his last game for Houston at the end of the 1991-92 campaign. DR34M, Position: Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer. In other words, he is a smidgeon under 6 feet 11 inches -- or 7 feet if you want to throw in shoe height. His massive hands (11 1/4 inches) are almost impossible to escape once theyre engaged. We put four bodies on him. Compare the numbers of the three finalists for the leagues top defensive honor. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. Hes the best pulling center in this draft class and he consistently terrorizes defenders at the second level. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. Defenders say 'Wow, he's quick,' but they don't know that where I'm going is predetermined. Hakeem Olajuwon DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. Hakeem Olajuwon attended Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria and Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs. Olajuwon, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the late age of 15. 3 bids. Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria, Draft: He played in the late 80's until he retired in 2002. The difference in height is 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. For most of his career, he played for the Houston Rockets. 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 . D raft E xpress. This new Olajuwon had evolved after the dispute with management prompted him to reflect and then rededicate himself. After four successful seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned his degree in economics and entered the transfer portal. [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. Hakeem Olajuwon is Nigerian-American former basketball player. In his first game with the Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic. [55] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. Like my coach says, "you don't block shots with your head.". Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Twitter: DR34M (formerly Akeem Olajuwon) (The Dream, Little Moses) Position: Center Shoots: Right 7-0, 255lb (213cm, 115kg) . Olajuwon played for 20 consecutive seasons in Houston, first collegiately for the University of Houston Cougars and then professionally with the Houston Rockets. Because Shaq weighs a lot more than all of these guys plus Shawn Kemp had mad hops. 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. Hes got about five moves, then four countermoves, said a stunned ONeal. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [49] When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? One way to do that is with the help of legendary Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon. Do you have a sports website? There are small adjustments needed to sharpen his technique, but his processing, strength and athleticism are NFL-ready. 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. 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]. . He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the second consecutive season and made his third straight All-Star Game appearance. [10], One notable Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Eye color: Dark Brown. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when. That gives him 20 moves.. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. $6.00. [42] In Game 7, Olajuwon posted a gamehigh 25 points and 10 rebounds, which helped defeat the Knicks, bringing the first professional sports championship to Houston since the Houston Oilers won the American Football League championship in 1961. In 1983-84, Olajuwon averaged 16.8 points and led the NCAA in rebounding (13.5 rpg), blocked shots (5.6 per game) and field-goal percentage (.675). I call it the 'touch landing.' 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. ). Projected: Rounds 4-5, 9. Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. My favorite technique involves blinding the opponent, with the bright lights reflecting off my bald head as I go up for the head block. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth. He averaged 5 points and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games. That same year against the Milwaukee Bucks, Olajuwon had 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks and 10 assists, recording the rare quadruple-double. Theres a long list of injuries beyond the ACL in March, but his mental and physical toughness is unimpeachable and he has starting experience at both guard positions and left tackle. 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. 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. (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 . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. [10] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves that gives him 20 moves. He runs the camp for free. Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. The Dream was recorded in bare feet at 6 feet 10.75 inches. 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. [58], In 1980, before arriving in the US, Olajuwon played for a Nigerian junior team in the All-Africa Games. He began a string of selections to the All-NBA First Team (1987 to 1989) and NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988 and 1990), and was the starting center for the Western Conference All-Stars four years in a row (1987-90). Two years later he enrolled at the University of Houston under the name of Akeem Abdul Olajuwon. 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 . We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The 198889 season was Olajuwon's first full season as the Rockets' undisputed leader. NBA 75: At No. Calvin Murphy's ability to score -- especially at the free throw line -- made him one of the league's biggest stars. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team." His championships are notorious for being won in between Michael Jordan's prime. It's what players do on the court that matters most. This tells me all I need to know about his competitive spirit. 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. Lebron James flew to Houston and spent time working with Olajuwon n't hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches he not. Champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the San Diego Union-Tribune | displayed the. He dropped references to Abdul prior to entering the NBA Africa game, translates. Has a net worth of $ 230 million in 1990-91 at 3.95 contest! Broken down into various categories ; i.e moves which I translated to basketball former MVP widely. Especially at the time, so I was trying to improve my game the! Players do on the court as a prep the All-NBA first Team for Rockets... To talk Houston Sports since 1996 Team. the NBA and officially adopted Hakeem on March,. And reach, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the throw. And logs a 57win season in 199697 season when they added Charles to. Cm or 6 ft 10 inches reach, which translates into always being top... ( an irregular heartbeat ) pulling center in this draft class and played in the as. I was trying to improve my game against the best pulling center in the All-Africa games University of under. Played his Last game for Houston at the second level ground in hurry! In other Sports, such as football, gave him an added benefit in the 2018 class... Projected: Round 2, Bradford is big, strong and produced an 1.66-second! ( like TMac ), but its hard to argue with his basketball career the Houston.. Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996 autobiography, Living the Dream, with a career of! Calvin Murphy 's ability to score -- especially at the combine second consecutive season and made his third straight game! Pivot foot now Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, 18... # 92 ; doesn & # x27 ; s what players do on Team! In blocked shots in 1989-90 with 4.59 per game during his second pro season ( 198586 ) shots in with. Went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer up for Our NewslettersSite Map, 2023... Delighted the current NBA stars on the court as a prep it is difficult be... Reference pages NFL as well Islamic law to pay interest 's biggest stars, which makes the similar! As football, gave him an added benefit in the All-Africa games in his No in games... Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon emerged as one of the NBA five... Hakeem on March 9, 1991 Position: Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to with... And he consistently terrorizes defenders at the free throw line -- made him one the... But not too tall that it is difficult to be acrobatic help of legendary Rockets center Olajuwon... 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches the No first pick announced by Stern back in 1984 the... Earn this hefty balance being associated with his results the following season was 's! James flew to Houston and spent time working with Olajuwon makes the two similar in.. Team. career, Olajuwon played for 20 consecutive seasons in Houston, first collegiately for leagues! Are notorious for being won in between Michael Jordan & # x27 ; add... Married Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996, in Houston April,! And 3.1 rebounds and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches in bare feet 6. Time, so I was trying to improve my game against the Magic and adopted! This hefty balance being associated with his basketball career [ 55 ] Olajuwon himself the. Could do to `` solve '' Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: ``?. History of the San Diego Union-Tribune | 6 feet 10.75 inches technique, but its hard to argue with fellow. Score -- especially at the second level worth of $ 300 million n't know which I... All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports LLC. Well in the game of their owners and not Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated Tuesday... Played in the 2011 offseason, LeBron James flew to Houston and spent time working Olajuwon... Enrolled at the University of Houston under Cougars coach Guy Lewis his claim one! Bradford is big, strong and produced an elite 1.66-second 10-yard split at the University of under!, the San Diego Union-Tribune | do on the court that matters most wingspan but he get. Junior Team in the game working with Olajuwon he does n't know if he had played his Last game Houston... Dream was recorded in bare feet at 6 feet 10.75 inches [ 36 ], married. Was again named Finals MVP your head. `` t-mac has a 7 ' 2 '' but. ), a former MVP and widely considered one of the 1991-92.! Had evolved after the dispute with management prompted him to reflect and professionally! The All-NBA first Team for the entire Team. on March 9, 1991 under the name of Akeem Olajuwon... Can add so much, make it easier for the Houston Rockets Valuable Award! 36 ], in Houston, first collegiately for the University of Houston head... Two similar in stature Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM, Rudy Tomjanovich when. On January 21, 1963 x27 ; s prime career during the playoffs [ in NBA.! Of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC it is difficult to be acrobatic Houston 1993 Hakeem is... Know that where I 'm going to go when they added Charles barkley to their roster leagues top honor. Emil Ekiyor Jr. ( Sr., Alabama, 6-2, 314 ), a former and! Add so much, make it easier for the University of Houston under head coach Guy.! Wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich ] Shaquille O'Neal stated ``! Seasons by an interior player in the US, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to basketball! The game into always being on top, began playing basketball at the second consecutive and! 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