He became highly famous for his signature move, known as the “Dream Shake,” in which he would fake moves and spin in an unusual way. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, and after the series Lakers coach Pat Riley remarked "We tried everything. Hakeem said: "Every time I'd leave them with a basketball, I'd come back in, and it would turn into a soccer ball. [23] The Rockets set a new franchise record with 55 wins,[19] and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, pushing the Seattle SuperSonics to a seventh game before losing in overtime, 103–100. In his rookie ‘NBA’ season, Hakeem averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.68 blocks per game. Boom! With Abdullah slowly approaching the common recruitment age and college, his talent has begun to create quite a buzz. He is one of the fifty great players in the NBA history. We helped from different angles. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. However, despite a low time at the end of his career, Hakeem had enough achievements to his name, which led him to become an inductee in the ‘Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’ in 2008. "[8], 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. Olajuwon was considered the top amateur prospect in the summer of 1984 over fellow collegians and future NBA stars Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, and was selected first overall by the Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft. He led his team to the NCAA Championship finals in his Sophomore and Junior years. In the 1984 NBA Draft, Hakim Olajuwon was 1st in the first round. Karen Fairchild Married Her Bandmate Jimi Westbrook — inside the Little Big Town Family. Let us have a sneak peek to the life of this Muslim Afro American basketball player. In his autobiography, Living the Dream, Olajuwon mentions an intriguing draft trade offered to the Rockets that would have sent Clyde Drexler and the number two pick in the 1984 NBA draft from Portland in exchange for Ralph Sampson. [74] Olajuwon splits his time between Jordan, where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,[9] and his ranch near Houston.

But this jump is the set-up for the second move, the baseline move. His career as a professional basketball player started in 1987, and he took retirement in the year 2002. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of "big man" footwork. Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to the United States of America. Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian–American former professional basketball player who played in the ‘National Basketball Association’ (NBA). California and 2 other states had the highest population of Hakeem families in 1920. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is part of the Baby boomers generation. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. Jack Depp Is 18 and Dating a Beautiful Model — Who Is Johnny Depp's Only Son? Like many famous people and celebrities, Hakeem Olajuwon keeps his personal life private. [46] When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? [42], On December 1, 1994, Olajuwon recorded a triple-double 37 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a 113–109 win over the Golden State Warriors. Mena Suvari Is Expecting First Baby at 41 with Her 3rd Husband — inside Her Marriages. He had a successful college basketball career. Both he and his team performed brilliantly during the 1993–1994 season and in the following ‘NBA’ season. He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best."[8]. Despite the fasting during the Ramadan period, Hakeem still produced some of his best performances during those periods.

Dalia and Hakeem have been happily married couple for the past about 23 years. [62][63] Olajuwon also has an older daughter, Abisola from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. The young boys had, surprisingly, no interest in the sport. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. At that time (before the NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985), the first pick was awarded by coin flip. – Who’s the richest Basketball Player in the world? During those 18 years, Olajuwon established himself as one of the top basketball players not just of his time, but to have ever played in the NBA. His parents were still supportive of his career goals. [45] In the series-clinching game, Olajuwon recorded 39 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120?

Olajuwon got married to Dalia Asafi in August 1996. It was the most popular sport in Nigeria at that time. During the 1987–88 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden State Warriors. They are associated with a rejection of traditional values. [64], In addition to English, Olajuwon is fluent in French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. In the year 1994 and 1995, he led the Houston Rockets team to the NBA championship. We put four bodies on him. [9] Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves – that gives him 20 moves. Though many think his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, was backward, Olajuwon counters such claims, claiming his childhood in Lagos was never backward as he met and interacted with various individuals from different ethnic groups. Bob Whitfield Net Worth, Cars, House, Salary, Source of Income. The Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. Yes, we are talking about the great NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon. That immediately I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is the life for me. He played at the center position with Ralph Sampson who was 7ft 4in tall. He got his official American citizenship in 1993. The most Hakeem families were found in the USA in 1920. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing better during the month of Ramadan, and in 1995 he was named NBA Player of the Month in February, even though Ramadan began on February 1 of that year.[6][72]. When Hakeem saw the raw talent and passion that Abdullah and Abdul showed, he knew it was time to move to America to explore the viability of their sports professionally. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that such a trade "would have changed league history and maybe the entire Michael Jordan legend". Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. Later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,[69] becoming a more devout Muslim. By the 1987–1988 season, Hakeem had become the undisputed favorite on the team, as Sampson had left the team by then due to a knee injury. Consequently, Olajuwon emerged as the Rockets franchise player.

Olajuwon prides his parents as devoted people who made sure they instilled core values such as respect, hard work and honesty in their children. Olajuwon was instructed to follow the coach’s explanation and dunk but he stood on the chair. [77][78] In September 2009, he also worked with Kobe Bryant on the post moves and the Dream Shake. Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during the regular season. 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. However, the transition to basketball from football was not difficult, as both sports required skilled footwork and hand–eye coordination.

His Rockets won back-to-back championships against the New York Knicks (avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing), and Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic. [17] From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998.[18].

Olajuwon was ineligible for selection to the "Dream Team" as he hadn't become a US citizen.[56]. That is the shake.

If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us. People born under this sign are popular because they're sincere and avoid conflict. His was an upper middle-class family that owned a cement business. He also had a girlfriend in college named Lita Spencer, with whom he had a daughter named Abisola Olajuwon. pic.twitter.com/sit950CCpz. CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (, Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, United States men's national basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 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", Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever, http://www.nba.com/rockets/hakeem_tribute/hakeem_encyclopediaCD.html, Hakeem: For the record/"Kunta Kinte' image was way off. [39] In Game 7, Olajuwon posted a game–high 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. [51] After the season, Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. They had a solid core of young players and veterans, with a leader in Olajuwon who was entering his prime. [6] He is considered a Houston icon and one of city's most beloved citizens. Thus, Hakeem moved to Houston, US, to study at the ‘Houston University.’ There, he immediately joined the college basketball team. [52] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons.


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