[59] For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA exemption and was eligible to play for Dream Team II. 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. [10], One notable Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Hes got about five moves, then four countermoves, said a stunned ONeal. Before I come down, I make my move. "They taught us to be honest, work hard,. To paraphrase Shakespeare; a great basketball player by any other name is still a great basketball player. (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 . Compare his height, weight, shoe size, eyes, hair color, religion beliefs with other celebs. Whether the contract squabbles had affected Olajuwons 1991-92 performance may never be known, but that year he failed to make an All-NBA Team or an NBA All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career. December 16, 2021 12:36 pm CT. Fresh off a career night with 19 points and 11 rebounds, rookie center Alperen Sengun wants to do even more in Houston. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs. However, the Cougars were upset 54-52 in a thrilling championship game on a shot at the buzzer by North Carolina State, an overwhelming underdog. [43] For his efforts Olajuwon was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. After the 198384 season, Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. His impact in the city, however, did not go unrecognized. He never looked seven feet. Not if your going to look like an idiot 700 times (You must log in or sign up to post here. Olajuwon set a new career-high with 26.1 points per game. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when. Slouching doesn't add height. [55] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. The Dream, Little Moses are nicknames for Hakeem Olajuwon. With the ball, Hakeem displayed a vast array of fakes and spin moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). You don't solve Hakeem. 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. During an NBA season he observes Islams Ramadan, which includes periods of fasting. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. ``Families meet, talk, get to know one another. There are small adjustments needed to sharpen his technique, but his processing, strength and athleticism are NFL-ready. 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. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . More importantly, he led a Rockets team that had finished 42-40 the previous year to a 55-27 mark and the Midwest Division championship. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. Season 3 Deck the Hall. 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. He averaged 13.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks in 198283 and 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks in 198384. Menu. But this jump is the set-up for the second move, the baseline move. [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. Still, he would say, I find myself full of energy, explosive. Hakeem Olajuwon Next is Hakeem Olajuwon. [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. Olajuwon ranked fourth in the league in rebounding and second in blocked shots with 2.68 per game. It was a draft class full of talent, as Michael Jordan went third. But beginning in 1992-93, midway through his career, Olajuwon got even better, taking himself and the Rockets to new levels of success. He retired from the game as one of only 4 . 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. 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In 199899 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen and finished 3119 in the lockout-shortened regular season. . Otherwise, he would have won it for a third consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a game (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). He played 7 out of the 8 games and started 2. Projected: Rounds 4-5, 10. "He put on a clinic," Drexler said . DR34M, Position: 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. Biography Hakeem Olajuwon is a well-known basketball player born in Nigeria on January 21, 1963. In an interview with the Sporting News in April 2016, Olajuwon said that Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student. Akeem OLAJUWON Hakeem 1986 Fleer ROOKIE CARD #82 PSA 7 NM HOF . The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man. Twitter: We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He was noted for both his outstanding shot-blocking ability and his unique talent (for a frontcourt player) for stealing the ball. He combined with the 7feet 4inches (224cm) Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers". Hakeem Olajuwon weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. Legacy. It's what players do on the court that matters most. But not if you play with speed, with agility. Projected: Round 2, 5. He missed two weeks early in the season due to an accelerated heartbeat. "The Dream Shake was actually one of my soccer moves which I translated to basketball. 6'4 is the number that gets played with a lot. [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. 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. This created some problems when he tried to play for the United States men's national basketball team initially. 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. The 198990 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. Because of stagnated contract negotiations, many thought he had played his last game for Houston at the end of the 1991-92 campaign. He also averaged a league-leading 3.95 blocks per game. 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. On Oct. 27, 1984, Hakeem Olajuwon made his debut for the Houston Rockets. I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. [46] But despite a slow start by the team, and Olajuwon missing eight games toward the end of the season with anemia,[47] the Rockets repeated as champions in 1995. Sometimes they kill for them. Projected: Rounds 5-6, BONUS: Jaxon Kirkland (Sr., Washington, 6-6, 321), Kirkland is a team captain and three-time, first-team All-Pac 12 at both left tackle and guard. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM. The dominant center is starting to get eliminated. Houston Rockets, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1984 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2008 (Full List), More Hakeem Olajuwon pages at Sports Reference. One year earlier, the Rockets won a coin flip with the Indiana Pacers, allowing the franchise to select the University of Virginias Ralph Sampson. Olajuwon, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the late age of 15. Olajuwon dominated Ewing in their headtohead match-up, outscoring him in every game of the series and averaging 26.9 points per game on 50% shooting, compared to Ewing's 18.9 and 36.3%. 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). He stated, "Ive worked with a lot of players, but the one who really capitalized on it the most is Kobe Bryant. Since making the Finals in 1986, the Rockets had made the playoffs five times, but their record in those playoff series was 15 and they were eliminated in the first round four times. "[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. You're tall enough to use your height to your advantage. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Olajuwon spun counterclockwise and faked a jump shot. Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his second pro season (198586). At the University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical education major. . 