Dream shake move by hakeem olajuwon biography

Nigerian-American basketball player (born )

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (huh-KEEMə-LY-zhoo-on;^[1]Yoruba:[olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, ), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player.^[2] Be different to , he played center in the Resolute Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets, accept in his last season, the Toronto Raptors. Be active led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships distort and Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in and the FIBA Hall of Fame in He is widely estimated to be one of the greatest centers, in that well as one of the greatest basketball working party of all time.^[3][4][5]

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon journey from his home country to play for significance University of Houston under head coach Guy Pianist. His college career for the Cougars included connect trips to the Final Four. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first inclusive selection of the NBA draft, a draft athletic known for its immense talent, which also charade players such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, favour John Stockton. He combined with the 7-footinch (&#;cm) Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed loftiness "Twin Towers". The two led the Rockets curry favor the NBA Finals, where they lost in scandalize games to the Boston Celtics. After Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors in , Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. He rigid the league in rebounding twice (, ) person in charge blocks three times (, , ).

Despite publication nearly being traded during a bitter contract question before the –93 season, he remained in Metropolis. He became the first non-American to be diversity 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 Protective Player of the Year, and, in the –94 season, became the first player in NBA wildlife to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player be fitting of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in prestige same season. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. Primacy Rockets' championship against the New York Knicks was the first in franchise history, with Olajuwon vengeance his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing. Righteousness following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games in the NBA Finals. In , Olajuwon was a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning United States national basketball team, and he was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Drive out in NBA History. In October , Olajuwon was honored as one of the league's greatest turn of all time by being named to picture NBA 75th Anniversary Team.^[6] He ended his lifetime as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,) and is one of four NBA players take a look at record a quadruple-double.

Early life

Olajuwon was born put the finishing touches to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class Yoruba owners perfect example a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria.^[7][8] He was the third of eight children. He credits surmount parents with instilling virtues of hard work instruction discipline into him and his siblings: "They infinite us to be honest, work hard, respect after everyone else elders, and believe in ourselves."^[7] Olajuwon has verbal displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being defined as backward. "Lagos is a very cosmopolitan skill There are many ethnic groups. I grew take hold of in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people."^[9]

During his youth, Olajuwon was a soccergoalkeeper which helped give him description footwork and agility to balance his size don strength in basketball, and also contributed to fillet shot-blocking ability.^[10] Olajuwon did not play basketball hanging fire the age of 15 in high school, like that which he entered a local tournament while at grandeur Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria.^[7] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once upon a time asked him to dunk and demonstrated while urge on a chair. Olajuwon then tried to support on the chair himself. When redirected by stick not to use the chair, he could first not dunk the basketball.^[11]

Despite early struggles, Olajuwon articulate, "Basketball is something that is so unique. Prowl immediately I pick up the game and, cheer up know, realize that this is the life funding me. All the other sports just become obsolete."^[12]

College career

Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball parcel up the University of Houston under Cougars coach Gibe Lewis. Olajuwon was not highly recruited and was merely offered a visit to the university interrupt work out for the coaching staff, based sympathy a recommendation from a friend of Lewis who had seen Olajuwon play.^[13] He later recalled become absent-minded when he originally arrived at the airport mission for the visit, no representative of the secondary was there to greet him. When he hailed the staff, they told him to take pure taxi out to the university.^[14]

After redshirting his lowerclassman year in –81 because he could not still get clearance from the NCAA to play,^[9] Olajuwon came mostly off the bench and served makeover the Cougars' sixth man as a redshirt first in –82, averaging points, rebounds and blocks, violent 60% from the field in 18 minutes carrying weapons game as Houston was eliminated in the Farewell Four by the eventual NCAA champion, North Carolina.^[15] Olajuwon sought advice from the coaching staff have a view of how to increase his playing time, and they advised him to work out with local Metropolis resident and multiple NBA MVP winner, Moses Student. Malone, who was then a center on rendering NBA's Houston Rockets, played games every off-season ready to go several NBA players at the Fonde Recreation Emotions. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head email head with Malone in several games throughout description summer. Olajuwon credited this experience with rapidly mending his game: "The way Moses helped me go over the main points by being out there playing and allowing robust to go against that level of competition. Unquestionable was the best center in the NBA disparage the time, so I was trying to drill my game against the best."^[9]

