Happy Birthday Hakeem Olajuwon!
by ak2themax on Jan 21, 2011 6:17 PM CST
in Discussions about Badasses
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PrintEvery once in a while there comes along a player that transcends all odds and overcomes incredible adversity.
And every once in a while someone throws out a really stupid cliche like the one above. The difference is that when it comes to Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, the cliche doesn't begin to describe how transcendent and resilient the man was.
Take, for instance, how he started. The stories about basketball players starting their careers late have become more ubiquitous in recent years (Tim Duncan comes to mind), Hakeem started on a different continent, playing a completely different sport, in a country that couldn't have cared less about basketball. Granted, it was the Dream's history of playing goalie in Nigeria that helped him develop his trademark footwork and shot-blocking prowess.
And the adversity was certainly there from day one. Learning English, honing his basketball skills, and comprehending American culture were just some of the hurdles Hakeem faced. Life in the NBA wasn't a cakewalk either. Though his teams always had talent, injuries to Hakeem and Ralph Sampson kept the Rockets from achieving meaningful success. Nevertheless, Hakeem continued through a contract dispute, allegations of a lack of caring from the franchise, and a sudden lack of a supporting cast in the early 90s to become one of the greatest centers of all-time.
We can talk all we want about the accolades: only player in NBA history to be named MVP, Defensive MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season, two NBA titles, Olympic Gold Medalist, multiple All-Star and All-NBA seasons (regular and defensive), most blocked shots ever, and so many others.
I could talk about all the signature moments that Olajuwon gave the city of Houston. He blocked John Starks in Game 6 of the 1994 NBA Finals when everyone and their mothers knew Starks wasn't going to miss. He "bamboozled" David Robinson in a series that even Spurs fans talk about in hushed tones. He tipped in the game winner in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals.
Or we could look at his off-the-court demeanor. He was a devout Muslim whose character was hardly ever questioned. He endorsed Spalding shoes because they were cheaper than Nike and Reebok alternatives. His charity work has also been well-documented.
But when I think back on Hakeem Olajuwon, I think of that 17-year-old kid playing soccer who had no clue that he would affect so many lives in another country entirely, through a sport he had never played. The Dream is the reason I watch basketball today, and for that I am eternally grateful. It is a gift I cannot return, but I can give thanks and wish him a very happy birthday to the 48-years-young man who showed a five-year-old boy in Houston about the wonderful game of basketball.
What do you remember about Hakeem? What did he mean to you? Sound off in the comments.
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I come from a Muslim background
And the fact that Hakeem used to play during Ramadan (our holy month where you fast for those that don’t know), and he would fast while playing. No water, no gatorade, no meal before the game. And he would still wreck shop. Fucking crazy man.
by basketball is cool on Jan 21, 2011 6:40 PM CST reply actions
Example
He was named 1995 Player of the Month for February, and Ramadan began on February 1st. Insane!
by basketball is cool on Jan 21, 2011 6:41 PM CST up reply actions
Absolutely
that is seemingly one of the lasting images of Hakeem: his Muslim faith. There is such a dearth of Muslims in the NBA now, but to think that a player had better stats during a month where he couldn’t eat or drink while the sun was up is incredible.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Patrickharrel on Brian Cook: Deadly shooter, lock-down defender, best passer on the team, and flashed Point Center skills reminiscent of Brad Miller, only he’s as athletic as Anthony Randolph.
There are some, but none on Hakeem's level
Nazr Mohammed, Rasheed (retired now), Okur, and Turkoglu are the only one’s I can think of.
by Patrick Harrel on Jan 21, 2011 7:04 PM CST up reply actions
Incredible
I too remember him fasting during the Playoffs and sucking down oxygen going “Oh my God, he’s insane.” I was about 12 or 13 at that time, raised Catholic, and knew that he was a good man and a man of Faith.
The man was simply the best Center the NBA has ever seen, without question.
To be honest, it’s been so long and I was a young boy it really seems like a “Dream,” that we had him and a great supporting cast to boot. It’s difficult to qualify what I’m about to state, but I think that era of basketball was the best all-around with MJ, Magic, Bird, Hakeem, the Paxton/Malone duo, Shaq (back when he drank Pepsi).
