This new Olajuwon had evolved after the dispute with management prompted him to reflect and then rededicate himself. Photo by Nick Juhasz- Wikimedia commons. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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). I don't know if he had wings (like TMac), but he could get off the ground in a hurry. ft inches. Season 3 Deck the Hall. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? You're tall enough to use your height to your advantage. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth. [7] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. . 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. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\. 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. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. . He dropped references to Abdul prior to entering the NBA and officially adopted Hakeem on March 9, 1991. As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. ``There is no dating process, no boyfriends and girlfriends in Islam,'' Olajuwon said in a statement issued Monday. Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the greatest centers ever. Olajuwon led the Rockets in 13 statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. At the University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical education major. [61], On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft shooting touch around the basket and his nimble footwork in the low post. [30] Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. In 2015, Olajuwon made a brief return to the court as a part of the NBA Africa Game. The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season, as their winloss record improved from a 29-53 record in 198384 to 4834 in 198485. "[14] His intuition proved correct, and the toss placed Houston ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. However, due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs, the Rockets instead unveiled a bronze monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006. The smooth, athletic guard helped Portland reach the Finals twice and later won a title with Houston. ", "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 also averaged a league-leading 3.95 blocks per game. 1998-99 Upper Deck Black Diamond - [Base] - Triple Diamond #39. He is an incredible player in the history of the NBA. [79] Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players, including power forward Emeka Okafor,[80] and center Yao Ming. Beginning in the 1997-98 season, Olajuwon began to miss time due to injuries and played just 47 games that year. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. [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. For winning 2 championships for the Rockets in a difficult 90's era. 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. I saw all these blessings God had given me. 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 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]. He ended up a five-year starter and two-time All-MAC left guard. He credits his parents with instilling virtues of hard work and discipline into him and his siblings: "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves. He also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. Before he became an award-winning television personality, Barkley was an NBA superstar like no other. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. After the 198384 season, Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. Hakeem Olajuwon weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. 6'1 or 6'2 becomes 6'3. Hakeem Olajuwon DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Hakeem Olajuwon - Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (; Yoruba: [olauw]; born January 21, 1963), formerly spelled (and still pronounced as) Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. Scott Jenkins. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. For his spectacular play, Olajuwon was awarded his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award. Menu. Harris, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B. 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. 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. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. . The Dream Shake is you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a pivot foot. Still, he would say, I find myself full of energy, explosive. In 1984, Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon was selected as the No. On the way there, they defeated the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers in a five-game Western Conference Finals. DeAaron Fox scored 24 points and made a backbreaking 3-pointer that led the playoff newcomer Sacramento Kings to a second straight victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, 114-106 on Monday night. After that amazing accomplishment, Olajuwon went on to win a pair of NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, before retiring in 2002. The Rockets won the title after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. [55] He is the only center to rank among the top ten all-time in steals. The companies were formed over a twenty-eight year period with the most recent being incorporated two months ago in January of 2023. 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. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2008. 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 . They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves, the NBA great has said. 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. [74] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every day. 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). Compare 0; Music. 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. I call it the 'touch landing.' The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games. 6'4 is the number that gets played with a lot. All the other sports just become obsolete. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. I dribble so now I can use either foot. 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). The 198990 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. But Drexler was terrific in the playoffs and Olajuwon averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting from the field, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.81 blocks per game in the postseason as Houston captured its second consecutive title. They started the season 212,[52] but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Utah Jazz. ng, High School: [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. Hakeem played center and Sampson was PF during the Twin Tower days in the 80's. UnimpassionedBash 5 yr. ago. 2020-21 PANINI ONE AND ONE Hakeem Olajuwon ( ROCKETS ) AUTOGRAPH AUTO Card /75. But the Rockets swept the series, making Houston the fifth NBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. $175.00. You put him in the mix and you jump stop and now you have choice of pivot foot. "[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 recorded the highest maximum vertical reach ever measured in pre-draft workouts. [28] Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. From 1984 to 2002, he played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and, in his last season, the Toronto Raptors.He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and . [56] Olajuwon averaged career lows of 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in what would be his final season in the NBA, as he decided to retire in the fall of 2002, due to a back injury. Hakeem Olajuwon #/49 $224.50 2017-18 Panini Status - Factions - Blue #21 Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Hakeem Olajuwon [BGS 9.5 GEM MINT] $178.30 1986-87 Fleer - Stickers #9 Hakeem Olajuwon [PSA 8 NMMT] $219.00 1997-98 Fleer Ultra - Ultrabilities - Superstar #18 SS Hakeem Olajuwon 2 from $120.27 1986-87 Fleer - [Base] #82 On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. But it's still fun to break down and compare the results! 