Athletes - Hakeem Olajuwon

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	Athletes - Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born Akeem Abdul Olajuwon on January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a former professional basketball player whose glory days were with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

Listed at 2.13 m (7 ft) but appearing closer to 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in), Olajuwon was arguably one of the best centers to ever play, along with George Mikan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. He was affectionately called "Hakeem the Dream" for his grace on and off the court.

Basketball career

University of Houston and "Phi Slamma Jamma"

Of Yoruba descent, Olajuwon came from Nigeria, and played at the University of Houston, teaming with Clyde Drexler to form Phi Slamma Jamma. He played with the name "Akeem" on the back of his jersey, later changed to "Hakeem".

Olajuwon helped the Cougars advanced to consecutive NCAA championship games, where they fell to North Carolina State in 1983 and Georgetown in 1984. Drexler was drafted in 1983, leaving Olajuwon alone on the team.

He 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 Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft. In the days before the NBA Draft Lottery, first pick was awarded by coin flip, and a lucky toss placed Houston ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Houston Rockets

Twin Towers

The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season as he teamed with the 1984 Rookie of the Year Ralph Sampson to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. They took Houston to the Finals in 1986 where they succumbed to the Boston Celtics.

Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks in his rookie season. He finished as runner-up to Michael Jordan in the 1985 Rookie of the Year voting, and was the only other rookie to receive any votes.

Transition

After losing Sampson to injury and then to trade, the Rockets struggled, though Olajuwon himself thrived. He established himself as a perennial lock for the All-NBA First team and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1993.

Olajuwon established himself as great finesse player, perfecting a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark Dream Shake. Adding to dazzling footwork was a soft touch around the basket. He developed intense rivalries with some of the other great centers of that era, especially Patrick Ewing and David Robinson, as well as his openly hated rival Karl Malone.

Championship years

Olajuwon's Rockets finally won the NBA championship in 1994 and again in 1995, bringing the first pro sports championships to Houston since the Houston Oilers won the AFL championship in 1961.

Olajuwon gained a reputation of being a great clutch performer and along with David Robinson was given general acclaim as the greatest centers of their generation. He often outplayed centers such as, Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and O'Neal, and other defensive stalwarts like Dennis Rodman or Malone. His most difficult battles were with his I-10 rival David Robinson where Robinson would normally outplay Olajuwon in the stat sheets .

Most notoriously, in 1995, MVP-to-be Robinson was outscored by Olajuwon, 35-24. Even his trusty lieutenant Rodman, perhaps the best defender of his generation, could not help him. This was in large part due to Rodman refusing to help defend Olajuwon, leaving Robinson to guard him 1 on 1. Robinson told Life Magazine: "Hakeem? You don't solve Hakeem." .

Hakeem was at the pinnacle of his career. In 1994, he played perhaps his finest season, becoming the only player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. He finished second in scoring in both 1995 and 1996.

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