Olajuwon: From Nigeria to basketball superstardom
Hakeem Olajuwon, born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1963, is one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He spent 18 seasons dominating the league with his agility, skill and shot-blocking ability, leading the Houston Rockets to two championships.
Growing up, Olajuwon was a soccer player and track and field athlete. He did not start playing basketball until he was 17 years old. Nevertheless, he quickly excelled in the sport and was eventually discovered by the University of Houston basketball coach, Guy Lewis, who offered him a scholarship.
Olajuwon’s basketball career
Olajuwon's college career was highly successful. He was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year twice. And he led Houston to three consecutive Final Four appearances, including the 1983 and 1984 championship games, losing to NC State and then Georgetown. In 1984, he was selected first overall in the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, and he played for Houston for 17 seasons.
As a rookie, Olajuwon established himself as one of the league's most talented centers, averaging 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He was named to the All-Rookie first team and later was a key player in leading the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics.
It was not until the 1993-94 season that Olajuwon led the Rockets to their first championship. That season, he was named MVP, led the league in blocks and helped Houston beat the New York Knicks in the finals. The following season, Olajuwon repeated as MVP and led the Rockets to their second title, defeating the Orlando Magic in the finals.
The Dream realized.
Relive some of Hakeem Olajuwon’s best moments from his incredible career! An iconic move on offense, a lockdown rim-protector on defense, the new #KiaDPOY namesake was a historic two-way player 🔒 https://t.co/w9WNfL7xbO
Olajuwon was named to the All-Star team 12 times, won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008. In 1996, he was also named to the All-NBA first team, marking the only time that a center was named to the first team without a forward.
Worthy role model for African players
Hakeem Olajuwon's success and impact as a basketball player have made him a role model for African players, especially those from Nigeria. As one of the first African players to achieve significant success in the NBA, Olajuwon paved the way for future generations of African basketball players to follow in his footsteps.
Joel Embiid: My favorite player of all-time is Hakeem Olajuwon https://t.co/iDYljmnnxz
Aside from his on-court success, Olajuwon was also highly regarded for his character and leadership. He was known for his dedication to his faith, his humility and his generosity. He used his platform to give back to his community, establishing the Dream Foundation, which provides education and resources to underprivileged youth.
Olajuwon is a source of inspiration to many African sportsmen aiming to give back to the society that raised them.
Olajuwon’s impact on the game
Olajuwon's impact on the game of basketball cannot be overstated. He revolutionized the center position with his unique combination of size, speed and skill, and his influence can still be seen in the way centers play the game today.
Today in 2022, the @NBA changes the name of the Defensive Player of the Year Award to the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, in honor of the former @HoustonRockets center, who won the award in back to back seasons in 1993 and 1994.
Hakeem Olajuwon's journey from Nigeria to NBA superstardom is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. Despite starting basketball late and facing many obstacles along the way, Olajuwon never lost sight of his goals and used his natural talent and unwavering commitment to become one of the greatest players in the game's history.
His story inspires people to pursue dreams and never give up, no matter what obstacles they may face.