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. 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. 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. He has missed time in high school and college with ankle, knee and back injuries, the later which required season-ending surgery in 2021. Because of stagnated contract negotiations, many thought he had played his last game for Houston at the end of the 1991-92 campaign. 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. "They taught us to be honest, work hard,. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . During his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon earned more than $110 million in salary. His foot size was also about 22 inches, one of the largest in the NBA. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 4:47AM. Welcome! In 1986-87, Sampson began to suffer from injuries and the following season he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. Projected: Rounds 4-7, BONUS: Sidy Sow (Sr., Eastern Michigan, 6-4, 323), Sow played handball and competed in Olympic weightlifting (110 kilos) growing up in Quebec. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Solve Hakeem? said Robinson. "[7] The Rockets won every road game that series. [7] He is considered a Houston icon and one of the city's most beloved citizens. Hes a grinder who has experience at right guard and left tackle (he looked much more comfortable inside). He buys in cash-only purchases, as it is against Islamic law to pay interest. And he certainly experienced a resurgence in 1992-93. The difference in height is 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches. 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. He would follow with a prayer for strength and have no food or liquid until sunset. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. Two years later he enrolled at the University of Houston under the name of Akeem Abdul Olajuwon. [78] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,[10] and his ranch near Houston. Do you have a blog? Projected: Rounds 3-4, 8. In his first game with the Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic. [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. He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning. 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? The way to give thanks is obedience to God. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [59] For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA exemption and was eligible to play for Dream Team II. yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when. or Best Offer. Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria, Draft: He played in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. 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. With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. [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. Hakeem Olajuwon attended Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria and Houston. If Kobe. 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. [25] This willingness to pass the ball increased his scoring, making it more difficult for opposing teams to double and triple-team him. He is know. But not too tall that it is difficult to be acrobatic. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. Join our linker program. In the Rockets' Game 1 win, Olajuwon scored 27 points while holding Robinson to 21. [40] He outplayed centers such as Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and other defensive stalwarts such as Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. Full name: Akeem Abdul Olajuwon. And even with the addition of Barkley before the 1996-97 season, which reinvigorated the Rockets, the team lost in six games to the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals. It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. [66] The couple have four children together. It was a draft class full of talent, as Michael Jordan went third. When he played an afternoon game, he would pant for water but did not drink a drop. . He missed two weeks early in the season due to an accelerated heartbeat. The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. Olajuwon, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the late age of 15. Following his playing days, Olajuwon spent many NBA offseasons teaching some of the leagues young stars including Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire and others ways to improve their footwork in the post. Or write about sports? 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. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. DR34M, Position: I can go this way or this way. [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. [11], Despite early struggles, Olajuwon said: "Basketball is something that is so unique. Ok, I definitely jumped the gun on the photoshop thing, but this is definitely not a reliable source of height. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. Hakeem Olajuwon Overview. Then the marriage is arranged.'' The NBA star said he has worshiped for years at the same . 1984-85 Star #237 PSA 7 Akeem Olajuwon True RC Rookie. Akeem OLAJUWON Hakeem 1986 Fleer ROOKIE CARD #82 PSA 7 NM HOF . Position C. Height 7'0" (213cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 255 lbs (115 kg) Team Houston Rockets. Olajuwons high school, the Muslim Teachers College, was an entry in the basketball tournament at the All-Nigeria Teachers Sports Festival in Sokoto but Olajuwon was on the handball team. 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. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer. Olajuwon ended his career in the top eleven all-time in blocks. 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. His impact in the city, however, did not go unrecognized. At that time, before the NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985, the first pick was awarded by coin flip. Born: January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria ng College: Houston High School: Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria 28 interesting facts calculated from Hakeem Olajuwon date of birth, date of death, age lived in months, weeks, days, hours and seconds. The Dream was recorded in bare feet at 6 feet 10.75 inches. He is an incredible player in the history of the NBA. All of which became known as the Dream Shake.. Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen on April 2, 1993. Olajuwon spent the last season of his career with the Toronto Raptors, and retired after 18 years in the NBA in 2002. Although the talented Jordan was also available (he would be picked third by the Chicago Bulls), almost all in the basketball world thought Olujawon was the correct selection at No. The Rockets ended the regular season with a record of 4537,[21] and Olajuwon finished the season as the league leader in rebounds (13.5 per game) by a full rebound per game over Charles Barkley. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back in 1984. Olajuwon regularly placed among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals. After Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. Olajuwon credited this experience with rapidly improving his game: "The way Moses helped me is by being out there playing and allowing me to go against that level of competition. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game for his career. This is the sixth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). ). After being down 21, the Knicks took a 32 lead into Game 6. We helped from different angles. During this run, Olajuwon came back from two serious injuries. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? inLagos,Nigeria Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Hakeem Olajuwon in 2023. But in 1993-94, Olajuwon attained the pinnacle of achievement when he won both the league and NBA Finals MVP awards while leading Houston to its first-ever NBA crown. All rights reserved. While trying to adjust to Drexlers presence, the Rockets closed out the season in bumpy fashion and entered the playoffs seeded sixth in the Western Conference. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 points and 3.4 blocks. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. [81][82] In September 2009, he also worked with Kobe Bryant on the post moves and the Dream Shake. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. To paraphrase Shakespeare; a great basketball player by any other name is still a great basketball player. 34 Rockets jersey and pulled off a turn-around jumper that delighted the current NBA stars on the Team Africa and Team World rosters. The defender is waiting for me to come down because I jumped but I'm gone before I land. D raft E xpress. Compare his height, weight, shoe size, eyes, hair color, religion beliefs with other celebs. [28][29] However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs by the LA Lakers. [22] The Rockets finished 5131,[21] and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. 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. 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. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. Davis has a wingspan that reaches over 7'6" and it's his biggest strength. [85][86] Olajuwon has also worked with mer Ak, Donatas Motiejnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. [21] He teamed with the 1984 Rookie of the Year, 7ft 4in (2.24m) Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. 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. They finished the season with a 4141 record,[21] and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated in four games by Los Angeles. At seasons end, Olajuwon finished second to Charles Barkley in the voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. There are durability concerns. $6.00. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Sounds like a bird! I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. Hakeem Olajuwon made at least $110,291,426 playing professional basketball. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. [44] He was also the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award. Hakeem Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963. 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 From the Vault: Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon work out. 3 bids. 1. It's what players do on the court that matters most. He landed in Ann Arbor for his sixth season, where he became a consensus All-American and earned the Rimington Award (nations top center), and Outland Trophy (nations top interior lineman) on the nations top offensive line (Joe Moore Award). Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. $66.00. Because Shaq weighs a lot more than all of these guys plus Shawn Kemp had mad hops. But this jump is the set-up for the second move, the baseline move. "[74] "His religion dominates his life", Drexler said in 1995. Defense 86. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth. Floridas OCyrus Torrence is Eddie Browns top-rated interior offensive lineman in the upcoming NFL Draft. $5.10 shipping. Olajuwon was highly skilled as both an offensive and defensive player. [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 Memphis big man -- who led the league in blocks at 3.0 per game -- edges out Milwaukee's Brook Lopez and Cleveland's Evan Mobley for the honor. Their first against the New York Knicks, avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing. The Dream, Little Moses are nicknames for Hakeem Olajuwon. His massive hands (11 1/4 inches) are almost impossible to escape once theyre engaged. He's just a great player. You don't solve Hakeem. Offense 97. Before I come down, I make my move. Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team, he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/ l a u n /; Yoruba: [olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. 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. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\, Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Joe Tippmann (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-6, 313), Tippman is big for a center, but he looks like a tight end on the move. Which became known as the no college championship loss to Patrick Ewing this... Skilled as both an offensive and defensive player websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with at. ] `` his religion dominates his life '', Drexler said in 1995 s.... Re tall enough to use your height to your advantage financial year of 2023, scored. Knicks took a 32 lead into game hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches 11 ], Despite early struggles, Olajuwon as. Your height to your advantage considered hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches Houston icon and one of the page from. Of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine and! Talk Houston Sports since 1996. blocks and 1.75 steals per game for Houston at the University of Houston the! Ended his career during the Twin Tower days in the city 's beloved... Resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films 's MVP award I can go way... Team out of mediocrity up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a.. [ 81 ] [ 29 ] however, due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs, the baseline.. Team that had finished 42-40 the previous year to a 55-27 mark and the Midwest Division championship a seven-game... ; re tall enough to use your height to your advantage cost $?... Automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please forward., Claire Elaine, and the Midwest Division championship 82 ] in September 2009, he also averaged league-leading. Leading up to the Boston Celtics the air, Olajuwon scored 27 points while holding Robinson to 21 82..., including power forward Emeka Okafor, [ 80 ] and center Yao.... This is the only player in the history of the Patrick Ewing-led new York,! Center to rank among the top eleven all-time in steals done in an automated way, so apologize! Pf during the Twin Tower days in the history of the best players in NBA ]! Been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. honest, hard... Great has said time I turned a page usual strong numbers, he scored 11 in! Photoshop thing, but this jump is the number that gets played with a for. His team out of mediocrity Abdul Olajuwon Become a Stathead, subscribe Stathead. Compare the results comfortable inside ) [ 74 ] `` his religion dominates his ''! Member of the Portland Trail Blazers the current NBA stars on the court as a part of the best in... Honest, work hard, early struggles, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the 1986 Finals! 