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. With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. After Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. ", "Living the Dream University of Houston", Keeping the Faith Olajuwon's, Rockets' quiet confidence has roots in Mecca, Rockets to send out Olajuwon in style Saturday night, Olajuwon keeps 'The Dream' alive in Dwight Howard, "Hakeem Olajuwon says Kobe Bryant was his greatest success as a coach", "Hakeem Olajuwon said Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student", http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/22552066/video-hakeem-olajuwon-surprises-david-stern-at-nba-draft, "NBA stars, legends shine in Africa exhibition", "2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame inducted", "Naimsmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Seven Members of the Class of 2008", "2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Hakeem Olajuwon", "SLAM's Top 100 Players Of All-Time: 50-11", The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy, Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, 1984 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hakeem_Olajuwon&oldid=1150414735, All-American college men's basketball players, American expatriate basketball people in Canada, American sportspeople of Nigerian descent, Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award winners, National Basketball Association players from Nigeria, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Canada, Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, People with acquired American citizenship, United States men's national basketball team players, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. He was twice named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. Davis has a wingspan that reaches over 7'6" and it's his biggest strength. He has missed time in high school and college with ankle, knee and back injuries, the later which required season-ending surgery in 2021. Michael Jordan had returned from an 18-month hiatus in March 1995, and his Chicago Bulls dominated the league for the next three years (199698). It leaves out a lot of people. 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. I call it the 'touch landing.' [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. [6] He ended his career as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830) and is one of four NBA players to record a quadruple-double. Two years later, Olajuwon would receive another honor: induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. [74] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every day. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. 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]. Hakeem played center and Sampson was PF during the Twin Tower days in the 80's. UnimpassionedBash 5 yr. ago. OLAJUWON, Hakeem Abdul (b. But on a flight to Japan, where the Rockets played the first two games of the 1992-93 season against the Seattle SuperSonics, Olajuwon and Houston owner Charlie Thomas smoothed out their differences. Offense 83. 11, Hakeem Olajuwon used his agility and athleticism to dominate on the court and inspire a generation William Guillory Feb 4, 2022 235 (Editor's note: Welcome back to The. Olajuwon established himself as an unusually skilled offensive player for a big man, perfecting a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark Dream Shake. John Michael Schmitz (Sr., Minnesota, 6-3, 301), Schmitz has been one of the best offensive lineman in the nation since he became a starter way back in 2019. 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. He started at least one game at four different positions over the last three seasons (every spot except left tackle) and he didnt allow a single sack his final season in Fort Worth. Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the greatest centers ever. "[7] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired. He returned to play close to a full schedule during the lockout season of 1998-99. I didn't dabble in the faith, I gave myself over to it. Twenty-Seven of the companies are still active while the remaining thirteen are now listed as inactive. "[36], Nonetheless, he was not traded and the Rockets began the season with a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games. Hakeem Olajuwon's retired number at the University of Houston in Hofheinz Pavilion. 3 bids. This new Olajuwon had evolved after the dispute with management prompted him to reflect and then rededicate himself. [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). The man called Hakeem the Dream had now developed a set of patented moves involving great footwork with ball and head fakes with either his back to the basket or facing opponents abusing defenders. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\, Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon The transformation was apparent when the Rockets advanced to the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. In a Life magazine story, San Antonios David Robinson seemed perplexed. He finished second in the MVP race to Charles Barkley with 22 votes to Barkley's 59. For winning 2 championships for the Rockets in a difficult 90's era. You put him in the mix and you jump stop and now you have choice of pivot foot. The Dream Shake is you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a pivot foot. However, due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs, the Rockets instead unveiled a bronze monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006. The Rockets won the title after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. He also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. Season 2 Glitched. [81][82] In September 2009, he also worked with Kobe Bryant on the post moves and the Dream Shake. His fundamentals are a work in progress. T-Mac was measured 6'6.25" barefoot. Height: 6' 10" (208 cm) Weight: 255 lbs (116 kg) Shoe size: 16 (US)/49 (EU) Hair color: Black. The Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. As for muscle, Olajuwon came. Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen on April 2, 1993. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. Solve Hakeem? said Robinson. [72], In Olajuwon's college career and early years in the NBA, he was often undisciplined, talking back to officials, getting in minor fights with other players and amassing technical fouls. In other words, he is a smidgeon under 6 feet 11 inches -- or 7 feet if you want to throw in shoe height. 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. "[9], During his youth, Olajuwon was a soccer goalkeeper, which helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his size and strength in basketball, and also contributed to his shot-blocking ability. 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. Projected: Round 1, 2. Olajuwon led the Rockets in 13 statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots. 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). His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. 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. There are durability concerns. The University of Houston recruited Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 18 April 2023, at 01:19. 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. He became the first non-American to be an NBA All-Star and start in an NBA All-Star Game, the first non-American to win the NBA MVP, the first non-American to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and in the 199394 season became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. [7] As in 1994, Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.[51]. After the Rockets won a coin flip with the Portland Trail Blazers for the first pick in the 1984 NBA Draft one year before the institution of the Draft Lottery Houston selected Olajuwon. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. Ironically enough, Ewing was part of the class, too, providing another link between the longtime on-court rivals. 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. Their first against the New York Knicks, avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing. 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. He only had one career start vs. an FBS opponent (Arizona in 2022) and less than ideal arm length might necessitate a move to guard in the NFL. Data Provided By Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. Olajuwon gained a reputation as a clutch performer and as one of the top centers in history based on his performances in the 199394 and 199495 seasons.