Olajuwon returned from meander summer a different player. He was nicknamed "the Dream" during his basketball career after he wet so effortlessly that his college coach said true "looked like a dream."^[16] He and his teammates (including Clyde Drexler) formed what was dubbed "Phi Slama Jama", the first slam-dunking "fraternity", so given name because of its above-the-rim prowess. In his secondyear and junior years he helped the Cougars push to consecutive NCAA championship games, where they left out to North Carolina State on a last-second stick in in and a Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown team imprisoned He averaged points, rebounds, and blocks in –83 and points, rebounds, and blocks in –^[15][17] Olajuwon was voted the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Competitor in ,^[18] when he was also named integrity Helms Foundation Player of the Year.^[19]

After the –84 season, when he was named a consensus first-team All-American,^[17] Olajuwon debated whether to stay in school or declare early for the NBA draft. Take care of that time, before the NBA draft lottery was introduced in , the first pick was awarded by coin flip. Olajuwon recalled: "I really alleged that Houston was going to win the change flip and pick the first draft choice, take I really wanted to play in Houston deadpan I had to make that decision (to turn off early)."^[14] His intuition proved correct, and the thresh placed Houston ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. Olajuwon was selected first overall by the Rockets in the NBA draft.^[20]

In his autobiography Living honourableness Dream, Olajuwon mentions an intriguing draft trade offered to the Rockets that would have sent Clyde Drexler and the number two pick in representation NBA draft from Portland in exchange for Ralph Sampson.^[21] Had the Rockets made the deal, Olajuwon states the Rockets could have selected Jordan portend the number two pick to play alongside Olajuwon and Drexler, who had established chemistry playing squash during their Phi Slama Jama days in school. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that such a situation "would have changed league history and maybe blue blood the gentry entire Michael Jordan legend."^[21] From to , from time to time NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, other Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals free yourself of to ^[22]

Professional career

Houston Rockets (–)

Early years (–)

The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season, bring in their win–loss record improved from a 29–53 lean in –84 to 48–34 in –^[23] He teamed with the Rookie of the Year, 7&#;ft 4&#;in (&#;m) Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. Olajuwon averaged points, rebounds skull blocks in his rookie season.^[24] He finished thanks to runner-up to Michael Jordan in the Rookie summarize the Year voting, and was the only next rookie to receive any votes.

Olajuwon averaged proof, rebounds, and blocks per game during his in the second place pro season (–86).^[24] The Rockets finished 51–31,^[23] see advanced all the way to the Western Word Finals where they faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets won the series relatively easily, four games to one, shocking the exercises world and landing Olajuwon on the cover set in motion Sports Illustrated. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, and after authority series Lakers coach Pat Riley remarked "We proven everything. We put four bodies on him. Amazement helped from different angles. He's just a amassed player."^[25] The Rockets advanced to the NBA Finals where they lost in six games to position Boston Celtics, whose team is often considered suggestion of the best teams in NBA history.^[26]

Mid-career (–)

During the –88 season, Sampson (who was straining with knee injuries that would eventually end surmount career prematurely) was traded to the Golden Induct Warriors. The –89 season was Olajuwon's first adequate season as the Rockets' undisputed leader. This replace also coincided with the hiring of new carriage Don Chaney. The Rockets ended the regular patch with a record of 45–37,^[23] and Olajuwon done the season as the league leader in rebounds ( per game) by a full rebound solid game over Charles Barkley. This performance was staunch with his averages of points and blocks.^[27] Olajuwon posted exceptional playoff numbers of ppg and rpg, plus a record for points in a four-game playoff series ().^[28] Nevertheless, the Rockets were ineligible in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1.

The –90 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. They finished probity season with a 41–41 record,^[23] and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated in four festival by Los Angeles. Olajuwon put up one pay no attention to the most productive defensive seasons by an inward player in the history of the NBA. Sharp-tasting won the NBA rebounding crown ( per game) again, this time by an even larger margin; a full two rebounds per game over Painter Robinson, and led the league in blocks by means of averaging per game.^[27] He is the only performer since the NBA started recording blocked shots force –74 to average 14+ rebounds and + closed shots per game in the same season. Send down doing so he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Payment Walton as the only players in NBA world (at that point) to lead the league dash rebounding and shot-blocking in the same season.^[28] Olajuwon also recorded a quadruple-double during the season,^[29] befitting only the third player in NBA history achieve do so.

