NBA Legend Profiles: Hakeem The Dream
Sadly, thanks to a certain virus that is infecting the world right now, it looks like the 2019/20 NBA season will be cancelled. It is simply too risky for games to go-ahead whilst COVID-19 is sweeping the planet.
What is any NBA enthusiast to do without any NBA? How can we satisfy our need for basketball content when there are no games to follow? Well, I hope I have the answer. Given the lack of present-day content to write about I thought this would be the perfect time to start my Legend Profiles, a series where I take you back in time and examine former NBA legends and NBA teams and why there had such an impact during their career.
For the start of this series I can think of no greater player than my favourite basketball player of all time; Hakeem ‘The Dream’ Olajuwon. I am going to be delving deep into his NBA story and what made The Dream such a force in the NBA, both offensively and defensively.
Early Years
After 3 great years at the University of Houston, then Akeem was selected 1st overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He had a great rookie season, averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds with 2.7 blocks and was selected to the All-Star game as a result.
In his second he was actually able to lead the Rockets to the NBA Finals, famously beating the Magic Johnson-lead LA Lakers in the process. Even though they lost to Celtics in 6 games, Akeem had emerged as a real star in the NBA.
The next 6 seasons were disappointing for Hakeem and the Rockets. Whilst Hakeem played well, leading the league in rebounding twice and averaging 23 PPG in the process, Houston never made it past the Conference Semi-Finals. Hakeem was ill-disciplined, he often argued with the refs, got into skirmishes with other players and picked up technical fouls. He was the best player on his team, but he wasn’t the leader they needed.
Title-Winning Rockets
Before the 1993/93 season, Hakeem re-discovered his faith in Islam. He used his newfound spirituality to focus his minds and talents on basketball. That season he led the Rockets to their best-ever record of 55-27 and they nearly beat the Seattle Supersonics in the Conference Semi-Finals.
The following season was Hakeem’s best ever. The Rockets topped last season’s franchise record of 55 wins with 58 and Hakeem became the only player in NBA history to win the regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP. Houston won the NBA Championship after beating the New York Knicks in 7 games.
The following season Houston only managed to get the 6th seed in West with a record on 47-35. Not many people expected the Rockets to win the title, especially when they met the top-record San Antonio Spurs lead by the MVP David Robinson in the Conference Finals.
Before the series started, Robinson was presented with the MVP award in front of Olajuwon. Hakeem then told his teammates “that’s my trophy”. Olajuwon’s teammates knew they were about to witness something special, and Hakeem delivered. He dominated Robinson in the 6 game series, averaging 35.3 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 4.2 BPG all on 56% shooting. Robinson only managed 23.8 PPG, 11.3 RPG and 2.2 BPG on 44.9% shooting.
Having promptly dispatched the Spurs, the Rockets faced the young Orlando Magic lead by a 22-year-old Shaquille O’Neal. Again, Hakeem dominated the series and Houston swept Orlando, leading Houston to back-to-back titles.
Olajuwon’s career began to wind down after his 2nd title as age and injuries slowed him down. He eventually retired with the Toronto Raptors in 2002 after 18 seasons in the NBA. He is remembered as the 2nd best player in the 90s behind only Michael Jordan and one of the top 15 players of all time.
Offense
There is no question that Hakeem is the greatest post-player to ever pick up a basketball. When you have other NBA legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James coming to you for footwork and post-move lessons, you know you are something special.
Hakeem was no-where near as strong as the other star centers in the NBA during his time like David Robinson or Patrick Ewing. He couldn’t simply back-down other players using his physicality. Hakeem has great quickness and agility for a man his size. This was what allowed him to develop the legendary ‘Dreamshake’.
The Dreamshake was a style of post-play incorporating a variety of moves such as fakes, fadeaways and step-throughs. It was about using Hakeem’s quickness to confuse his defender so that he had no idea what shot Olajuwon was going to take. Hakeem perfected this and made it a form of art.
In his prime it was unstoppable. