[20] The Rockets finished 51–31,[19] and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. [14][15] Olajuwon won the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award,[16] even though he played for the losing team in the final game. When redirected by staff not to use the chair, Hakeem could initially not dunk the basketball. [17] From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998.[18]. [52][54] Olajuwon retired as the all–time league leader in total blocked shots with 3,830, although shot blocking did not become an official statistic until the 1973–74 NBA season. Raised by his middle-class parents who owned a cement business, Olajuwon played soccer and handball during his high school days at Muslim Teachers college, Lagos, Nigeria. Olajuwon averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shooting 60% from the field in 18 minutes per game. [23] He is the only player since the NBA started recording blocked shots in 1973–74 to average 14+ rebounds and 4.5+ blocked shots per game in the same season. [24] Olajuwon also recorded a quadruple-double during the season,[25] becoming only the third player in NBA history to do so. Olajuwon has an 8-year-old daughter, Abisola, from a prior relationship. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. In doing so he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton as the only players in NBA history (at that point) to lead the league in rebounding and shot-blocking in the same season. [23] The Rockets set a new franchise record with 55 wins,[19] and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, pushing the Seattle SuperSonics to a seventh game before losing in overtime, 103–100. Olajuwon played for 20 consecutive seasons in Houston, first collegiately for the University of Houston Cougars and then professionally with the Houston Rockets. [40] For his efforts Olajuwon was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs. Olajuwon attended the 2013 NBA Draft to bid farewell to retiring commissioner David Stern as Stern made his announcement for the final pick of the first round. [6] It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. When I dribble I move it so when I come here, I jump. "The Dream Shake was actually one of my soccer moves which I translated to basketball. So this makes her age 41 years old now and her birth year 1968. HOUSTON (AP) _ Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was married to 18-year-old Dalia Asafi of Houston last week in an arranged union. It is a first marriage for both. In the NBA Finals, the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic, who were led by a young Shaquille O'Neal. It is not known when Olajuwon met his bride-to-be or when the marriage was arranged. The 1989–90 season was a disappointment for the Rockets. "[21] The Rockets advanced to the 1986 NBA Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics, whose 1986 team is often considered one of the best teams in NBA history.[22]. Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. "[5] From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. Olajuwon leaves Sunday for Australia, where he will join other NBA players as one of the league’s international ambassadors, Ms. Greaney said. Olajuwon improved his passing in 1992–93,[35] setting a new career high of 3.5 assists per game. He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best."[8]. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem, saying, "I'm not changing the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it". This page was last edited on 10 October 2020, at 20:10. [70] He later recalled, "I studied the Qur'an every day. How many children does Dalia Asafi have . For his NBA career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points on 51% shooting, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.1 blocks in 1238 career games. Thus, she could only be the housewife, like another beautiful lady Stacy Hornacek. On April 10, 2008, the Rockets unveiled a sculpture in honor of him outside the Toyota Center. [83], On August 1, 2015, Olajuwon made a special appearance for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. During the tournament, he shared his minutes with Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson. Hakeem Olajuwon met his then-18-year-old bride only after their parents arranged their marriage over 20 years ago. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. Their families entirely arranged their wedding. The defender can't react because he's waiting for you to come down to defend you. He is best known for playing the center position for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 2002 within the National Basketball Association (NBA). The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man. We put four bodies on him. He was twice named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. [46] When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? In 1996, Olajuwon was a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning United States national team, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Now, the first time when you showed that quickness, he has to react to that quickness, so you can fake baseline and go the other way with your jump hook. He finished second in the MVP race to Charles Barkley with 22 votes to Barkley's 59. At the University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical education major. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft, a draft that included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2008. With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. Olajuwon also has an older daughter, Abisola from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. [20] He finished as runner-up to Michael Jordan in the 1985 Rookie of the Year voting, and was the only other rookie to receive any votes. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with Olajuwon and remained planted. [59], Olajuwon has referred to basketball as a science, and described his signature move in vivid detail: "When the point guard throws me the ball, I jump to get the ball. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. Hakeem was only introduced to basketball at age 15, marking the birth of an American basketball legend. Nevertheless, Dalia and her husband followed the Islamic custom of prearranged marriages. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. He credits his parents with instilling virtues of hard work and discipline into him and his siblings; "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves". Olajuwon set a new career high with 26.1 points per game. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of "big man" footwork. In 1994, he became the only player in NBA history to win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season, as their win-loss record improved from 29–53 in 1983–84 to 48–34 in 1984–85. [37] In stark contrast to the previous year, the Rockets entered the 1993–94 season as a team on the rise. Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his second pro season (1985–86). However, as Hakeem was born in Nigeria and he had arranged a marriage with Dalia, she might also be a Nigerian. The Rockets' two-year championship run ended when they were eliminated in the second round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs by the eventual Western Conference Champion Seattle SuperSonics. [23] After the Rockets lost in the first round in five games to the Jazz in 1998,[50] Drexler retired. The couple have four children together; two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha and two sons, Abdullah and Abdul. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. [26] Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. ``There is no dating process, no boyfriends and girlfriends in Islam,″ Olajuwon said in a statement issued Monday. You put him in the mix and you jump stop and now you have choice of pivot foot. Olajuwon spun counterclockwise and faked a jump shot. However, there is no further information about her family background, just like another NBA star's wife, Tamara Houston. "[6] The Rockets won every road game that series. [6] He is considered a Houston icon and one of city's most beloved citizens. They started the season 21–2,[49] but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Olajuwon requested a trade in part because of his bad contract; his salary was considerably low for a top center, and his contract specifically forbade re-negotiation. We helped from different angles. Click Married Celeb to read more about Celebrity Wives! The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. I call it the 'touch landing.' Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points per game in 1990–91, but due to an injury to his eyesocket caused by an elbow from Bill Cartwright,[6] did not play in enough games (56) to qualify for the rebounding title. However, Hakeem has kids from his previous relationship. [77][78] In September 2009, he also worked with Kobe Bryant on the post moves and the Dream Shake. For all facets of the game, I have to give it to him. ``In the Islam faith, it is customary for a girl to marry much younger than they do in America, at age 15 or 16, for instance,″ Olajuwon said in a statement. I grew up in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people. Further, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. ``It was a very private ceremony with just family,″ said Pamela Greaney, Olajuwon’s personal assistant. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game for his career. He averaged 5 points and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games. He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993). [17] Had the Rockets made the deal, Olajuwon states the Rockets could have selected Michael Jordan with the number two pick to play alongside Olajuwon and Drexler, who had established chemistry playing together during their Phi Slama Jama days in college. Olajuwon was not highly recruited and was merely offered a visit to the university to work out for the coaching staff, based on a recommendation from a friend of Lewis who had seen Olajuwon play. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. But not if you play with speed, with agility. Shortly after his retirement, his #34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. During his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon earned more than $107 million in salary. [6] Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. The NBA star said he has worshiped for years at the same Houston mosque as the bride’s father. The couple were married Thursday in Houston. His Rockets won back-to-back championships against the New York Knicks (avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing), and Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic. Well, Hakeem is the father of two sons, Abdullah and Abdul. [29][33] With the 1992–93 season approaching, a reporter for the Houston Chronicle said that Olajuwon being dealt was "as close to a sure thing as there is."[34]. "[60], Olajuwon married his current wife, Dalia Asafi, on August 8, 1996, in Houston. After Sampson was traded to the Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. Olajuwon recalled: "I really believed that Houston was going to win the coin flip and pick the number 1 draft choice, and I really wanted to play in Houston so I had to make that decision (to leave early). After being down 2–1, the Knicks took a 3–2 lead into Game 6. During the 1987–88 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden State Warriors. If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. ``There is no dating process, no boyfriends and girlfriends in Islam,″ Olajuwon said in a statement issued Monday. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing better during the month of Ramadan, and in 1995 he was named NBA Player of the Month in February, even though Ramadan began on February 1 of that year.[6][72]. He made this massive fortune through his time as a basketball player for the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, and as an entrepreneur. [43] But despite a slow start by the team, and Olajuwon missing eight games toward the end of the season with anemia,[44] the Rockets repeated as champions in 1995. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/əˈlaɪʒuɒn/;[1] Yoruba: [olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, 1963), formerly Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. Before I come down, I make my move. Olajuwon was highly skilled as both an offensive and defensive player. He was a prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game for his career,[6] and an above average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game. They had a solid core of young players and veterans, with a leader in Olajuwon who was entering his prime. All the other sports just become obsolete. [6] Additionally, Olajuwon became a skilled dribbler with an ability to score in "face-up" situations like a perimeter player. [30] Management had also infuriated Olajuwon during the season when they accused of him of faking a hamstring injury because of his unhappiness over his contract situation. Dalia Asafi in 1996, it was mentioned that Dalia was 18 years old. I dribble so now I can use either foot. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back in 1984. Ms. Greaney said Mrs. Olajuwon, who wants to study medicine, received a $1,000 scholarship from the athlete’s ``The Dream Foundation″ charity in June. She did not know if Mrs. Olajuwon would accompany him. There are many ethnic groups. All this is part of the Dream Shake. Malone, who was then a center on the NBA's Houston Rockets, played games every off season with several NBA players at the Fonde Recreation Center. [6] As in 1994, Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.[48]. Dalia Asafi is the wife of Hakeem Olajuwon, a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player.They have been married since August 1996 and they share two daughters, Rahman and Aisha. Abisola represented the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Game and played in the WNBA. Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards Cuttino Mobley and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year Steve Francis. HOUSTON (AP) _ Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was married to 18-year-old Dalia Asafi of Houston last week in an arranged union. Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. [71] Olajuwon was still recognized as one of the league's elite centers despite his strict observance of Ramadan (i.e., abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month), which occurred during the playing season throughout his career. [36] The team rewarded him with a four-year contract extension toward the end of the regular season. Olajuwon gained a reputation as a clutch performer and also as one of the top centers in history based on his performances in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons. When asked whether the league was becoming more guard-oriented and big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, "For a big man who is just big, maybe. He went to college at Muslim Teachers college at Nigeria, where he played soccer and handball. In 1998–99 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen and finished 31–19 in the lockout-shortened regular season. Dalia Asafi is the wife of famous Nigerian-born professional basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon. [29] He also expressed displeasure with the organization's efforts to surround him with quality players. [61] The couple have four children together; two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha and two sons, Abdullah and Abdul. "[13] His intuition proved correct, and a lucky toss placed Houston ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. Otherwise he would have won it for a third consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a game (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). "[11], Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball at the University of Houston under Cougars coach Guy Lewis. ``They’re both very happy.″. But this jump is the set-up for the second move, the baseline move. But, with all parties sticking to their ends of the deal, Hakeem put both his sons in a basketball club and a soccer club. He soon joined the Nigeria… [9] Olajuwon did not play basketball until the age of 15 in high school, when he entered a local tournament while at the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a Nigerian citizen, whereas her ethnicity is Hausa–Fulani. Meanwhile, the wife of an NBA player, Dalia Asafi, is living a very luxurious lifestyle with her husband's estate and assets. "[6] Olajuwon himself traced the move back to the soccer-playing days of his youth. On the other hand, Hakeem Olajuwon, who is listed in the top 8th richest NBA player, has $200 million net worth as of 2020. Hakeem Olajuwon poses for a photo with his wife in front of a fountain in Houston, Texas.| Source: Getty Images His boys, Abdullah and his brother Abdul had found passion in soccer. He won the NBA rebounding crown (14.0 per game) again, this time by an even larger margin; a full two rebounds per game over David Robinson, and led the league in blocks by averaging 4.6 per game. The 1988–89 season was Olajuwon's first full season as the Rockets' undisputed leader. ", "Living the Dream – University of Houston", Keeping the Faith – Olajuwon's, Rockets' quiet confidence has roots in Mecca, Rockets to send out Olajuwon in style Saturday night, Olajuwon keeps 'The Dream' alive in Dwight Howard, http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/22552066/video-hakeem-olajuwon-surprises-david-stern-at-nba-draft, "NBA stars, legends shine in Africa exhibition", "2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame inducted", "Naimsmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Seven Members of the Class of 2008", "2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Hakeem Olajuwon", "SLAM's Top 100 Players Of All-Time: 50-11", The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy, National Basketball Association's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 1984 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hakeem_Olajuwon&oldid=982858539, All-American college men's basketball players, American expatriate basketball people in Canada, Basketball players at the 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four, Basketball players at the 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four, Basketball players at the 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four, Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association players from Nigeria, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, People with acquired American citizenship, United States men's national basketball team players, CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Olajuwon returned from that summer a different player. He moved to America to play basketball at the University of Houston. [52] He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. [28] Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.
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