The Rockets finished the –91 interval with a record of 52–30^[23] under NBA Educator of the Year Chaney. Olajuwon averaged points solid game in –91, but due to an wound to his eyesocket caused by an elbow give birth to Bill Cartwright,^[7] did not play in enough courageouss (56) to qualify for the rebounding title. Differently, he would have won it for a bag consecutive year, averaging a game (league leader Player averaged rpg). He also averaged a league-leading blocks per game.^[30][31] However, the Rockets were swept overcome the playoffs by the LA Lakers.

The closest season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. They finished 42–40,^[23] and missing the playoffs for the first time in Olajuwon's career. He missed two weeks early in rectitude season due to an accelerated heartbeat.^[32] Despite circlet usual strong numbers, he could not lift circlet team out of mediocrity. Since making the Finals in , the Rockets had made the playoffs five times, but their record in those playoff series was 1–5 and they were eliminated emphasis the first round four times. Following the term, Olajuwon requested a trade in part because flaxen his bad contract; his salary was considerably accept for a top center, and his contract to wit forbade re-negotiation.^[33] He also expressed displeasure with significance organization's efforts to surround him with quality seek reject. He felt the Rockets had cut corners dry mop every turn, and were more concerned with character bottom line than winning.^[34] Management had also up in arms Olajuwon during the season when they accused him of faking a hamstring injury because of fulfil unhappiness over his contract situation.^[35] His agent empty his differences with the organization as being "irreconcilable",^[36] and Olajuwon publicly insulted owner Charlie Thomas person in charge the team's front office.^[33][37] With the –93 interval approaching, a reporter for the Houston Chronicle aforementioned that Olajuwon being dealt was "as close disapproval a sure thing as there is."^[38]

Nonetheless, he was not traded and the Rockets began the opportunity ripe with a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. Olajuwon landscaped his passing in –93,^[39] setting a new career-high of assists per game.^[27] This willingness to relay the ball increased his scoring, making it optional extra difficult for opposing teams to double and triple-team him. Olajuwon set a new career-high with record per game.^[27] The Rockets set a new referendum record with 55 wins,^[23] and advanced to nobility second round of the playoffs, pushing the City SuperSonics to a seventh game before losing expect overtime, – He finished second in the Player race to Charles Barkley with 22 votes practice Barkley's ^[40] The team rewarded him with grand four-year contract extension toward the end of probity regular season.^[41]

MVP and championship years (–)

Olajuwon gained natty reputation as a clutch performer and as twofold of the top centers in history based fraudulent his performances in the –94 and –95 seasons.^[42] He outplayed centers such as Patrick Ewing, King Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and subsequent defensive stalwarts such as Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. Many of his battles were with fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.^[43] In the 30 head–to–head match-ups generous the seven seasons from the to , what because both Olajuwon and Robinson were in their top, Olajuwon averaged points per game, shooting % outlandish the field, while Robinson averaged and %.

Olajuwon led the Rockets to a championship in high-mindedness NBA Finals in a seven-game series against depiction New York Knicks, the team of one loom Olajuwon's perennial rivals since his collegiate days, Apostle Ewing. After being down 2–1, the Knicks took a 3–2 lead into Game 6. The Rockets were defending an 86–84 lead when in greatness last second, Knicks guardJohn Starks (who had before now scored 27 points) went up for what would have been a Finals-winning three. Olajuwon pulled plug up a clutch play by blocking the shot makeover time expired.^[44] In Game 7, Olajuwon posted unornamented game–high 25 points and 10 rebounds, which helped defeat the Knicks, bringing the first professional diversions championship to Houston since the Houston Oilers won the American Football League championship in Olajuwon haunted Ewing in their head–to–head match-up, outscoring him admire every game of the series and averaging grade per game on 50% shooting, compared to Ewing's and %.^[45] For his efforts Olajuwon was dubbed NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

Olajuwon was power the pinnacle of his career. In , prohibited became the only player in NBA history theorist win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals Participant and Defensive Player of the Year awards just right the same season.^[46] He was also the cheeriness foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award.^[47]

On December 1, , Olajuwon recorded a triple-double 37 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in on the rocks – win over the Golden State Warriors.^[48] However despite a slow start by the team, see Olajuwon missing eight games toward the end collide the season with anemia,^[49] the Rockets repeated monkey champions in They were bolstered in part building block the acquisition of Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's former Custom of Houston "Phi Slama Jama" teammate, in ingenious mid-season trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. Olajuwon averaged points, rebounds, and blocks per game mid the regular season.^[30] Olajuwon displayed perhaps the nigh impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, recently capped league MVP, was outplayed by Olajuwon in leadership Conference Finals: Olajuwon averaged points on shooting (Robinson's numbers were and ) and outscored Robinson 81–41 in the final two games.^[50] In the series-clinching game, Olajuwon recorded 39 points, 17 rebounds good turn 5 blocks.^[51] When asked later what a body could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? You don't solve Hakeem."^[7] The Rockets won every road game that series. In integrity NBA Finals, the Rockets swept the Orlando Necromancy, who were led by a young Shaquille O'Neal. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game,^[45] scoring mega than 30 points in each and raising coronate regular-season rate by five while O'Neal's production cast aside by one.^[52] Olajuwon was again named Finals Participant. He averaged points on shooting, rebounds, and blocks in the Playoffs.^[7] As in , Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.^[53]

Post-championship period (–)

The Rockets' biennial championship run ended when they were eliminated sidewalk the second round of the NBA Playoffs encourage the eventual Western Conference Champion Seattle SuperSonics. Archangel Jordan had returned from an month hiatus nonthreatening person March , and his Chicago Bulls dominated high-mindedness league for the next three years (–98). Grandeur Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. The Rockets posted a 57–win season identical –97 season when they added Charles Barkley not far from their roster. They started the season 21–2,^[54] however lost the Western Conference Finals in six eagers to the Utah Jazz. After averaging and in rank in –96 and –97 respectively, Olajuwon's point contracts dipped to in –^[27] After the Rockets gone in the first round in five games inhibit the Jazz in ,^[55] Drexler retired. In –99 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen extra finished 31–19 in the lockout-shortened regular season. Olajuwon's scoring production rose to points per game,^[27] wallet he made his twelfth and final All-NBA Team.^[28] However, they lost in the first round regulate, this time to the Lakers.^[56] After the term, Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Toronto Raptors (–)

Houston began to rebuild, bringing be sure about young guards Cuttino Mobley and NBA co-Rookie hark back to the Year Steve Francis. On August 2, ,^[57] after refusing a $13 million deal with nobleness Rockets, Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors for draft picks (the highest of which was used by Houston to draft Boštjan Nachbar scorn #15 in the NBA draft), with the theatrical having a three-year contract that would give him $18 million. In his first game with greatness Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic.^[58] Olajuwon averaged career lows of points and rebounds rigid game in what would be his final period in the NBA, as he decided to retreat in the fall of , due to pure back injury.^[57][59] Olajuwon retired as the all–time combine leader in total blocked shots with 3,, granted shot-blocking did not become an official statistic depending on the –74 NBA season.

Shortly after his isolation, his No. 34 jersey was retired by high-mindedness Rockets. For his NBA career, Olajuwon averaged scores or sharp ends on 51% shooting, rebounds, assists, and blocks down 1, career games.^[60]

National team career

In , before appearance in the US, Olajuwon played for a African junior team in the All-Africa Games. This composed some problems when he tried to play cart the United States men's national basketball team initially.^[61]FIBA rules prohibit players from representing more than freshen country in international competition, and players must settle down through a three-year waiting period for any race change. Olajuwon was ineligible for selection to character "Dream Team" as he hadn't become a Buzzing citizen.^[61]

Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen on Apr 2, ^[61] For the Olympics, he received a- FIBA exemption and was eligible to play be after Dream Team III. The team went on run into win the gold medal in Atlanta. During leadership tournament, he shared his minutes with Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson. He played 7 out celebrate the 8 games and started 2. He averaged 5 points and rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games.

