Hakeem Olajuwon facts for kids

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Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon in 2015

Personal information

Born

January 21, 1963 (age 62)
Lagos, Nigeria

Nationality

Nigerian / American

High school

Muslim Teachers College
(Lagos, Nigeria)

Listed height

7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)

Listed weight

255 lb (116 kg)

Career information

College

Houston (1981–1984)

NBA Draft

1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall

Selected by the Houston Rockets

Pro career

1984–2002

Career history

1984–2001

Houston Rockets

2001–2002

Toronto Raptors

Career highlights and awards

2× NBA champion (1994, 1995)
2× NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1994)
12× NBA All-Star (1985–1990, 1992–1997)
6× All-NBA First Team (1987–1989, 1993, 1994, 1997)
3× All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1990, 1996)
3× All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1995, 1999)
2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994)
5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994)
4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1985, 1991, 1996, 1997)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
2× NBA rebounding leader (1989, 1990)
3× NBA blocks leader (1990, 1991, 1993)
No. 34 retired by Houston Rockets
NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1983)
Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1983)
Consensus first-team All-American (1984)
NCAA rebounding leader (1984)
SWC Player of the Year (1984)
First-team All-SWC (1984)
Second-team All-SWC (1983)
No. 34 retired by Houston Cougars

Career NBA statistics

Points

26,946 (21.8 ppg)

Rebounds

13,747 (11.1 rpg)

Blocks

3,830 (3.1 bpg)

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team competition

Hakeem Olajuwon (born January 21, 1963), also known as "the Dream", is a famous Nigerian and American former professional NBA player. He played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1984 to 2002. He spent most of his career with the Houston Rockets and played his last season with the Toronto Raptors.

Hakeem led the Rockets to win two NBA championships in a row in 1994 and 1995. He was recognized as one of the greatest players and centers of all time. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Hakeem moved to the United States to play for the University of Houston. He helped his college team, the Cougars, reach the Final Four three times. In the 1984 NBA draft, Hakeem was the very first player chosen by the Houston Rockets. That draft was special because it also included future stars like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.

Hakeem and his tall teammate Ralph Sampson were called the "Twin Towers." They led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. After Sampson left the team, Hakeem became the Rockets' main star. He led the league in rebounds twice and blocks three times.

In the 1993–94 season, Hakeem made history. He became the first player in the NBA to win the league's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards all in the same season. His Rockets then won back-to-back championships. In 1996, Hakeem also won an Olympic gold medal with the United States national basketball team. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In 2021, he was honored again as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Hakeem finished his career as the NBA's all-time leader in blocks. He is also one of only four NBA players to ever record a quadruple-double.

Early Life and First Steps in Basketball

Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria. His parents, Salim and Abike Olajuwon, owned a cement business. They taught him and his seven siblings the importance of hard work and discipline. Hakeem remembers his parents teaching them "to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves." He grew up in a diverse city with many different people.

When he was younger, Hakeem played soccer as a goalkeeper. This helped him develop quick footwork and agility, which later became very useful in basketball. It also helped him become great at blocking shots. Hakeem did not start playing basketball until he was 15 years old. He first played in a local tournament while attending the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos.

Even though he struggled at first, Hakeem quickly fell in love with basketball. He said, "Basketball is something that is so unique. That immediately I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is the life for me."

College Basketball Journey

Hakeem moved from Nigeria to play basketball at the University of Houston. He was not a well-known player when he arrived. He was only invited to visit the university to try out for the coaches.

One of only five numbers retired by the University of Houston men's basketball team, Olajuwon's No. 34 hangs in Fertitta Center.

Hakeem did not play in his first year (1980–81) because he needed special permission from the NCAA. In his second year (1981–82), he mostly came off the bench. He averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. His team reached the Final Four but lost to North Carolina.

To get better, Hakeem asked his coaches for advice. They told him to train with Moses Malone, an NBA star who played for the Houston Rockets at the time. Hakeem joined Malone's off-season games and played against him. Hakeem said this experience helped him improve his game very quickly. He said, "He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best."

After that summer, Hakeem was a changed player. His college coach nicknamed him "the Dream" because he dunked so easily. Hakeem and his teammates, including Clyde Drexler, were known as "Phi Slama Jama" because of their amazing dunks. In his second and third years, he helped the Cougars reach the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship games twice. They lost to North Carolina State in 1983 and to a team led by Patrick Ewing in 1984. Hakeem was named the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1983.

