Olajuwon traveled from his home country of Nigeria to play collegiately for the University of Houston.
Hakeem had a standout career for the Cougars alongside future NBA Hall of Fame player Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, which included three trips to the Final Four.
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.
Olajuwon joined the Houston Rockets and was affectionately known as Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. He combined with the 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson to form what was dubbed the "Twin Towers" duo.
The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics.
During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
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 game’s best.
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.
The following season he rallied the Rockets from a sixth seed in the playoffs to their second straight NBA crown,making Houston the fifth NBA franchise ever to win back-to-back titles.
Career highlights and awards
2x NBA Champion (1994, 1995)
1x NBA MVP (1994)
12x All-Star (1985-1990, 1992-1997)
2x Finals MVP (1994-1995)
2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993-1994)
6x All-NBA First Team Selection (1987-1989, 1993-1994, 1997)
3x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1986, 1990, 1996)
3x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1991, 1995, 1999)
5x NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1987-1988, 1990, 1993-1994)
4x NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1985, 1991, 1996-1997)
1985 NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
as a member of the class of 2008
Olympic Mens Basketball Gold Medal
1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Career stats:
Games 1,238 FG% .513 FT% 71% Rebounds 13,748 RPG 11.1 Blocks 3839 Points 29,946 PPG 21.8.
None better at his position than Hakeem was in his prime, especially playing with his back to the basket...
The best way to describe Hakeem's game is "He was a monster on the basketball court".
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. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team,
he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players. When asked about how the league was becoming more guard-oriented and whether big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded,
"For a big man who is just big, maybe. But not if you play with speed, with agility.
It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots.
On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team."
Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players such as power forward Emeka Okafor, of the Charlotte Bobcats, and center Yao Ming of the Rockets, among others.
He also runs the camp for free.
His impact in the city of Houston, however, did not go unrecognized. The Rockets' all-time leader at the time of his retirement in a host of categories, including points, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots (All-time NBA leader with 3, 830) had his jersey No. 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. 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.
The Houston Rockets unveiled a 12 foot bronze monument to former Rockets Basketball Hall Of Fame Center Hakeem Olajuwon in 2003. The monument stands in front of the main entrance to the Rockets home the Toyota Center.
Great player and humanitarian off the court. Watching Hakeem play you could not help yourself from simply saying WOW a few times every game...
Wil..
Hakeem had a standout career for the Cougars alongside future NBA Hall of Fame player Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, which included three trips to the Final Four.
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.
Olajuwon joined the Houston Rockets and was affectionately known as Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. He combined with the 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson to form what was dubbed the "Twin Towers" duo.
The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics.
During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
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 game’s best.
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.
The following season he rallied the Rockets from a sixth seed in the playoffs to their second straight NBA crown,making Houston the fifth NBA franchise ever to win back-to-back titles.
Career highlights and awards
2x NBA Champion (1994, 1995)
1x NBA MVP (1994)
12x All-Star (1985-1990, 1992-1997)
2x Finals MVP (1994-1995)
2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993-1994)
6x All-NBA First Team Selection (1987-1989, 1993-1994, 1997)
3x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1986, 1990, 1996)
3x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1991, 1995, 1999)
5x NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1987-1988, 1990, 1993-1994)
4x NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1985, 1991, 1996-1997)
1985 NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
as a member of the class of 2008
Olympic Mens Basketball Gold Medal
1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Career stats:
Games 1,238 FG% .513 FT% 71% Rebounds 13,748 RPG 11.1 Blocks 3839 Points 29,946 PPG 21.8.
None better at his position than Hakeem was in his prime, especially playing with his back to the basket...
The best way to describe Hakeem's game is "He was a monster on the basketball court".
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. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team,
he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players. When asked about how the league was becoming more guard-oriented and whether big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded,
"For a big man who is just big, maybe. But not if you play with speed, with agility.
It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots.
On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team."
Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players such as power forward Emeka Okafor, of the Charlotte Bobcats, and center Yao Ming of the Rockets, among others.
He also runs the camp for free.
His impact in the city of Houston, however, did not go unrecognized. The Rockets' all-time leader at the time of his retirement in a host of categories, including points, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots (All-time NBA leader with 3, 830) had his jersey No. 34 retired on Nov. 9, 2002. 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.
The Houston Rockets unveiled a 12 foot bronze monument to former Rockets Basketball Hall Of Fame Center Hakeem Olajuwon in 2003. The monument stands in front of the main entrance to the Rockets home the Toyota Center.
Great player and humanitarian off the court. Watching Hakeem play you could not help yourself from simply saying WOW a few times every game...
Wil..
