Hakeem Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. He is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history, having won two championships and two Finals MVP awards.
Hakeem Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in Lagos, Nigeria on January 21, 1963 and moved to the United States in 1980 to attend the University of Houston.
Olajuwon was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1985. He was named to the All-Star team in each of his first 12 seasons and was selected to the All-NBA First Team six times. He was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice and was a member of the All-Defensive First Team five times.
In 1994, Olajuwon led the Rockets to their first NBA championship, defeating the New York Knicks in seven games. He was named the NBA Finals MVP for his performance in the series. The following season, he led the Rockets to a second consecutive championship, this time defeating the Orlando Magic in four games. Olajuwon was again named the NBA Finals MVP.
Olajuwon retired from the NBA in 2002 after 18 seasons. He finished his career with averages of 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Olajuwon is widely considered one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He was known for his exceptional footwork, which earned him the nickname “The Dream.” He was also an excellent shot blocker and rebounder, and was one of the few players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. He is the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season.