Hakeem Olajuwon Biography - The Famous People

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Hakeem Olajuwon Biography (One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time)

Birthday: January 21, 1963 (Aquarius)

Born In: Lagos, Nigeria

Advanced Search Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian–American former professional basketball player who played in the ‘National Basketball Association’ (NBA). In a career spanning 18 years, he has played for two teams: the ‘Toronto Raptors’ and the ‘Houston Rockets.’ Hakeem was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and played football throughout his childhood and his teenage years. At the age of 15, he finally decided to start playing basketball and exhibited some natural skills at the game. He immigrated to the US for his college education and joined the ‘University of Houston’ soon after. While his 7-feet frame helped him earn a place on the university’s basketball team, his skills got him selected for the 1984 ‘NBA Draft,’ and he got signed by the ‘Houston Rockets.’ He led his team to win the ‘NBA Championships,’ in both 1994 and 1995, playing as a center. He is known as one of the greatest centers ever to have played in the ‘NBA.’ In 2008, he was inducted into the ‘Basketball Hall of Fame.’ He has also been named to the ‘All-NBA First Team’ six times and has been the ‘NBA Finals Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) twice. In the 1996 ‘Olympics,’ he played for the American national team and helped them win a gold medal. Image Credit http://exnba.com/summaries-and-features/courtside-stories-dreams-and-realities-of-hakeem-olajuwon/ Image Credit https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-video-hakeem-olajuwon-says-houston-playing-the-best-basketball-in-the-nba/ Image Credit http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/hakeem-olajuwon-houston-rockets-post-moves-kobe-bryant-anthony-davis/1jcboker9fbqz12h04gtyuef7a Image Credit https://www.zagsblog.com/2016/10/18/st-johns-miss-hakeem-olajuwon/ Image Credit https://www.givemesport.com/1171330-how-hakeem-olajuwon-is-helping-create-a-basketball-renaissance-in-the-uk Image Credit https://face2faceafrica.com/article/meet-hakeem-olajuwon-first-african-player-in-the-nba Previous Next

Birthday: January 21, 1963 (Aquarius)

Born In: Lagos, Nigeria

14927 Basketball Players #33 Sportspersons #130 Basketball Players #33 Sportspersons #130 14927

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Also Known As: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon

Age: 62 Years, 62 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dalia Asafi, Lita Spencer

father: Salim Olajuwon

mother: Abike Olajuwon

children: Abisola Olajuwon, Aisha Olajuwon, Rahmah

Born Country: Nigeria

Basketball Players American Men

Height: 7'0" (213 cm), 7'0" Males

Grouping of People: Black Basketball Players

Ancestry: Nigerian American

City: Lagos, Nigeria

More Facts

education: University Of Houston

awards: NBA All-Defensive Team All-NBA Team NBA All-Rookie Team

NBA All-Defensive Team All-NBA Team All-NBA Team NBA All-Defensive Team NBA All-Defensive Team All-NBA Team NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award NBA All-Defensive Team NBA Most Valuable Player Award NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award All-NBA Team Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award Best NBA Player ESPY Award Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award Best NBA Player ESPY Award All-NBA Team

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You wanted to know

• 1

  What are some of Hakeem Olajuwon's career achievements?

  Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, a twelve-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

• 2

  How did Hakeem Olajuwon revolutionize the center position in basketball?

  Hakeem Olajuwon was known for his incredible footwork, agility, and shot-blocking ability which set him apart from traditional centers of his era.

• 3

  What was Hakeem Olajuwon's impact on the game of basketball beyond the NBA?

  Hakeem Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and his influence can be seen in the way modern big men approach the game with skill and finesse.

• 4

  How did Hakeem Olajuwon's background influence his playing style and success in the NBA?

  Hakeem Olajuwon's Nigerian heritage and early experiences playing soccer contributed to his exceptional footwork and coordination on the basketball court.

• 5

  What is Hakeem Olajuwon's legacy in the Houston Rockets franchise?

  Hakeem Olajuwon's impact on the Houston Rockets franchise is immense, as he led the team to its only two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, solidifying his place as a legend in the city and among NBA fans.

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American PeopleUniversity Of HoustonTall CelebritiesTall Male CelebritiesMale Sportspersons Childhood & Early LifeHakeem Olajuwon was born Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 21, 1963, to Salim and Abike Olajuwon. His was an upper middle-class family that owned a cement business. He was the third of the eight children in the family and studied in some of the top schools of Lagos.He hates the stereotypical representation of his childhood, which is depicted to be full of struggles and hardships by the media. Hakeem has often claimed that he lived and studied in a good environment that had children from different ethnicities. He also added that his parents taught him the value of working hard and respecting elders.During the first few years of his life, Hakeem had not even touched a basketball. He played football as a goalkeeper. It was the most popular sport in Nigeria at that time. He played basketball for the first time at the age of 15, while he was studying at the ‘Muslim Teachers College’ in Lagos. However, the transition to basketball from football was not difficult, as both sports required skilled footwork and hand–eye coordination.He never went back to football once he started playing basketball. By the time he was 17 years old, he had become an extremely competent player and had played in a number of local tournaments. He also continued his studies along with the game.However, Nigeria did not have too many opportunities for basketball players or for those wished to pursue higher studies. Thus, Hakeem moved to Houston, US, to study at the ‘Houston University.’ There, he immediately joined the college basketball team.Following an exceptional performance as part of the college team, he became one of the top contenders for the ‘NBA Draft.’ He played for the ‘Houston Cougars’ and led them to three ‘National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four’ appearances. In the 1983–1984 season, he topped the ‘NCAA,’ which then opened ways for him to enter the ‘NBA’ scene. He was the first pick by the ‘Houston Rockets’ in the 1984 ‘NBA Draft.’Continue Reading Below