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Sports InsiderHakeem Olajuwon was a Dream Basketball Player.
October 26th 2007 07:39
(Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images)
Michael Jordan may have owned the basketball planet in the 90s, but lost in all of the MJ love-in is the fact that the decade that just passed wasn’t all about Air Jordan. There were a myriad of other players that had a huge impact on the game, with a few of them considered as all-time greats. You just wouldn’t think so with everyone wanting to be like, Mike!
One player by the name of Hakeem Olajuwon for the Houston Rockets was a literal and metaphoric giant in the NBA during the 90s. Today’s feature post is all about Hakeem ‘The Dream’!
Full Name: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon
Date of Birth: 21st January 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Height: 7’0”
College: Houston
Draft: First overall pick by the Houston Rockets in 1984.
Average Points per Game: 21.8
Average Rebounds per Game: 11.1
Career Blocks Total: 3, 830
Honours: NBA champion (1994, '95); NBA Finals MVP (1994, '95); NBA MVP (1994); Defensive Player of Year (1993, '94); All-NBA First Team (1987, '88, '89, '93, '94, '97); All-NBA Second Team ('86, '90, '96); All-NBA Third Team (1991, '95, '99); All-Defensive First Team ('87, '88, '90, '93, '94); 12-time All-Star; Olympic gold medallist (199); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).
The 1984 Draft has been getting a lot of attention lately with the drafting of Greg Oden, over Kevin Durant. More specifically, 1984 is in vogue again because of the comparisons between this year’s choices and the year of George Orwell. Sam Bowie, the number two pick in 1984 is considered one of the biggest busts in NBA history because the player that dominated the 90s was selected right after him. However, lost in all of this 1984 Draft discussion is who the number one pick was? Well, since the readers of this space are way too smart for this question because the answer was in the above bio of Olajuwon. We won’t insult the intelligence of readers of NBALOUD by playing chicken any further.
Oh, by the way – Hakeem wasn’t considered a bust.
Olajuwon, which translates to “always being on top”, began playing basketball at the relatively late age of 15. How Hakeem got introduced to the greatest game on earth is a killer story within itself.
The Dream’s high school, the Muslim Teachers College, fielded a basketball squad for a Nigeria wide sports tournament and Hakeem was actually in the handball team at that stage. A fellow student who recognised the skills of the big fella asked the coach if Olajuwon might be able to play for the basketball team. Wisely, the coach agreed and Hakeem would begin his journey into hoops immortality.
Handball wasn’t the only sport that Hakeem participated in. The Dream was also a soccer goalkeeper which gave him the skills and agility that translated wonderfully onto the basketball courts.
Dominating the college ranks, Olajuwon was always going to be the top selection of the Draft, and Houston would become his home after the Rockets won a coin flip to acquire his rights against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hakeem made an immediate impact as a rookie averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds a game, coming second only to Michael Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting. The Rockets were horrendous the year before Olajuwon came onto the scene, but were perennial playoff contenders from his rookie year onwards.
The following year things got even better when Hakeem ‘The Dream’ led his team to the NBA
(Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images)
Houston would be continually frustrated from 1988 to 1992 when they couldn’t win a single postseason series, and Hakeem suffering major injuries. However, it was during the ’92-’93 season where Olajuwon would become ‘The Dream’ in elevating his game to another level.
Well, to be honest ‘elevating his game to another level’ kind of underplays how good Hakeem was – he was magical from that period onwards. Olajuwon developed an offensive arsenal that included magical footwork, pivots, head fakes, and the patented ‘dream shake’ that would defeat opposing centres, and make the world swoon.
In the ’93-’94 season Olajuwon would finally fulfil his destiny by winning the NBA Championship, whilst collecting both the regular and Finals MVP awards. Oh, throw in the Defensive Player of the Year award too for good measure.
Thought his first title year was good? Houston would win another title the following year and Hakeem was spectacular! Despite phenomenal averages of 27.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game – career best numbers one might add. The MVP award went to San Antonio Spurs big man, David Robinson.
How did Hakeem react to this slight? By dominating Robinson in the playoffs when their two teams met. Robinson was utterly humiliated by Olajuwon leaving no doubt who really was the MVP that season.
In the Finals, the Rockets met the Orlando Magic, featuring young guns by the names of Anfernee Hardaway, and Shaquille O’Neal. The Dream dominated the Magic as well leading his team to a sweep. Two all-time great big men were outplayed by Olajuwon, doesn’t get any better than that.
Robinson was lost for words. Well, he wasn’t lost for words per se, he just didn’t have any answers to the play of Hakeem: "Solve Hakeem?" said Robinson. "You don't solve Hakeem." (NBA.com)
Shaq didn’t fare any better: "He's got about five moves, then four countermoves," said a stunned O'Neal. “That gives him 20 moves." (NBA.com)
A devout Muslim, Hakeem would observe all the religious traditions that were demanded of him, believing his faith allowed him to excel in the game. During Ramadan, Olajuwon would strictly adhere to the protocols, including no food or liquids until sunset.
After playing an afternoon game, Olajuwon would naturally desire the taste of water, but wouldn’t drink a drop, saying, “I find myself full of energy, explosive. And when I break the fast at sunset, the taste of water is so precious.” (NBA.com)
Olajuwon had such a massive impact on the city of Houston that his number has been retired by the team, and his statue adorns the stadium of the Rockets. Hakeem really was a dream.
Today’s video is all about Hakeem and his fancy footwork.
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Comment by Spennies
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But I cannot forgive the state he had left my Raptors in after signing a 3yr deal for 21mil, just to up and retire. That move set the franchise back a little with that hurdle of 7 mil going to a non-player in your roster. For shame, but love his game.
Comment by Stanley
i think the person that is a bigger pariah for you toronto fans would be vince carter. he left the team in a real bad state.
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