AFCON 2025
Before he was a two-time NBA champion, an MVP, and the undisputed king of blocked shots, Hakeem Olajuwon was just a 16-year-old kid in Lagos, Nigeria, fighting off bullies because he was too tall for his own good.
Hakeem, a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest centers and overall players in NBA history. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he did not begin playing basketball until age 16, having previously excelled as a soccer goalkeeper
In a sit-down discussion featuring two of basketball’s most skilled scorers, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant sat down with NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon for an episode of Boardroom to discuss the nuances of greatness, the importance of footwork, and how the game of basketball has evolved.
The Nigerian-American basketball player, Hakeem Olajuwon shared he didn’t grow up playing basketball but was favored because of his height.
During the sit-down discussion, Hakeem noted that his basketball experience started late; in his senior high school, at the age of 16.
“My senior high school. I was 16-years old, and they introduced basketball to our school. I was 6’9 (tall) so when the coach came to our school, the moment I stood up, they said ok. I’m very unusual for my height in Nigeria” Hakeem noted.
However, the NBA champion also noted that his early background in football, and specifically as a goalkeeper helped him become a great defensive player in basketball.
“I was also a goalkeeper in soccer, so ring protector, I started blocking a lot of shots, I would make it difficult for them to score, so I developed that going up for a shot knowing that they’re gonna pass it to this guy right here”
Throughout his illustrious career, Olajuwon accumulated a massive list of accolades, most notably leading the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, winning Finals MVP honors both years.
In 1994, he achieved a feat never seen before or since by winning the NBA Regular Season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP all in the same season. A 12-time NBA All-Star and 12-time All-NBA selection, Olajuwon also secured a Gold Medal with Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Olajuwon’s dominance is almost unmatched, particularly on the defensive end. He retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 3,830 and is the only player in league history to record more than 3,000 blocks and 2,000 steals in a career.
Also, he is one of only four players to ever record a quadruple-double in a game. His incredible legacy was cemented with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. In his retirement, he has become a renowned mentor, teaching his signature footwork, “The Dream Shake,” to numerous current NBA superstars.
