About Hakeem Olajuwon
The Nigerian-American former professional basketball player Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, also known by his stage name “the Dream,” was born on January 21, 1963. His estimated net worth is $220 million. Olajuwon was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born. Before touching a basketball for the first time at age 15, Olajuwon played soccer, which he attributes to his incredible mobility on the basketball court.
The NCAA Career of Hakeem Olajuwon
On a basketball scholarship, Hakeem Olajuwon attended the University of Houston in 1980. Olajuwon, a member of the renown “Phi Slama Jama” so-called “college dunking fraternity.” guided the Houston Cougars to three consecutive NCAA Final Four trips. Olajuwon and future Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler were on the team. Two years in a row, the “Phi Slama Jama” team would compete in the NCAA National Championship. (82-83 & 83-84) but fail to win either time. Olajuwon led the NCAA in rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage in 1983, and he was voted the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year.
Appearances in the NBA Finals by Hakeem Olajuwon
The Houston Rockets chose Olajuwon with the first overall pick in the 1984 draft. With the Houston Rockets, Olajuwon made his first of three visits to the NBA Finals in 1986. Olajuwon lost to the Boston Celtics despite averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds per game.
The Rockets wouldn’t return to the Finals until 1994, which was 8 years later. The Rockets defeated the New York Knicks in a seven-game series. Olajuwon was named the NBA Season’s and the Finals’ MVP.
Olajuwon guided the Rockets back to the NBA Finals the next year, in 95. The Orlando Magic, headed by the soon-to-be-superstar center Shaquille O’Neal, faced the Rockets. Olajuwon won the finals MVP award and his second NBA championship with the Rockets, becoming one of only 8 players to receive the honor multiple times. The Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals.
Even though Olajuwon would never return to the NBA Finals, his career would end with 12 all-star appearances, two NBA championships, and an Olympic gold medal.