After the 1983–84 season, Hakeem decided to leave college early for the NBA draft. He felt that the Houston Rockets would get the first pick, and he wanted to play in Houston. His feeling was right, and the Rockets chose him as the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Houston Rockets (1984–2001)

Starting Years and the "Twin Towers" (1984–1987)

The Rockets quickly became a much better team when Hakeem joined. Their record improved from 29 wins to 48 wins in his first season (1984–85). Hakeem teamed up with Ralph Sampson, who was 7 feet 4 inches tall. They were called the "Twin Towers" because they were both so tall and dominant. Hakeem averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.68 blocks in his first year. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Michael Jordan.

In his second season (1985–86), Hakeem averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. The Rockets reached the Western Conference Finals and surprisingly beat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. They then went to the 1986 NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics.

On March 10, 1987, Hakeem had an amazing game against the Golden State Warriors. He scored 38 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, blocked 12 shots, made 7 steals, and had 6 assists. This was one of the most complete performances ever by a player. He came very close to achieving a "quintuple-double" (double digits in five different stats), which is incredibly rare.

Becoming a Leader and Defensive Star (1987–1993)

In the 1987–88 NBA season, Ralph Sampson was traded. Hakeem became the Rockets' clear leader. He led the league in rebounds twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). In the 1989–90 NBA season, he averaged 14.0 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game, showing how dominant he was on defense. He also recorded a quadruple-double that season, becoming only the third player in NBA history to do so.

Before the 1992–93 NBA season, there were talks about Hakeem being traded because of a contract disagreement. But he stayed with the Rockets, and Rudy Tomjanovich became the new coach. Hakeem improved his passing and scoring, making it harder for other teams to guard him. He averaged a career-high 26.1 points per game. The Rockets won a franchise record 55 games and reached the second round of the playoffs.

MVP and Championship Glory (1993–1995)

Hakeem became known as a "clutch" player, meaning he performed best in important moments. He was considered one of the best centers in history during the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons. He often outplayed other great centers like Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaquille O'Neal.

Hakeem led the Rockets to their first championship in the 1994 NBA Finals. They played against the New York Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing. In Game 6, with the Rockets barely ahead, Knicks guard John Starks tried to shoot a game-winning three-pointer. But Hakeem made a fantastic block as time ran out, saving the game. In Game 7, Hakeem scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, helping the Rockets win. He was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

In 1994, Hakeem made history by becoming the only player ever to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. He was also the first player born outside the U.S. to win the league's MVP award.

The Rockets won their second championship in a row in 1995. They added Clyde Drexler, Hakeem's former college teammate, during the season. In the playoffs, Hakeem was incredible. He outplayed David Robinson, who had just won the league MVP award. In the 1995 NBA Finals, the Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic. Hakeem outscored O'Neal in every game and was again named Finals MVP.

Later Years with Houston (1995–2001)

The Rockets' championship run ended in 1996. Michael Jordan had returned to the NBA, and his Chicago Bulls dominated the league. In the 1996–97 NBA season, the Rockets added Charles Barkley to their team. They had a great start but lost in the Western Conference Finals. Hakeem's scoring numbers started to drop in the late 1990s. The Rockets continued to make the playoffs but were eliminated early.

Playing for the Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)

In 2001, Hakeem was traded to the Toronto Raptors. He played one season with them, averaging career lows of 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He decided to retire in the fall of 2002 due to a back injury.

Hakeem retired as the NBA's all-time leader in total blocked shots with 3,830. Shortly after he retired, the Rockets honored him by retiring his No. 34 jersey.

Playing for the National Team

In 1993, Hakeem became an American citizen. This allowed him to play for the Dream Team III in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The team won the gold medal. Hakeem shared playing time with other great centers like Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson.

Hakeem's Playing Style

Hakeem Olajuwon was an incredibly skilled player on both offense and defense. On defense, he was fast and strong, allowing him to guard many different types of players. He was famous for blocking shots and also for stealing the ball, which is unusual for a big player. Hakeem is the only player in NBA history to have more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. He is also the only center to be in the top ten all-time for steals. He was also an excellent rebounder. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Defensive Player of the Year award to The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy to honor him.

