The difference in height is 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches. That gives him 20 moves.. [49] When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? Despite Olajuwons play, the Rockets had settled into mediocrity since the teams trip to the NBA Finals in 1986 Houston didnt win a playoff series from 1988 through 1992. The Rockets posted a 57win season in 199697 season when they added Charles Barkley to their roster. The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. There are 15 players in the Draft who have a 7-0+ wingspan, and 13 of them are 6-7 1/2 or taller. Despite Olajuwons impressive performance, the leagues Most Valuable Player Award went to Robinson after he led the Spurs to the NBAs best record. Check out some of the best plays and moments from Hakeem Olajuwon's 18 years in the NBA. In the series final three games, Olajuwon scored 40, 35 and 30 points to lead the Rockets. Right, Born: 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). [10], One notable Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. [7] He is considered a Houston icon and one of the city's most beloved citizens. [2] 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 combined with the 7feet 4inches (224cm) Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers". 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). Permission was granted and a basketball superstar was born. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that such a trade "would have changed league history and maybe the entire Michael Jordan legend. He's one of the richest NBA players to play the game. The 10-year veteran was simply brilliant in the Finals, contributing 29.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.86 blocks per game. [26] Nevertheless, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1. Do they just measure out both their arms? When I dribble I move it so when I come here, I jump. She can't. [67] Olajuwon also has an older daughter, Abisola from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves, the NBA great has said. His foot size was also about 22 inches, one of the largest in the NBA. ``There is no dating process, no boyfriends and girlfriends in Islam,'' Olajuwon said in a statement issued Monday. He always made great decisions on the court. It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. 34 Rockets jersey and pulled off a turn-around jumper that delighted the current NBA stars on the Team Africa and Team World rosters. Medical evaluations will be paramount after he was in a serious car accident in 2019 and suffered a potentially career-threatening back injury. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, and after the series Lakers coach Pat Riley remarked "We tried everything. [10] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves that gives him 20 moves. NBA 75: At No. But it's still fun to break down and compare the results! [54] After the season, Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. His massive hands (11 1/4 inches) are almost impossible to escape once they're engaged. He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. Hakeem Olajuwon made $16,700,000 in 2001. Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. 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. Here are my top 10 interior offensive linemen: 1. [69], After Olajuwons rookie year he signed a 5 year agreement for $2.5 million, to endorse Etonic Shoes with a Signature line, the Dream Shoe. 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. Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Join our linker program. inLagos,Nigeria home/away, monthly, etc More Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball Reference pages. In doing so he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton as the only players in NBA history (at that point) to lead the league in rebounding and shot-blocking in the same season. In a new interview with The Athletic, Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko writes that Sengun's "eyes light up . Hakeem Olajuwon weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. 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%. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. He averaged 26.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.17 blocks, which established him as the league-leader in blocked shots for the third time in four seasons. JPowers: It's a long running joke that Hakeem Olajuwon is nowhere near (like 2-3 inches away from) the 7 feet he is listed at by the NBA. The centers defensive prowess put an end to the Knicks attempt to win the series in Game 6, when he blocked John Starks potential game-tying three-point shot at the end of the game. [55] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. The dominant center is starting to get eliminated. "[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. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . In an interview with the Sporting News in April 2016, Olajuwon said that Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student. Hakeem Olajuwon. Eye color: Dark Brown. [28][29] However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs by the LA Lakers. In 1986-87, Sampson began to suffer from injuries and the following season he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. "[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. Foreign-born players migrating to U.S. college basketball in ever-higher numbers. That is the shake. During this run, Olajuwon came back from two serious injuries. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game for his career. When he called the staff, they told him to take a taxi out to the university. All the other sports just become obsolete. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. Defense 96. Then the marriage is arranged.'' The NBA star said he has worshiped for years at the same . The next year, Olajuwon and Sampson powered the Rockets into the 1986 NBA Finals. He also led the NBA in blocked shots in 1989-90 with 4.59 per game and in 1990-91 at 3.95 per contest. Welcome! DR34M, Position: The Rockets went from a 29-53 record before Olajuwons arrival to a 48-34 mark, but they were eliminated in five games by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs. 