Hakeem Olajuwon

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Lore & Background

Hakeem Olajuwon's path to NBA stardom began in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born to working-class Yoruba parents who owned a cement business. He was the third of six children. As a youth, he played soccer as a goalkeeper, which helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his size and strength in basketball, and also contributed to his shot-blocking ability. He did not play basketball until the age of 15, when he entered a local tournament while at the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos. Despite early struggles, 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." He emigrated from Nigeria to play at the University of Houston under coach Guy Lewis, where he was nicknamed "the Dream" after his college coach said his effortless dunks "looked like a dream." He and his teammates, including Clyde Drexler, formed "Phi Slama Jama," a slam-dunking fraternity known for its above-the-rim prowess. In his sophomore and junior years, he helped the Cougars advance to consecutive NCAA championship games, losing to North Carolina State in 1983 and a Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown team in 1984.

In Their Own Story

The 1993-94 season was the defining moment of Hakeem Olajuwon's career. He became and remains the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. The Rockets' 1994 championship against the New York Knicks was the first in franchise history, with Olajuwon avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing. The following year, after a lackluster regular season, Olajuwon's Rockets swept Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic in 4 games in the NBA Finals. Earlier in his career, he combined with the 7-foot-4-inch Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers," leading the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. After Sampson was traded in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 1992-93 season, he remained in Houston. He ended his career as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830), is one of four NBA players to record a quadruple-double, and is the all-time leader in 5x5 games with six.

Reader's Guide

Hakeem Olajuwon's championship runs are defined by resilience and tactical brilliance. In the 1993-94 season, a Rockets team without a clear superstar other than Hakeem shocked the league. They defeated the New York Knicks in a grueling seven-game series where Olajuwon's defense was the deciding factor, limiting Patrick Ewing to near irrelevance. The following year, 1994-95, remains one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. After winning only 47 games and missing the playoffs the prior year, the Rockets returned as a powerhouse. Olajuwon carried the load against Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in the Finals while blocking shots at will. Beyond championships, Olajuwon holds numerous franchise records, including most career blocks and double-doubles. His ability to score efficiently while anchoring a defense that consistently ranked among the league's best set a template for future success.

Did You Know?

• Hakeem Olajuwon was a soccer goalkeeper as a youth, which helped give him the footwork and agility for basketball and contributed to his shot-blocking ability.
• He did not play basketball until the age of 15, when he entered a local tournament while at the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria.
• He is the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season (1993-94).
• Olajuwon is the all-time leader in 5x5 games (at least 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks) with six.
• He was a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning United States national basketball team.