On offense, Hakeem was known for his soft touch around the basket and his quick footwork in the low post. He had many fake moves and spins, especially his famous "Dream Shake." He was a great scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game in his career. He was also good at getting offensive rebounds. Hakeem could also dribble and score like a smaller player. He is one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA.

The "Dream Shake"

Hakeem's signature move was called the Dream Shake. It was a series of fakes and spin moves that he performed with amazing speed and power. Many people still consider it the best footwork ever seen from a big player. Shaquille O'Neal once said, "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves – that gives him 20 moves."

Hakeem said the Dream Shake came from his soccer days. He explained that the move was meant to trick the defender, make them go the wrong way, or freeze them. It was very hard to defend, much like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous "sky-hook" shot.

One famous Dream Shake happened in the 1995 Western Conference Finals against David Robinson. Hakeem faked one way, then spun the other, making Robinson jump to block a shot that wasn't there. Hakeem then easily made a layup. He described the move as a "science," using a jump to set up his next move and confuse the defender about which way he would go.

Life Off the Court

Hakeem married Dalia Asafi in 1996, and they have four children. He also has an older daughter, Abisola, who played in the WNBA.

Hakeem speaks English, French, Arabic, and Yoruba. He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, in 1996. During his NBA career, he earned over $110 million in salary.

Hakeem also had a unique approach to shoe endorsements. He signed a deal with Spalding for sneakers that sold for $34.99. He explained that he wanted to make shoes affordable for everyone. He said, "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? ... She can't. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. Sometimes they kill for them."

His Muslim Faith

In his early NBA years, Hakeem was sometimes undisciplined. But he later became a very devoted Muslim. In 1991, he changed the spelling of his name from Akeem to Hakeem, saying he was "correcting it." He studied the Qur'an every day and said, "I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page."

Hakeem was known for playing well even during Ramadan, when Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. In fact, in 1995, he was named NBA Player of the Month in February, even though Ramadan began that month.

After Basketball

Hakeem Olajuwon is considered a true icon in Houston, where he played for 20 years in college and the NBA. He has been very successful in the Houston real estate market, earning over $100 million. He buys properties with cash because his Islamic faith does not allow him to pay interest. Hakeem now divides his time between Jordan, where he moved to study Islam, and his ranch near Houston.

After retiring, Hakeem started his "Big Man Camp." Here, he teaches young basketball players how to play in the post position. He wants to help younger players improve their skills. He has worked with many NBA stars, including Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James. Hakeem said that Kobe Bryant was his best student in learning low-post moves.

Hakeem was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. A sculpture honoring him was also placed outside the Toyota Center in Houston. In 2016, he was also inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Awards and Achievements

NBA

2× NBA champion (1994, 1995)
2× NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1993)
2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1992, 1993)
12× NBA All-Star (1985–1990, 1992–1997)
6× All-NBA First Team (1986–1988, 1992, 1993, 1996)
3× All-NBA Second Team (1985, 1989, 1995)
3× All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1994, 1998)
5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993)
4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984, 1990, 1995, 1996)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1984)
2× NBA rebounding leader (1988, 1989)
3× NBA blocks leader (1989, 1990, 1992)
6× NBA Player of the Month
12× NBA Player of the Week
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).
Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
No. 34 retired by Houston Rockets
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year award was renamed The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy (2022)

USA Basketball

Olympic Gold Medal (1996)

NCAA

2× SWC Regular Season Champion (1983, 1984)
2× SWC Tournament Champion (1983, 1984)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1983)
Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1983)
Consensus first-team All-American (1984)
- AP first-team All-American (1984)
- USBWA first-team All-American (1984)
- NABC first-team All-American (1984)
- UPI second-team All-American (1984)
NCAA rebounding leader (1984)
SWC Player of the Year (1984)
First-team All-SWC (1984)
Second-team All-SWC (1983)
No. 34 retired by Houston Cougars

Media

Sporting News NBA MVP (1994)
Sporting News 1990s NBA All-Decade First Team
AP 1990s NBA All-Decade Team

Halls of Fame

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2008
FIBA Hall of Fame – Class of 2016
Texas Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 1998
Houston Sports Hall of Fame – Inaugural Class of 2018

NBA Records

Most blocks in NBA history with 3,830
Most blocks per game in NBA playoff history with 3.26
Most blocks in a single NBA playoff with 92
Only player in NBA history to retire in the top eleven all-time in career blocks, points, rebounds, and steals
Only player in NBA history to record more than 3,000 blocks and 2,000 steals in a career
Only player in NBA history to record 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season (1988–89)
One of four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double

