"He beat Shaq in Finals" - 3x NBA champion weighs in on Hakeem Olajuwon’s place among greatest centers
There have been some incredible big men who played in the NBA, and one of them is Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon, who laid the groundwork for other promising young centers that came after him. During an interview on "The Draymond Green Show" podcast, Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell has Olajuwon ahead of other all-time centers such as Shaquille O'Neal.
Cassell originally started his playing career with the Rockets during his first three seasons in the league and played alongside Olajuwon. At that time, Olajuwon was already at the peak of his career and was one of the most talented offensive big men in the league.
However, Draymond Green did not agree with Cassell placing Olajuwon over O'Neal. Green highlighted O'Neal's sheer dominance at the rim and his four championships over Olajuwon's two rings. In response, Cassell pointed out that when the two centers met in the 1995 NBA Finals, Olajuwon showcased his dominance over him.
"'Dream' was always our outlet in the game of basketball," Cassell said. "... I've seen like 'The Captain' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. ... I think he's right behind him. I think Shaq is right behind 'Dream.' He beat Shaq in the Finals."
There is a stark difference between how Olajuwon and O'Neal played the game of basketball. While the 1994 NBA MVP played with more finesse at the offensive end, O'Neal utilized his strength to overpower any opponent he went up against.
Hakeem Olajuwon gets praised by Orlando Magic legend
During an appearance on MyEyeDr.'s event at Pine Shadows Elementary in Houston, Shaquille O'Neal praised Hakeem Olajuwon and highlighted that he was a factor that led to him reaching another level after the 1995 finals loss.
His comments were shared by Chron's Josh Criswell on X.
"Just him being one of the best ever," Olajuwon said. "I realized that in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That year we faced off, and the best won out. It just made me a much stronger competitor."
When they matched up against one another in 1995, Olajuwon had already mastered his style of play on the NBA court. His offensive skill set was the gold standard when it came to versatility and efficiency at the post. Olajuwon wasn't just known for his shotmaking ability but also his effectiveness at the defensive end.
In the 1995 NBA Finals, Olajuwon averaged 32.8 points (48.3% shooting), 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks to complete the series sweep. O'Neal, on the other hand, averaged 28.0 points (59.5% shooting), 12.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game.