Hakeem Olajuwon

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Lore & Background

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. He combined with Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers". The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. After Sampson was traded in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). He became the first non-American to win the NBA MVP, the first non-American to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and in the 1993–94 season, he became and remains the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. His Rockets won back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning United States national basketball team, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. In October 2021, Olajuwon was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He ended his career as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830), is one of four NBA players to record a quadruple-double, and is the all-time leader in 5x5 games with six.

In Their Own Story

Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 1992–93 season, Olajuwon remained in Houston. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. The Rockets' 1994 championship against the New York Knicks was the first in franchise history, with Olajuwon avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing. The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games in the NBA Finals. Olajuwon was a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning United States national basketball team, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. In October 2021, Olajuwon was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Reader's Guide

Olajuwon was a soccer goalkeeper in his youth, which helped his footwork and shot-blocking. He did not play basketball until age 15. He emigrated from Nigeria to play at the University of Houston. After redshirting his freshman year, he came off the bench as a redshirt freshman. He worked out with Moses Malone to improve his game. He was nicknamed "the Dream" after his college coach said his dunks "looked like a dream." He and teammates including Clyde Drexler formed "Phi Slama Jama." He helped the Cougars to consecutive NCAA championship games in 1983 and 1984. He was voted the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1983 and named a consensus first-team All-American in 1984. He was selected first overall by the Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft. In his rookie season, he averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks, finishing runner-up to Michael Jordan in Rookie of the Year voting.

Did You Know?

• Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to win NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season (1993–94).
• He is the all-time NBA leader in blocks with 3,830.
• He is the all-time leader in 5x5 games with six.
• He was a soccer goalkeeper before playing basketball.