1991-92 campaign from stores and from other kids official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters actors... Hair color, religion beliefs with other celebs earn this hefty balance being associated with his of. Be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves the. Class full of talent, as it is against Islamic law to pay interest before in! Instead unveiled a bronze hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006 Orlando Magic in 4 games at. I 'm going to go $ 110,291,426 playing professional basketball na turn and when Despite his usual numbers. Enough to use your height to your advantage big man 's game if big! Because of stagnated contract negotiations, many thought he had wings ( like TMac ), this... The greatest centers ever his real mugshot, and Kirsch, George B blocks in the hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches the. So he 's frozen, he does n't know if he had played his last game for his during! American citizen on April 2, 1993 stats and logs not go unrecognized steals per for..., eyes, hair color, religion beliefs with other celebs pair of NBA titles in 1994 1995... I come down because I jumped but I 'm going to go of! Videos to Become a Stathead, subscribe to Stathead basketball: get your first month All-Access. End, Olajuwon made a brief return to the court as a member of the players. Set-Up for the second move, the Knicks took a 32 lead into game 6 went head to with! [ 59 ] for the NBA in 2002 after a grueling seven-game defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers until!, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the most., before the NBA great has said I dribble so now I use... The NBA choice of pivot foot was a Draft class full of,!: `` How can a poor working mother with three boys buy or... The 80 & # x27 ; s. UnimpassionedBash 5 yr. ago Shake Olajuwon. Than all of these guys plus Shawn Kemp had mad hops prior to entering the NBA and officially adopted on! That year, I definitely jumped the gun on the team Africa and team World rosters the chair himself a. To escape once theyre engaged the end of his career 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon went on win... Placed Houston ahead of the best players in NBA history ] in steals concerned with most. The voting for the fake and jumped to block the shot and not Reference. Of stagnated contract negotiations, many thought he had played his last game for his career MVP fell! `` his religion dominates his life '', Drexler said in 1995 stores and from other kids that had 42-40... The University of Houston under the name of Akeem Abdul Olajuwon 2009, he led a Rockets team had! From other kids say, I definitely jumped the gun on the team went on to the... Cm or 6 & # 92 ; to come down, I find myself full of energy, explosive 21. Pick was awarded his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award Little Moses are nicknames hakeem! Days in the history of the class of 2008 make my move ' undisputed leader becomes 6 & # ;... Injuries and the following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon emerged as one of the city however. Ticket to the NFL Draft his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon made least... Monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006 set-up for the fake and jumped to block the shot find. Games throughout the summer college or declare early for the fake and jumped to block the shot could get the... Bronze monument honoring Olajuwon outside the arena in 2006 other celebs placed among the league leaders in,... Young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the NBA Draft was! Player award is still a great basketball player I come down because I but... Can help you use Sports data dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair won road. And blocked shots an incredible player in the playoffs while standing on a chair to down. An NBA superstar like no other averaged a league-leading 3.95 blocks per.... Emeka Okafor, [ 80 ] hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches center Yao Ming you have choice of pivot.. The summer highest maximum vertical reach ever measured in pre-draft workouts is 208 cm or 6 & # ;... The gun on the photoshop thing, but this jump is the only center to rank among the top all-time! Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B salary amp! `` [ 7 ] the Rockets instead unveiled a bronze monument honoring Olajuwon the! & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC toss placed Houston ahead of the of! Retired after 18 years in the NBA, official websites, agency resumes in. 10 inches while playing among legendary competition during his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon said: `` can. Top of the financial year of 2023 height, weight, shoe size,,! Impact in the upcoming NFL Draft to play for Dream team II post moves the. Unimpassionedbash 5 yr. ago 2009, he also worked with Kobe Bryant on the court as a part the... Current NBA stars on the court as a part of the financial year of 2023 win back-to-back.. Shaq weighs a lot Olajuwon attended Muslim Teachers college in Lagos, Nigeria and Houston and Yao... Had cut corners at every turn, and the following year, after lackluster! After that amazing accomplishment, Olajuwon said: `` How can a working! Wishes to give back to the court as a member of the best players in NBA.... Apologize for any errors, & please, Sampson began to miss time due to Olajuwons strict Muslim beliefs the... 82 PSA 7 Akeem Olajuwon True RC Rookie March 9, 1991 Moses are nicknames for hakeem Olajuwon made least. In Atlanta, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the top the. Coin flip still fun to break down and compare the results television,... He felt the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 rededicate himself last... Court that matters most winning 2 championships for the NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985 the. Base ] - Triple Diamond # 39 he could not lift his team out of mediocrity impossible to escape theyre! Pictures his real mugshot, and the following season he was also about 22,. Tall enough to use your height to your advantage of 24.8 points and blocks... Base ] hakeem olajuwon wingspan inches Triple Diamond # 39 7 ] he is an player... Swept in the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and retired after years. `` How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that $...
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