Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon and his Incredible Rocket Ride

”The Dream” brought a grace to his position that was unseen before him

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, a Naismith Memorial Hall-of-Fame inductee, played for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 1995. He is often considered one of the greatest to play at the center position due to the poise and grace of his movements. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Hakeem didn’t learn basketball until he was in high school. Travelling to the U.S to play for the University of Houston, Hakeem brought his team to three final four appearances.

• The Rockets were able to win back to back championships in 1993 and 1994
• Hakeem is one of only four people to get a quadruple-double
• He won in the same year the MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year

As a number one draft pick in 1984 over Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, Hakeem was drafted to the Houston Rockets. Hakeem made U.S gambling news when he led Houston to the 1985 NBA Finals. During Michael Jordan’s retirement, the Rockets were able to win back to back championships in 1993 and 1994. He was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and holds the all time record in blocked shots at 3,830.

Where the Dream was born and its journey to Houston

Hakeem grew up on the city of Lagos, Nigeria where he had a sound upbringing with two parents that taught him a good work ethic and mutual respect for himself and others. Hakeem played a goalkeeper in football as a child which contributed to his athletic movement, balance and shot blocking ability on the basketball court. Incredibly enough, Hakeem didn’t play basketball until he was 15 years of age.

Although he struggled to get the hang of basketball, Hakeem said “Basketball is something so unique. That immediately I pick up the game, and you know, realize that this is the sport for me. All the other sports just became secondary.” Olajuwon originally was invited to Houston, Texas to work out for the coaching staff. Upon entering the University, he was redshirted for his first year meaning that he was on stand-by.

Fortunately Hakeem had the opportunity to work with NBA MVP Moses Malone who was a center for the Rockets at that time. After one summer, Hakeem returned to Houston with a vengeance where he and future Hall-of-Famer Clyde Drexler led the team to consecutive NCAA championship games. In 1984 he became the only recipient of the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year Award while playing for a non-winning team.

A year early, Hakeem took a serious gamble, outside of U.S gambling laws, and decided to enter the NBA draft. The gamble paid off and Hakeem became a number one pick and was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1984. Hakeem instantly improved the Houston team making second in Rookie of the Year behind Michael Jordan. In his second year, Hakeem averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks leading Houston all the way to NBA Finals series with the Boston Celtics in 1986.

Hakeem’s second season proves positive and leads him to finals and beyond

An injury battered Ralph Sampson went to Golden State and left Hakeem in charge of the Rockets. Along with a new coach, Hakeem was able to make it to the postseason and put up a record of 37.5 points per game and 16.7 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round and the next season proved worse with a mediocre record of 41-41. Hakeem still proved productive by winning the rebounding title again at 14 rebounds a game and led the league in blocks averaging 4.6 per game.

The 1990-1991 season proved unsuccessful as a eye socket injury limited his playing time. Under new coach Rudy Tomjanovich, Hakeem improved his game by increasing his passing which made him more difficult to defend. Once again, the Rockets made it to the playoffs to lose to the Seattle Supersonics. The season of 1993-1994 was a magical one for Hakeem as he outplayed Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal. Anyone online betting would have been one happy camper gambling on these playoffs.

The Rockets went all the way through the playoffs to seal the Championship and give Houston their first victory since 1961. Hakeem became the only player in NBA history to win the MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in one season. The next year, with a newly acquired Drexler from Portland, the Rockets won another championship. A postseason performance of 33 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.81 blocks, Hakeem was named Finals MVP.

The next year proved less successful as Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after a 21-month absence after his father died. Jordan resumed the role he had and dominated the sport for another three years. The Rockets weren’t able to get back to the Finals even with the accusation of Charles Barkley. Has Houston rebuilt in the next year, Hakeem was traded to the Toronto Raptors for drafts picks. Hakeem put up the lowest numbers of his career and had a back injury that forced him to retire in 2002.