A ClassAct
you would never hear any negative press about this man. He only plays the game and doesnt complain. He means business. doesnt talk trash.
The best of the best. and no one will ever replace THE DREAM!!!
Legendary
Well, I remember watching a center named Wilt Chamberlin dominate the hardwood. I thought that he was the epitome of the position. Then I saw this kid named Lew Alcinder (who by the way was schooled by Chamberlin when he was young) and I said wow what a talent. You have to remember I was watching the Lakers play in a championship with Wilt, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, you get my meaning? I watched the Walt Fraziers, Dave Debucher (sorry for spelling your name wrong Dave, and the Earl Monroes. I watched every time the Doctor made a house call. I facinated over Bird and Magic. In Texas I’ve seen Earl Campbel live!!! But back in the day when I first got a whiff of Hakeem he was on a team call Phi Slama Jama and you was never able to get tickets to see them play at UH because they always sold out. When Houston drafted him first round my hopes of one day seeing a professional championship realized in Houston was at our reach. (no disrespect to Gordie Howe and the boys for winning thoes championships for the Aroes(spelled that wrong to). Finally, I remember that first championship and how sweet it was to the senses. Then I remember being on Richmond ave with my wife when we swept Orlando and I have never been the same again.
i was only 7 and then 8
When we won our rings but I will never forget how this whole city was elated to the point of euphoria, its one of the biggest regrets of my life that I wasn’t conceived a few yrs earlier and I have never forgiven my parent for the innoportune timing.
I remember I had floor seats to the playoff series against the jazz the last yr that the yao/mcgrady combo suited up in the postseason and was sitting right next to les, hakeem with marv albert on the other side. Needless to say we were loosing that game and I turned to him and called ‘mr. Olajuwon, please suit up for us!’ He just turned and beamed a huge smile my way, albert made some comment like ‘thats right, it mr.olajuwon to you’ and even though we lost the game and then the series it was still a wonderfull moment.
by ShookednShanghaied11 on Jan 22, 2011 8:30 AM CST via mobile reply actions
I think if he came back and played now
He would still be a top 5 center, if not the best (FUCK DWIGHT HOWARD!).
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
I remember
all the kickouts to wide open players like S.Cassell, R.Horry, K.Smith, V.Maxwell, etc. all because teams had to double-team him or face the consequences.
The 93-94 team stole my heart, and the 94-95 team gave me a “swagger” whenever I said I was a Rockets fans. And at the mere age of 13, I bet my paper route money on them against the Magic. Needless to say, I double-up; I even came to school with a broom.
He was the best
I got to watch most of his games at Phi Slamma Jamma because I had gotten a friend at U of H to get me in on the tickets when Clyde went there the year before.
Then, holding my breath, dreaming, wishing, hoping against hope that he would stay in Houston and having the hope actually materialize.
Hakeem and Ralph were going to make it all happen. Then Ralph’s knees betrayed him and that all went south.
Then it was reborn in the championship years. I had season tickets from the year Hakeem was drafted until 3 years after the second championship. It was such a treat to see him play for so long. That series with David Robinson is still the best basketball montage ever to me.
This picture is still one of my favorites.
Reason I'm a Rockets fan
I remember my watching my first Rockets game on TV as a kid in California. It was the 1994 NBA Finals vs the Knicks. Maybe because the Knicks looked like bad guys or the way Hakeem lit it up, I can’t remember the specifics, but I have been a fan since then. My mom and I watched that Finals series, and together became Rockets fans (again unusual in california). We shared a lot of times together rooting through games that were televised and of course seeing every single game through the Hakeem years.
Nobody played the game with such beauty and skill, while keeping the most modest and down-to-earth style. Didn’t cheat on his wife like Kobe or Jordan, didn’t talk trash, just laughed and had fun.
The fact that Kobe and Dwight Howard took private game lessons from Hakeem is just another testament to his natural God-given talent.
Fall-out-of-your-seat greatness
Dr. J had it. Magic and Bird had it. Jordan had it. And Hakeem had it. That simple. Those are the five guys in my lifetime that were worth the price of admission, every time.
Happy birthday, Dream.
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