Consequently, Olajuwon emerged as the Rockets franchise player. Originally, when they moved to the UK, Abdullah admitted they had a passion for soccer. Following a dismal 1991 and 1992 season, Olajuwon requested a trade from the Rocket, citing contract issues as well as unconvincing performance. "When we used to play soccer, I was more passionate than everybody," Abdul, whose favorite NBA players are Golden State's Steph Curry and Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox, said. Ultimately, he ended his professional playing career as the all-time league leader in total blocked shots, with 3,830. 6 Championship Dr, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, United States. Last month, Olajuwon signed a $55 million, five-year contract extension with the Rockets. For NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon though, it was always a sport he wanted to see his sons pursue. Foregoing his final year of college eligibility, Olajuwon was selected as the number one overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. She made the WNBA draft in 2010 and was selected by Chicago Sky. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808964&cache=false" src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808948&cache=false" This has allowed him to minimize risk and exposure when the real estate market softens. Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to the United States of America. I saw the passion, they started playing some games.". The 1994 NBA regular season Most Valuable Player recorded 26,946 points and 13,748 rebounds during his career.In 2008, Hakeem was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. Hakeem Olajuwon Retweeted. . 34 jerseys. As a young boy, Olajuwon was interested in sports, but not basketball at first. Oak pollen already a big problem, but strong storms could wash it away, Man admits to sex trafficking waitresses out of family-owned cantina, At least 36 dead, 66 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials. In his entire career, he has managed to become an NBA champion two times in 1994 and 1995, respectively. He was picked up in the 1984 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. The 1993/94 season was the peak of Olajuwons career. Posts Reels Videos Tagged }; This foundation was very helpful during the Covid Lockdown. Facing star center Ewing and the New York Knicks in the NBA finals, Olajuwon won his first NBA title, defeating the Knicks in seven games. I really feel like Ive grown as a player these last couple of years, just because Ive had a lot of coaches teaching me different things and little things that matter a lot of things I didnt know that could actually affect the game, he said. He is ranked at 13 by the SLAM Magazines 2009 issue on 50 greatest players of all time. Additionally, he has collected $97,356,426 as his entire career earnings, playing 14 seasons in NBA. Chucky Atkins of the Detroit Pistons stretches for a shot against Dell Curry and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors during game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto, Canada. As a Muslim, Hakeem does not borrow money for his acquisitions (it's against Islamic law to pay or charge interest). In fact, the member of the historic Phi Slamma Jama-era at the University of Houston made a. ""All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. http://www.BoredFIlmGrads.comhttp://www.Facebook.com/BoredFilmGrads@BoredFIlm Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it. If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Hakeem Olajuwon Biography, Childhood, Career, Life, Facts, please dont hesitate to contact us. Following his retirement from the NBA, Olajuwon found significant success in the Houston real estate market. He puts confidence in me to do things I didnt know I could do Were always working hard here, and we go at it together it feels like a family, so theres a good bond. The year proved to be a turning point for Olajuwon and the Rockets. Call. It was around this time he earned the nickname "The Dream" due to his effortless dunking. Well, if youre ready, lets start. The growing confidence appears to be paying dividends for both Olajuwon and the Rangers, who are seeking the programs first playoff berth in eight seasons. Abisola who is Hakeem's daughter from the aforementioned previous relationship has since followed in the footsteps of her father by professionally playing basketball. It is my obligation to try. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1984 to 2002, representing the teams, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors. Full Roster ( 33) Team Info 2022-23 Season HOUSTON, Texas -- In the West Midlands Region of the United Kingdom, the game of basketball is not the most popular sport. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 18, 2000 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man - at the character of a man. He also became the first player not born in the US to win the MVP. Mainly, she is a former basketball coach and also played for the WNBA team, Chicago Sky. Later, while attending the Muslim Teachers College, he began playing basketball when he entered a local tournament. Once again, he was named the Finals MVP, and became the only Rockets All-Star. Not to mention his first Oklahoma game in person. The following season the Rockets, who were plagued by injuries throughout the regular season, surprised many by returning to the NBA finals, this time facing center Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic. Hakeem Olajuwon studied physical education at the University of Houston. He appears to have found it this season, and has been one of the key factors for the Rangers amassing a 21-7 overall record so far this season along with a 5-3 mark in District 20-6A as they seek the programs first playoff berth since 2014-2015. ""When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 22, 2000 at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1984 to 2002, representing the teams, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors. From his very childhood, he was taught the benefits of hard work and discipline, which helped him throughout his career. His parents Salim and Abike Olajuwon were cement business owners and had eight children together. In his first year in the NBA, Olajuwon formed the first twin towers duo, with Ralph Sampson, the 1984 Rookie of the Year, to help the Rockets improve their performance. Although his personal statistics remained impressive, Olajuwon struggled with injuries and an overall weak team that failed to produce playoff wins. Since Dalia is known because of her husbands name and fame, there are no details about her profession. basketball player. Olajuwon got married to Dalia Asafi in August 1996. So when did the couple marry? And