Media Rankings

Ranked #10 in ESPN's All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever (published in 2016)
Ranked #12 in SLAM Magazine's 2018 revision of the top 100 greatest players of all time (published in the January 2018 issue)

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1984–85	Houston	82*	82*	35.5	.538	—	.613	11.9	1.4	1.2	2.7	20.6
1985–86	Houston	68	68	36.3	.526	—	.645	11.5	2.0	2.0	3.4	23.5
1986–87	Houston	75	75	36.8	.508	.200	.702	11.4	2.9	1.9	3.4	23.4
1987–88	Houston	79	79	35.8	.514	.000	.695	12.1	2.1	2.1	2.7	22.8
1988–89	Houston	82*	82*	36.9	.508	.000	.696	13.5*	1.8	2.6	3.4	24.8
1989–90	Houston	82*	82*	38.1	.501	.167	.713	14.0*	2.9	2.1	4.6*	24.3
1990–91	Houston	56	50	36.8	.508	.000	.769	13.8	2.3	2.2	3.9*	21.2
1991–92	Houston	70	69	37.7	.502	.000	.766	12.1	2.2	1.8	4.3	21.6
1992–93	Houston	82	82*	39.5	.529	.000	.779	13.0	3.5	1.8	4.2*	26.1
1993–94	Houston	80	80	41.0	.528	.421	.716	11.9	3.6	1.6	3.7	27.3
1994–95	Houston	72	72	39.6	.517	.188	.756	10.8	3.5	1.8	3.4	27.8
1995–96	Houston	72	72	38.8	.514	.214	.724	10.9	3.6	1.6	2.9	26.9
1996–97	Houston	78	78	36.6	.510	.313	.787	9.2	3.0	1.5	2.2	23.2
1997–98	Houston	47	45	34.7	.483	.000	.755	9.8	3.0	1.8	2.0	16.4
1998–99	Houston	50*	50*	35.7	.514	.308	.717	9.6	1.8	1.6	2.5	18.9
1999–00	Houston	44	28	23.8	.458	.000	.616	6.2	1.4	.9	1.6	10.3
2000–01	Houston	58	55	26.6	.498	.000	.621	7.4	1.2	1.2	1.5	11.9
2001–02	Toronto	61	37	22.6	.464	.000	.560	6.0	1.1	1.2	1.5	7.1
Career		1,238	1,186	35.7	.512	.202	.712	11.1	2.5	1.7	3.1	21.8
All-Star		12	8	23.2	.409	1.000	.520	7.8	1.4	1.3	1.9	9.8

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1985	Houston	5	5	37.4	.477	—	.1000	13.0	1.4	1.4	2.6	21.2
1986	Houston	20	20	38.3	.530	.000	.638	11.8	2.0	2.0	3.5	26.9
1987	Houston	10	10	38.9	.615	.000	.742	11.3	2.5	1.3	4.3	29.2
1988	Houston	4	4	40.5	.571	.000	.884	16.8	1.8	2.3	2.8	37.5
1989	Houston	4	4	40.5	.519	—	.680	13.0	3.0	2.5	2.8	25.3
1990	Houston	4	4	40.3	.443	—	.706	11.5	2.0	2.5	5.8	18.5
1991	Houston	3	3	43.0	.578	.000	.824	14.7	2.0	1.3	2.7	22.0
1993	Houston	12	12	43.2	.517	.000	.827	14.0	4.8	1.8	4.9	25.7
1994	Houston	23	23	43.0	.519	.500	.795	11.0	4.3	1.7	4.0	28.9
1995	Houston	22	22	42.2	.531	.500	.681	10.3	4.5	1.2	2.8	33.0
1996	Houston	8	8	41.1	.510	.000	.725	9.1	3.9	1.9	2.1	22.4
1997	Houston	16	16	39.3	.590	.000	.731	10.9	3.4	2.1	2.6	23.1
1998	Houston	5	5	38.0	.394	.000	.727	10.8	2.4	1.0	3.2	20.4
1999	Houston	4	4	30.8	.426	—	.875	7.3	0.5	1.3	0.8	13.3
2002	Toronto	5	0	17.2	.545	—	.667	3.8	0.4	1.4	0.8	5.6
Career		145	140	39.6	.528	.222	.719	11.2	3.2	1.7	3.3	25.9