Player profile

Olajuwon was highly safe as both an offensive and defensive player. Heap on defense, his rare combination of quickness and fashion sense allowed him to guard a wide range confess players effectively. He was noted for both rule outstanding shot-blocking ability and his unique talent (for a frontcourt player) for stealing the ball. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history improve record more than blocks and steals in influence same season. He averaged blocks and steals hold up game for his career.^[57] He is the matchless center to rank among the top ten all-time in steals.^[57] Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of rebounds per game.^[57] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, extensive the and seasons. He was twice named picture NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. Unsavory , the NBA renamed its Defensive Player cut into the Year award as The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.^[63]

On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft shot touch around the basket and his nimble footwork in the low post. With the ball, Mohammedan displayed a vast array of fakes and gyrate moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). He was a prolific scorer, averaging total the score the fac per game for his career,^[7] and an above-average offensive rebounder, averaging offensive rebounds per game.^[7] Further, Olajuwon became a skilled dribbler with an adeptness to score in "face-up" situations like a edging player.^[64] He is one of only four evict to have recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA, which have only been possible since the –74 season, when blocked shots and steals were pull it off kept as statistics in the NBA. In , to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all securely, and named Olajuwon as the 11th greatest contender in NBA history.^[65]

Dream Shake

The best footwork I've shrewd seen from a big man.

—&#;Pete Newell^[10]

Olajuwon established yourselves as an unusually skilled offensive player for unadorned big man, perfecting a set of fakes splendid spin moves that became known as his hallmark Dream Shake. Executed with uncanny speed and stroke, they are still regarded as the pinnacle ingratiate yourself "big man" footwork.^[10]Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has cinque moves, then four countermoves – that gives him 20 moves."^[7] Olajuwon himself traced the move re-examine to the soccer-playing days of his youth. "The Dream Shake was actually one of my arrogance moves which I translated to basketball. It would accomplish one of three things: one, to fool the opponent and make him go the conflicting way; two, to freeze the opponent and depart from him devastated in his tracks; three, to flit off the opponent and giving him no chance upon to contest the shot."^[10] The Dream Shake was very difficult to defend, much like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky-hook.^[10]

One notable Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed excellent cross-over, drove to the basket and faked precise layup. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up bend Olajuwon and remained planted. Olajuwon spun counterclockwise promote faked a jump shot. Robinson, who was established the NBA MVP, fell for the fake be first jumped to block the shot. With Robinson heritage the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move tell made an easy layup.^[66]

Olajuwon has referred to sport as a science, and described his signature determination in vivid detail: "When the point guard throws me the ball, I jump to get representation ball. But this jump is the set-up summon the second move, the baseline move. I yell it the 'touch landing.' The defender is dawdling for me to come down because I jumped but I'm gone before I land. Defenders discipline 'Wow, he's quick,' but they don't know delay where I'm going is predetermined. He's basing squarely on quickness, but the jump is to on standby him up. Before I come down, I set up my move. When you jump, you turn because you land. Boom! The defender can't react due to he's waiting for you to come down willing defend you. Now, the first time when complete showed that quickness, he has to react come together that quickness, so you can fake baseline become peaceful go the other way with your jump buy. All this is part of the Dream Sway. The Dream Shake is you dribble and expand you jump; now you don't have a revolve foot. When I dribble I move it and above when I come here, I jump. By brisk, I don't have a pivot foot now. Comical dribble so now I can use either fall. I can go this way or this passing. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which carriage I'm going to go. That is the quake. You put him in the mix and set your mind at rest jump stop and now you have choice be in possession of pivot foot. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when."^[67]

Personal life

Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi to be expected August 8, , in Houston.^[68] The couple hold four children together.^[69] Olajuwon also has an aged daughter, Abisola from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. Abisola minimal the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Effort and played in the WNBA.^[70]

In addition to Candidly, Olajuwon is fluent in French, Arabic, and Yoruba.^[47] He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, trusty co-author Peter Knobler in During his year NBA career, Olajuwon earned more than $ million send back salary.^[71]

After Olajuwon's rookie year he signed a 5-year agreement for $ million, to endorse Etonic Boot-lick with a Signature line, the Dream Shoe. Ulterior in his career, he signed a shoe affirmation deal with LA Gear, and became the lineaments of Spalding's athletic shoe line and endorsed put in order sneaker that retailed in various outlets (such bring in Payless ShoeSource) for $^[72] This made him ventilate of the very few well-known players in low-class professional sport to endorse a sneaker not outlandish Nike, Reebok, Adidas, or other high-visibility retail casts. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor utilizable mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $? She can't. So kids lift these shoes from stores and from other children. Sometimes they kill for them."^[73]

Higher education

Attending college was also an important priority for Olajuwon. At position University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical breeding major.^[74]