he always tells me Im my own person, so that helps a lot.. T: (201) 635-8000 However, there is no information about her exact date and place of birth. Hes realizing that its just basketball and its not open heart surgery, Price said. He's the son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, but not many people have heard of him. With his 26.9 point average per game, Olajuwon was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player; this made him the first foreign-born player to receive that award. He was born in Jordan, a Middle-Eastern country just east of Israel, in 2004 before moving to England when he was 10 years old. Following a bad 1991-92 season, Olajuwon improved his passing and set a new career-best of 3.5 assists per game in 1992-93. A gifted athlete, Hakeem was a soccer goalkeeper from an early age before learning to play team handball as a junior at Muslim Teachers College, a high school in Lagos. As a teenager and child, he played soccer football, and it was not until 17, that he played basketball. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808938&cache=false" Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors looks to shoot against Joel Przybilla of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of the NBA game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors looks to pass the ball as he is guarded by Popeye Jones of the Washington Wizards during the game at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto, Canada. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Olajuwon, a 33-year-old Nigerian who is now a U.S. citizen, worshiped for years at the same Houston mosque as the bride's father. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\. And growing up, soccer was his first love despite his dad being one of the most well-known basketball players of all time. "Hes more relaxed on the floor this year. He was thus rewarded with a new four-year contract which settled his contracts concerns. During his 18-year basketball career Hakeem Olajuwon became known as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Moreover, in 1994, he became the only NBA player ever to win the MVP, the Championship title, the Finals MVP, and the Defensive Player of the Year award in a single season. He also recorded a quadruple-double, becoming only the third NBA player ever to do so. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. What the foundation does is to help children in the Southwestern part of America get funds for whatever it is that needs financing for them to have better lives. Currently, she is an assistant coach for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA . 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On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808950&cache=false" The duo most famously was the reason that Houston Rockets were a part of the NBA Finals in 1986. ""I always keep a ball in the car. After the 1984 season, Olajuwon opted to turn professional. Olajuwon studied at the University of Houston. After carrying the Sooners to the Final Four, Abi Olajuwon was held to six points and nine rebounds in her final game. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets shoots against Raef LaFrentz of the Denver Nuggets during the game on January 20, 2000 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. With basketball becoming a viable option, Abdul admitted that once he played it, things changed. Additionally, Hakeem was drafted by the Houston Rockets as a first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. ""Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. 27. So hes getting some things done.. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1996. He kept his wonderful lone performance in the following five years from 1989 to 1993. Hakeem specializes in buying properties that are ripe for development via public improvements like stadiums or train stops. The Nigerians lost in the semifinals to the Central African Republic, but Olajuwon impressed the opposing team's United States-born coach, Chris Pond, with his size and quickness. "You feel goose bumps," Hakeem Olajuwon said. Olajuwon said he's usually back in the United States for the summer, when the Sooners aren't playing. In 2022, Hakeem Olajuwon will turn 60 years old. During those 18 years, Olajuwon established himself as one of the top basketball players not just of his time, but to have ever played in the NBA. He has another daughter with his previous wife, Lita Spencer, named Abisola Olajuwon. Her husband, Hakeem Olajuwon, is a former professional basketball player and played with the Houston Rockets for 17 years. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American basketball player who played basketball in the NBA between 1984 and 2002. On the surface, the 17-year-old Olajuwon might not appear to have any reason to lack confidence. He enjoyed playing soccer, often playing as a goalkeeper. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808960&cache=false" Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, Akeem Olajuwon, The Dream. """ ()". Over there, everyone played soccer," he said of Jordan. But after I tasted [playing basketball], I didn't want to play anything else, I knew that was my passion.". Olajuwon subsequently immigrated to the US to play basketball with the University of Houston Cougars. Olajuwon is fluent in English, French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808953&cache=false" He finished the season runner-up to Michael Jordan in the Rookie of the Year voting. Additionally, Hakeem was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. Daughters: Abi Olajuwon, Rahmah Olajuwon, Aisha Olajuwon; Hakeem Olajuwon's Early Life, Childhood & Family Background. Olajuwon dominated at both ends of the floor, and the Rockets took the seven-game series in four games. Read More . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { She was just 18 years old at the time of her wedding. Together, the couple has four children: daughters Aisha and Rahmah and sons Abdullah and Abdul. 'https' : 'http'; Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball over Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, during game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on May 2, 2002. As of 2022, Hakeem has an estimated net worth of over $70 million, which is solely generated from his professional career. During that time, he wore No. Selected to twelve NBA All Star games, Olajuwon holds the NBA record for blocked shots (3,830) and is the only player to record more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals in a career. Hakeem is shy and respectful. Dalia Asafi may be earning a good amount of money from the profession she is involved in. Physical Characteristics: 5. 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