Hakeem Olajuwon: Career retrospective
When we think of ’90s basketball, two players come to mind: Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. Besides Jordan, Hakeem is the only other star player to win an NBA championship from 1991-98. He was one of the best all-around centers of all time. And how could we forget the Dream Shake? Let’s take a moment to appreciate the greatness and look back on Hakeem Olajuwon’s career.
Houston Rockets at the time.
a game-winning dunk
in the final seconds.
Drexler left for the NBA, leaving Olajuwon as the top dog the following season. The Houston Cougars went back to the national championship. This time, they lost to a Georgetown Hoyas squad led by Patrick Ewing. Olajuwon registered for the NBA Draft in 1984.
a quadruple-double with 18 points, 16 boards, 11 blocks, and 10 assists in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It was just the third quadruple-double in NBA history. On this night, Olajuwon put his all-around abilities on full display.
Olajuwon blocked
shooting Knicks guard John Starks’ game-winning three-pointer that would’ve led to New York winning the championship. In a do-or-die Game 7, the Rockets handily defeated the Knicks, 90-84. Olajuwon outplayed and outscored Ewing, winning Finals MVP.
Olajuwon was finally a champion. He became the only player in NBA history to win MVP, the championship, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. He also became the first foreign-born player to win the NBA MVP.
His ‘95 Finals performance was the best basketball Olajuwon ever played. From this point on, there was no questioning he had the clutch gene.
The Rockets won as a sixth seed and had no home field advantage the entire playoff run. Coach Tomjanovich gave an iconic speech in the postgame celebration when he said, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.”
The Dream Shake was Olajuwon’s signature move. He fooled a lot of would-be defenders with the Dream Shake during his career. The footwork and agility necessary for the Dream Shake were built during Olajuwon’s time as a goalie. For a guy his height (7 feet), Olajuwon was fluid and nimble in his movements. It’s what made him a generational talent at the center position.
David J. Hunt is a freelance writer based out of Philadelphia. He ran cross country at Penn State, became a volunteer firefighter during COVID-19, and is a self taught journalist. He’s a diehard Philly sports fan. When he isn’t watching sports, he enjoys working out, fishing, and traveling. You can find more of his writing at The Chestnut Hill Local and The Temple News. You can follow him on Twitter at @dave_hunt44.