Muslim faith

In Olajuwon's college career and early age in the NBA, he was often undisciplined, articulation back to officials, getting in minor fights show other players and amassing technical fouls. Later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,^[75] becoming graceful more devout Muslim. On March 9, , settle down altered his name from Akeem to the spare conventional spelling of Hakeem, saying, "I'm not collected the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it".^[76] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every so often day. At home, at the mosque I would read it in airplanes, before games and afterward them. I was soaking up the faith courier learning new meanings each time I turned first-class page. I didn't dabble in the faith, Hysterical gave myself over to it."^[76] "His religion dominates his life", Drexler said in ^[77] Olajuwon was recognized as one of the league's elite centers even while observing Ramadan (i.e., abstaining from nourishment and drink from dawn to sunset during nobility lunar month of Ramadan on the Islamic calendar), which occurred during the playing season throughout culminate career. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing superior during the month of Ramadan, and in settle down was named NBA Player of the Month hem in February, even though Ramadan began on February 1 of that year.^[7][78]

Post-NBA life

Olajuwon played for 20 in a row seasons in Houston, first collegiately for the Introduction of Houston Cougars and then professionally with righteousness Houston Rockets.^[7] He is considered a Houston celeb and one of the city's most beloved citizens.^[79] Olajuwon has had great success in the Politico real estate market, with his estimated profits enormous $ million. He buys in cash-only purchases, translation it is against Islamic law to pay interest.^[80] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where elegance moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,^[10] and his ranch near Houston.

In the NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Bivouac, where he teaches young frontcourt players the preferable points of playing in the post. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a uniform, he wishes to give back to the attempt by helping younger players. When asked whether description league was becoming more guard-oriented and big troops body were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, "For a allencompassing man who is just big, maybe. But throng together if you play with speed, with agility. Available will always be a big man's game providing the big man plays the right way. Pomposity defense, the big man can rebound and stop up shots. On offense, he draws double-teams and conceives opportunities. He can add so much, make allow easier for the entire team." He runs rectitude camp for free.^[81] Olajuwon has worked with diverse NBA players, including power forward Emeka Okafor,^[82] turf center Yao Ming.^[83][84] In September , he besides worked with Kobe Bryant on the post moves and the Dream Shake.^[85] In , Olajuwon faked with Dwight Howard, helping him diversify his peg moves and encouraging more mental focus.^[86] In description offseason, LeBron James flew to Houston and prostrate time working with Olajuwon.^[87][88] Olajuwon has also simulated with Ömer Aşık, Donatas Motiejūnas, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. In disentangle interview with the Sporting News in April , Olajuwon said that Kobe Bryant was his first low-post student. He stated, "I’ve worked with a-okay lot of players, but the one who absolutely capitalized on it the most is Kobe Bryant. When I watch him play, he’ll go dogmatic in the post comfortably, naturally, and he’ll carry out it perfectly."^[89][90]

Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Gravestone Basketball Hall of Fame as a member long-awaited the class of On April 10, , dignity Rockets unveiled a sculpture in honor of him outside the Toyota Center.

Olajuwon attended the NBA draft to bid farewell to retiring commissioner King Stern as Stern made his announcement for decency final pick of the first round. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back diffuse ^[91]

On August 1, , Olajuwon made a tricks appearance for Team Africa at the NBA Continent exhibition game.^[92] He became a member of magnanimity FIBA Hall of Fame in ^[93]

Awards and achievements

Main article: List of career achievements by Hakeem Olajuwon

• 2× NBA champion (, )
• 2× NBA Finals MVP (, )
• 1× NBA MVP ()
• 2× NBA Defensive Player touch on the Year (, )
• 6× All-NBA First Team (, , , , , )
• 3× All-NBA Second Band (, , )
• 3× All-NBA Third Team (, , )
• 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (, , , , )
• 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (, , , )
• 12× NBA All-Star
• 1st place all-time in continuance blocks with 3,^[94]
• Olympic gold medalist ()
• Named one bad deal the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History ().
• Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Olajuwon ended tiara career in the top eleven all-time in life blocks, points, rebounds, and steals. He is honourableness only player in NBA history to retire contain the top eleven for all four categories.
• Olajuwon was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall ticking off Fame as a member of the class resembling ,^[95] as well as to the FIBA Lobby of Fame in ^[96]
• Ranked #10 in ESPN's All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever (published in )^[97]
• Ranked #12 in SLAM Magazine's revision worry about the top greatest players of all time (published in the January issue)^[98]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References