Hakeem Olajuwon
Inducted:
2008
Player Stats
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
Born
January 21, 1963
Lagos, Nigeria
Position:
Center
College:
Houston (1981–1984)
Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is arguably the most skilled center to ever play the game. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon didn't pick up a basketball until age 15, bringing the elite footwork of a soccer goalkeeper to the court. After a legendary college career at the University of Houston with the "Phi Slama Jama" dunking fraternity, he was the #1 overall pick in the iconic 1984 NBA Draft—selected ahead of Michael Jordan.
Olajuwon was a two-way masterpiece. He is the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season (1993-94). Known for his "Dream Shake" post moves, he led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, famously dismantling fellow Hall of Fame centers Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaquille O'Neal along the way. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Olajuwon's Awards and Records
- Olympic Gold Medalist (1996)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team member
- Only player with MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in one season
- Considered the most technically skilled center in NBA history
NBA Records
- 2x NBA Champion (1994, 1995)
- NBA MVP (1994)
- 2x NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
- 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994)
- 12x NBA All-Star
- 6x All-NBA First Team
- 5x All-Defensive First Team
NBA Team
Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)
NBA Draft
1984: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Houston Rockets
Number Worn
34
NBA Stats
Seasons:
18 (1984–2002)
Game Played:
1,238
Game Started:
1,186
Points:
26,946 (21.8 ppg)
Rebounds:
13,747 (11.1 rpg)
Blocks:
3,830 (3.1 bpg)
Steals (STL):
2,162 (1.7 spg)
Points per game:
21.8
Field Goal %:
51.2%
FT%
71.2