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. He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). 2020-21 PANINI ONE AND ONE Hakeem Olajuwon ( ROCKETS ) AUTOGRAPH AUTO Card /75. Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by HakeemTheDream1, Sep 9, 2007. [66] The couple have four children together. His impact in the city, however, did not go unrecognized. Hakeem Olajuwon is 208 cm (6 ft 10 in) tall. 6'4 is the number that gets played with a lot. This tells me all I need to know about his competitive spirit. The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games. OCyrus Torrence (Sr., Florida, 6-foot-5, 330 pounds), Torrence caught my attention when he played for Louisiana, and he didnt miss a beat after transferring into the SEC, becoming a consensus All-American. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. During the 198788 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden State Warriors. After that amazing accomplishment, Olajuwon went on to win a pair of NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, before retiring in 2002. The Rockets were defending an 8684 lead when in the last second, Knicks guard John Starks (who had already scored 27 points) went up for what would have been a Finals-winning three. . [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. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/ l a u n /; Yoruba: [olauw]; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. "[71], Attending college was also an important priority to Olajuwon. It's what players do on the court that matters most. [58], In 1980, before arriving in the US, Olajuwon played for a Nigerian junior team in the All-Africa Games. A fellow student approached the coach and asked if Olajuwon could play for the team. He ended up a five-year starter and two-time All-MAC left guard. But beginning in 1992-93, midway through his career, Olajuwon got even better, taking himself and the Rockets to new levels of success. I didn't dabble in the faith, I gave myself over to it. 1963 He would awaken before dawn to eat precisely seven dates the traditional Muslim fast-breaking food and to drink a gallon of water. That's the way the game is going. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned a 92.4 overall grade to lead the country this season. Hed be an asset at guard in the NFL as well. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [15][17] Olajuwon won the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award.[18]. 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 believes that his religious faith supported his drive to a great career. Sow has proven patient in pass protection and comfortable on the move in the run game. He is an incredible player in the history of the NBA. Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in January 1963, and lived there until he moved to Texas in 1980 to attend the University of Houston. His fundamentals are a work in progress. 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. Position C. Height 7'0" (213cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 255 lbs (115 kg) Team Houston Rockets. With the ball, Hakeem displayed a vast array of fakes and spin moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). [68], In addition to English, Olajuwon is fluent in French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. 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? This new Olajuwon had evolved after the dispute with management prompted him to reflect and then rededicate himself. Olajuwon spent the last season of his career with the Toronto Raptors, and retired after 18 years in the NBA in 2002. 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. You don't solve Hakeem. 4.His professional basketball career in the beginning stage. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Age if still allive and other unique data for Hakeem Olajuwon. After four successful seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned his degree in economics and entered the transfer portal. First PSA available! 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. 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. 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. In 1984, Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon was selected as the No. The Dream also had outstanding length and reach, which makes the two similar in stature. Olajuwon led the Rockets to a championship in the 1994 NBA Finals in a seven-game series against the New York Knicks, the team of one of Olajuwon's perennial rivals since his collegiate days, Patrick Ewing. Olajuwon, which translates into always being on top, began playing basketball at the late age of 15. Later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,[73] becoming a more devout Muslim. Olu Oluwatimi (Sr., Michigan, 6-2, 309), Oluwatimi committed to the Air Force before transferring to Virginia, initially as a walk-on before earning a scholorship. Twenty-Seven of the companies are still active while the remaining thirteen are now listed as inactive. Hakeem Olajuwon is Nigerian-American former basketball player. He's currently listed at 7'2, has a 7'8 wingspan and a 9'7 standing reach. His accolades are some of the most impressive in league history: two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, 1994 MVP, 12-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-NBA First Team, five-time All . After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 199596 and 199697 respectively, Olajuwon's point production dipped to 16.4 in 199798. 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. Olajuwon was highly skilled as both an offensive and defensive player. In Feet and Inches - 6 10 . That immediately I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is the life for me. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich began his first full season with the Rockets, preaching defense and imploring the team to feed off of Olajuwons energy. In fact, when he played against the Boston. Season 2 Glitched. He is currently 6 feet 10 inches tall but may have lost a few inches due to age. 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. Do you have a blog? Hes got about five moves, then four countermoves, said a stunned ONeal. He runs the camp for free. ft inches. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. 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. [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. With a fortune like that, Olajuwon, his wife Dalia Asafi and their four children Rahmah, Aisha, Abdullah and Abdul are set for life. OLAJUWON, Hakeem Abdul (b. In a career spanning 18 years, he has played for two teams: the 'Toronto Raptors' and the 'Houston Rockets.' After the 198384 season, Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. He played three seasons at Houston and help push the Cougars into the Final Four each year. The Dream Shake is you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a pivot foot. On defense, his rare combination of quickness and strength allowed him to guard a wide range of players effectively. 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. In 199899 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen and finished 3119 in the lockout-shortened regular season. Hakeem Olajuwon. [30] Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. [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: For the record/'Kunta Kinte' image was way off". Data Provided By $5.30 shipping. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. The transformation was apparent when the Rockets advanced to the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. [55] He is the only center to rank among the top ten all-time in steals. Projected: Rounds 3-4, 8. The defender can't react because he's waiting for you to come down to defend you. 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. [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. Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria. dogeblessUSA 5 yr. ago. I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. He was the third of six children. 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. 00:00 / 00:00. $6.00. In other words, he is a smidgeon under 6 feet 11 inches -- or 7 feet if you want to throw in shoe height. I call it the 'touch landing.' He retired after playing one season for the Toronto Raptors in 2001-02, interrupting 20 years, including his college career, of playing in the city of Houston. After Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. Projected: PFA, Manchester City has a job to finish in the Champions League quarterfinals, Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard will remain with the Jumbo-Visma team until the end of 2027, Ryan Hartman scored 12:20 into the second overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 in their playoff opener Monday night, and into Tuesday morning, Alex Iafallo scored in OT to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers to open their first-round playoff series, Daniel Vogelbach homered and drove in three runs, Brett Baty delivered an RBI single in his season debut and the New York Mets rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-6 for their fifth straight victory. 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. While playing among legendary competition during his career, Olajuwon emerged as one of the best players in NBA history. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. In 1991-92, he missed seven contests early in the season after an episode of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). January 21, The 198990 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. They started the season 212,[52] but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Utah Jazz. He was nicknamed "the Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream. At that time, before the NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985, the first pick was awarded by coin flip. "[12], Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball at the University of Houston under Cougars coach Guy Lewis. However, the team lost a tough Game 7, 103-100 in overtime, against a Seattle SuperSonics team led by Gary Payton and a young, explosive Shawn Kemp. The Dream was recorded in bare feet at 6 feet 10.75 inches. [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. [38] The team rewarded him with a four-year contract extension toward the end of the regular season.[39]. [61], On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft shooting touch around the basket and his nimble footwork in the low post. Two years later, Olajuwon would receive another honor: induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Because Shaq weighs a lot more than all of these guys plus Shawn Kemp had mad hops. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Twitter: DR34M (formerly Akeem Olajuwon) (The Dream, Little Moses) Position: Center Shoots: Right 7-0, 255lb (213cm, 115kg) . Projected: Rounds 4-7, BONUS: Chandler Zavala (Sr., NC State, 6-3, 316), Zavalas functional strength and movement skills are prototypical for the position and he committed zero holding penalties in 17 starts at Raliegh (he previously spent three seasons at Fairmont State in Division II). [79] Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players, including power forward Emeka Okafor,[80] and center Yao Ming. 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. Below are the players who stood out at . 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]. Menu. . "He put on a clinic," Drexler said . Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. Hakeem Olajuwon's retired number at the University of Houston in Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. The other centers who have played at that level have seen their talent translate well to the NFL (Frank Ragnow and Tyler Linderbaum). Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963), Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Hakeem Olajuwon, List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most blocks in a game, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, "Olajuwon, Hakeem definition of Olajuwon, Hakeem in English from the Oxford dictionary", "Hakeem refuses to be shaken by Trump's Muslim ban", "Hakeem Olajuwon Remembered: The Best Center of All Time", "Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history? 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