He was a prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game for his career,[7] and an above-average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game. On August 2, 2001,[55] after refusing a $13 million deal with the Rockets, Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors for draft picks (the highest of which was used by Houston to draft Botjan Nachbar at #15 in the 2002 NBA draft), with the player having a three-year contract that would give him $18 million. The Dream, Little Moses are nicknames for Hakeem Olajuwon. That is the shake. He's incredibly short, but Blair's 7-2 wingspan saves him. He also weighs about 325 Ibs near the end of his career and had a vertical leap of about 35 inches. The Dream also had outstanding length and reach, which makes the two similar in stature. There are small adjustments needed to sharpen his technique, but his processing, strength and athleticism are NFL-ready. Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves. $6.00. [44] He was also the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award. Hakeem Olajuwon Overview. You dont solve Hakeem., Orlandos Shaquille ONeal felt the same way after going down in a Finals sweep . Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. 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 transformation was apparent when the Rockets advanced to the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. He buys in cash-only purchases, as it is against Islamic law to pay interest. Homepage Mock Drafts. Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria, Draft: or Best Offer. Olajuwon attended the 2013 NBA draft to bid farewell to retiring commissioner David Stern as Stern made his announcement for the final pick of the first round. 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. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2008. 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. 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. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. The Rockets posted a 57win season in 199697 season when they added Charles Barkley to their roster. 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. yeah that pictures his real mugshot, and barkley is legit 6'6 no shorter. Projected: Rounds 4-5, 10. During this run, Olajuwon came back from two serious injuries. After the 198384 season, Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. Because Shaq weighs a lot more than all of these guys plus Shawn Kemp had mad hops. [50] Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. First PSA available! He was able to earn this hefty balance being associated with his basketball career. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. How do they figure out a player's wingspan? They finished the season with a 4141 record,[21] and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated in four games by Los Angeles. Hakeem Olajuwon weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. [64], Olajuwon has referred to basketball as a science, and described his signature move in vivid detail: "When the point guard throws me the ball, I jump to get the ball. Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. [59] For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA exemption and was eligible to play for Dream Team II. This tells me all I need to know about his competitive spirit. He always made great decisions on the court. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich began his first full season with the Rockets, preaching defense and imploring the team to feed off of Olajuwons energy. He won rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively. Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the greatest centers ever. Olajuwon was ineligible for selection to the "Dream Team" as he hadn't become a US citizen.[59]. 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. Projected: Rounds 1-2, Avila was a consensus All-American who has been dominant at both center (2020-2021) and left guard (2022) for the Horned Frogs. But the Rockets swept the series, making Houston the fifth NBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. The Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. Olajuwon suited up for Team Africa in his No. Anyone know his wingspan? The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games. I grew up in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people. He was nicknamed "the Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream. He has missed time in high school and college with ankle, knee and back injuries, the later which required season-ending surgery in 2021. [55] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. January 21, When he called the staff, they told him to take a taxi out to the university. The eight-year veteran, who later in the season became a naturalized United States citizen on April 2, 1993, was simply spectacular throughout the year. In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Olajuwon as the 11th greatest player in NBA history.[63]. Otherwise, he would have won it for a third consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a game (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). [26] However, they lost in the first round again, this time to the Lakers. 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. [15][17] Olajuwon won the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award.[18]. [41] In the 30 headtohead match-ups during the seven seasons from the 1989 to 1996, when both Olajuwon and Robinson were in their prime, Olajuwon averaged 26.3 points per game, shooting 47.6% from the field, while Robinson averaged 22.1 and 46.8%. "[10] The Dream Shake was very difficult to defend, much like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky-hook. HOUSTON (AP) _ Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was married to 18-year-old Dalia Asafi of Houston last week in an arranged union. Hakeem's actual hieght is 6'10", his wingspan is 7'2", which makes his basketball hieght 7'0". ). [68], In addition to English, Olajuwon is fluent in French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. Check out some of the best plays and moments from Hakeem Olajuwon's 18 years in the NBA. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. Imo 6 foot in the NBA becomes 6'2. 1998-99 Upper Deck Black Diamond - [Base] - Triple Diamond #39. The difference in height is 208 cm or 6 ft 10 inches. Compare 0; Music. But not too tall that it is difficult to be acrobatic. $66.00. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired. I've head numerous play-by-play and color guys comment on this on the air. 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. $175.00. Louisiana State University/Getty Images 4. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. He was also named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time, while reclaiming spots on the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. 1984-85 Star Hakeem Olajuwon #237. 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. Ironically enough, Ewing was part of the class, too, providing another link between the longtime on-court rivals. [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. Legacy. Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. Compare the numbers of the three finalists for the leagues top defensive honor. [90] He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.[91]. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. OLAJUWON, Hakeem Abdul (b. > Archive 75: Hakeem Olajuwon| 75 Stories: Hakeem Olajuwon. In October 2021, Olajuwon was honored as one of theleague's greatest players of all-time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team. The 198990 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. 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. There are many ethnic groups. 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. This is the sixth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). As of the financial year of 2023, he has an estimated net worth of $230 million. Hakeem Olajuwon [PSA 5 EX] 2 from. I would read it in airplanes, before games and after them. Hakeem Olajuwon. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion, a former MVP and widely considered one of the greatest centers ever. With shoes he's probably around 6'1. Although his athletic career began as a soccer goalkeeper and handball player, which ultimately helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his overpowering strength and size in basketball, he quickly became a dominating player at Houston. Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. 1963 When I dribble I move it so when I come here, I jump. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The companies were formed over a twenty-eight year period with the most recent being incorporated two months ago in January of 2023. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. [21] He teamed with the 1984 Rookie of the Year, 7ft 4in (2.24m) Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. Hakeem Olajuwon has been associated with forty companies, according to public records. 6'1 or 6'2 becomes 6'3. Matched against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points to Robinsons 25.5. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft 2015 Mock Draft History Complete Draft History Draft Lottery History . [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. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Hakeem Olajuwon has a net worth of $300 million. 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. 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