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Hakeem OlajuwonNigerian and American professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 21.01.1963
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, a Nigerian-American professional basketball player, played as a center for the NBA teams 'Houston Rockets' and 'Toronto Raptors' from 1984 to 2002. He led the 'Houston Rockets' to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Early Life and Career
Hakeem Abdul 'Dream' Olajuwon, the third of six children in a middle-class family, was born on January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria. He was a goalkeeper in soccer during his youth and only started playing basketball at the age of 15. Olajuwon shared his impressions, stating, "Basketball is something so unique that I immediately embraced the game and realized that this sport was for me, while all others were secondary." He dared to embark on a journey from his homeland to play for the University of Houston team, under the guidance of coach Guy Lewis. His college basketball career included three trips to the Final Four.
NBA Career
Olajuwon was drafted by the 'Rockets' in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft, which also included players like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. In this NBA club, Olajuwon earned the nickname 'Hakeem the Dream' for his grace on and off the court. Alongside another tall player, Ralph Sampson, who stood at 2.24 meters, Hakeem formed a powerful tandem known as the 'Twin Towers.' Sampson and Olajuwon helped the 'Houston Rockets' reach the NBA Finals in 1986, where they lost to the 'Boston Celtics.' After Sampson began playing for the 'Golden State Warriors' in 1988, Olajuwon became the unquestionable leader of the 'Rockets.' He became the leader of the NBA regular season in rebounds in 1989 and 1990, and in blocked shots in 1990, 1991, and 1993.
Despite being on the verge of transferring to another club due to a heated contract dispute before the start of the 1992-1993 season, Olajuwon was fortunate enough to remain with his beloved 'Houston Rockets.' In the 1993-1994 season, Olajuwon became the only player in NBA history to win the NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA Finals MVP in a single season. In 1994, the 'Houston Rockets' snatched the NBA championship from the 'New York Knicks.' In the sixth game of the finals, Olajuwon put the 'Rockets' ahead with a score of 86-84, leading to a decisive seventh game in Houston. The 'New York Knicks' lost the last battle with a score of 84-90, which was a kind of revenge for Patrick Ewing, who had once defeated Olajuwon in the college championship.
In 1996, Hakeem won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics as a member of the USA basketball team. In the same year, he was included in the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Olajuwon ended his career with a record 3,830 blocked shots, which still stands today. Over his 18 years in the NBA, Olajuwon earned over $107 million.
Personal Life
Hakeem is married to Dalia Asafi since August 8, 1996. The couple has two daughters. He has a daughter named Abisola Olajuwon from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met during his college years. Abisola plays in the Women's National Basketball Association. The surname "Olajuwon" translates from the Yoruba language as "always on top."
