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. During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Hakeem Olajuwon has been associated with forty companies, according to public records. Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves. He runs the camp for free. Seventeen of those seasons were spent with the Houston Rockets.He capped his career by playing 61 games for the Raptors, and it's a situation where both player . the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning. . [15][17] Olajuwon won the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award.[18]. [45] He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. Olajuwon was born in Nigeria on Jan. 21, 1963. [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. When you jump, you turn as you land. Olajuwon, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the late age of 15. Shoots: In the series final three games, Olajuwon scored 40, 35 and 30 points to lead the Rockets. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. In the Rockets' Game 1 win, Olajuwon scored 27 points while holding Robinson to 21. Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most decorated players in basketball history with 12 All-Star berths, an MVP award and two Defensive Player of the Year awards among his many. [10] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves that gives him 20 moves. First PSA available! All of which became known as the Dream Shake.. 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. [26] Nevertheless, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. If Kobe. 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]. Then the marriage is arranged.'' The NBA star said he has worshiped for years at the same . [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. NBA 75: At No. I can go this way or this way. 1998-99 Upper Deck Black Diamond - [Base] - Triple Diamond #39. 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? Otherwise, he would have won it for a third consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a game (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). But the Rockets swept the series, making Houston the fifth NBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. [15] Olajuwon sought advice from the coaching staff about how to increase his playing time, and they advised him to work out with local Houston resident and multiple NBA MVP winner, Moses Malone. Not if your going to look like an idiot 700 times (You must log in or sign up to post here. Ok, I definitely jumped the gun on the photoshop thing, but this is definitely not a reliable source of height. home/away, monthly, etc More Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball Reference pages. A fellow student approached the coach and asked if Olajuwon could play for the team. There are 15 players in the Draft who have a 7-0+ wingspan, and 13 of them are 6-7 1/2 or taller. [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). [55] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. 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. And he certainly experienced a resurgence in 1992-93. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. It would accomplish one of three things: one, to misdirect the opponent and make him go the opposite way; two, to freeze the opponent and leave him devastated in his tracks; three, to shake off the opponent and giving him no chance to contest the shot. The Rockets won the title after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM. The versatility will serve him well in the NFL, but the athletic limitations could hold him back. He was the third of six children. We helped from different angles. [58], In 1980, before arriving in the US, Olajuwon played for a Nigerian junior team in the All-Africa Games. 3 bids. [7] As in 1994, Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.[51]. In the next three seasons he would average 26.1 points, 27.3 points and 27.8 points, respectively. Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 199293 season, he remained in Houston. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with Olajuwon and remained planted. Olajuwon ended his career in the top eleven all-time in blocks. [10] Olajuwon did not play basketball until the age of 15 in high school, when he entered a local tournament while at the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria. 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. "[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. Thus, the fickle flips of a coin created the Twin Towers of 7-foot Olajuwon and 7-foot-4 Sampson two agile giants. Olajuwon was born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class Yoruba owners of a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. [14], After redshirting his freshman year in 198081 because he could not yet get clearance from the NCAA to play,[9] Olajuwon came mostly off the bench and served as the Cougars' sixth man as a redshirt freshman in 198182, averaging 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shooting 60% from the field in 18 minutes per game as Houston was eliminated in the Final Four by the eventual NCAA champion, North Carolina. Emil Ekiyor Jr. (Sr., Alabama, 6-2, 314), A four-star recruit, Ekiyor was the No. The Rockets' two-year championship run ended when they were eliminated in the second round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs by the eventual Western Conference Champion Seattle SuperSonics. Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. 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. Olajuwon ranked fourth in the league in rebounding and second in blocked shots with 2.68 per game. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Season 2 Glitched. 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. 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 also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. One year earlier, the Rockets won a coin flip with the Indiana Pacers, allowing the franchise to select the University of Virginias Ralph Sampson. They finished 4240,[21] and missed the playoffs for the first time in Olajuwon's career. 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. Hes got about five moves, then four countermoves, said a stunned ONeal. The University of Houston recruited Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/laun/;[1] Yoruba:[olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. Right, Born: 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. Like my coach says, "you don't block shots with your head.". Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 2008 (Full List) . In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Camp, where he teaches young frontcourt players the finer points of playing in the post. However, his production was slipping and he played just two more years in Houston, averaging less than 12.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg. Hakeem Olajuwon's retired number at the University of Houston in Hofheinz Pavilion. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He played 7 out of the 8 games and started 2. It might be easy to forget that Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the NBA's all-time greatest centers, suited up for the Toronto Raptors.Olajuwon played 18 seasons in the NBA, earning a pair of championships and 12 NBA All-Star appearances. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks. The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man. He stated, "Ive worked with a lot of players, but the one who really capitalized on it the most is Kobe Bryant. 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. Below are the players who stood out at . Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his second pro season (198586). The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. . Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth. 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 yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. Olajuwon recalled: "I really believed that Houston was going to win the coin flip and pick the first draft choice, and I really wanted to play in Houston so I had to make that decision (to leave early). Born: January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria ng College: Houston High School: Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks in his rookie season. His impact in the city, however, did not go unrecognized. The transformation was apparent when the Rockets advanced to the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. The former G League standout talks family, injuries and his path to the BAL in lieu of Nile Conference play on April 26. In a new interview with The Athletic, Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko writes that Sengun's "eyes light up . He is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers, as well as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.[3][4][5]. "[23] The Rockets advanced to the 1986 NBA Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics, whose 1986 team is often considered one of the best teams in NBA history.[24]. The Dream was the first one to came to my mind too (and wasn't Sir Charles listed at 6'7" when he played in Philly? Height: 6' 10" (208 cm) Weight: 255 lbs (116 kg) Shoe size: 16 (US)/49 (EU) Hair color: Black. He's basing it on quickness, but the jump is to set him up. He used to be a 7-foot center, when he played for the University of Houston and for many of his years here with the Rockets. 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. Boom! [66] The couple have four children together. His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. Hakeem Olajuwon stepped up in overtime for the Rockets in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. His foot size was also about 22 inches, one of the largest in the NBA. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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). 2020-21 PANINI ONE AND ONE Hakeem Olajuwon ( ROCKETS ) AUTOGRAPH AUTO Card /75. He was a First Team All-America selection that season, but Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas defeated Olajuwons Cougars 84-75 in the championship game. 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