Hakeem Olajuwon
by Devin Gray
“The Dream”
“Dream Shake”
“The Tower of Power”
Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors – 18 Years, 1238 games
7’0” – 255 lb – 21.8 pts – 11.1 reb – 2.5 ast – 1.75 stl – 3.09 blk – .512 fg%
SLAM #130 “The New Top 50” June 2009 Ranking: 13
“Book of Basketball”- Bill Simmons’ Ranking: 10
Hakeem Olajuwon was the perfect post player. His greatness is affirmed because he won championships. When questioning a player’s legacy and worth, historians look at a number of factors and championships are just one of these. Many of the greatest NBA players have never won an NBA title, but greatness nonetheless is judged based on ultimate, objective results.
In winning, Olajuwon beat many hall of fame big men who never got their chance to secure an NBA title during the MJ era. Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson were among those unable to win a championship in the mid-nineties. Only Robinson eventually won a title (with the help of a young Tim Duncan) in 1999, after Jordan retired (again) and Olajuwon was winding down his career. Watch him dominate David Robinson; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW4uXlRGAF0&feature=related
Although Olajuwon averaged a playoff career 25.9 points per game (9th best all-time), he may have never won an NBA championship if Jordan hadn’t decided to retire following his first three-peat. During Jordan’s “baseball sabbatical,” Olajuwon found a way break through in the void of an NBA struggling to replace its most magnificent star. So while MJ claimed chips in ’91, ’92, and ’93 and doubled up his dynasty from ’96, ’97, and ’98, Hakeem’s Rockets “mini-dynasty” was sandwiched in the middle, winning back-to-back championships in ’94 and ’95.
Both drafted in the 1984 draft, Olajuwon was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets out of the University of Houston. Jordan was taken third overall by the Chicago Bulls. The two never met in the NBA finals, but were widely considered the benchmark for both ends of the talent spectrum, and the gauge by which all guards and big-men were compared to in their era. Watch his top-10 plays; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GCyU0sKxqI&feature=related
A quick and relentless seven-footer with talented guard skills, Hakeem developed post footwork as a young soccer player, which he combined with uncanny balance, finesse and offensive ingenuity, making him into an unstoppable force close to the basket. Olajuwon’s defensive awareness and quick hands balanced his all-around skill-set on both ends of the floor.
In 1993/94, Olajuwon became the only player to ever be named NBA defensive player of the year, regular season MVP, and playoff MVP, a record that stands today. Hakeem was devotedly competitive; he measured his success by the level of his peers, and took pride in besting them in the field of athletic competition. His offensive jukes, headfakes and patented “Dream Shake” got opposing big men off balance and out of position for easy drives to the basket. Watch him explain the "Dream Shake;" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29WpgU0pqN8&feature=related
He had long, strong arms that disrupted opposing teams’ offense and racked up steals and an NBA record 3830 blocks (550 more than #2 Mutombo). He actually recorded a combined 5992 steals and blocks, no other player even reaches 4500. Hakeem was more than solid on the defensive end, he was sensational, winning defensive player of the year honours in ’93 and ’94.
Hakeem averaged 20.6 and 11.9 as a rookie in 1984/85 and never dipped below 21 and 10.8 for the next twelve years, and in 1999 he averaged 19-10; fifteen years into his NBA career. He made the playoffs every year but once in his first fifteen, often carrying Rockets teams surrounded by lackluster talent. Hakeem was a truly consistent force on offense and defense for much of the eighties and nineties. He made All-NBA teams 12 times, All-Defensive teams 9 times, and All-Star teams 12 times. Watch his clutch block to preserve the '94 championship; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUv5_YFhPI
Hakeem took on the “H” at the start of his name following the 1991 season when he embraced the Muslim faith, began to pray and speak in proverbs. In a way this added to his character as a moral and spiritual authority for the Rockets during their championship days, and he serves as a Houston icon to this day. He also donated 2.5% of his salary to the poor each season beginning in 1991 and has always been conscious that basketball can provide opportunities outside of the game and players can contribute to both their team and society through their actions.
Olajuwon now runs a kids camp started in 2006 called Big Man Camp where he teaches post players not to rely on their size and to develop their skills. He says the modern NBA style of play may be more suited for guards than "for a big man who is just big, maybe. But not if you play with speed, with agility. It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team." He has also tutored NBA players Emeka Okafor, Yao Ming, Kobe Bryant (who recently passed Hakeem for 8th place all-time scoring) and Dwight Howard, as he passes the wisdom of the big man craft down to the next generation, as it was passed to him by Moses Malone. Watch him tutor Dwight Howard; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mArHU1ewSog
Olajuwon's Career Stats: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/
All-Time NBA Blocks: http://www.nba.com/statistics/default_all_time_leaders/AllTimeLeadersBLKQuery.html?topic=4&stat=15
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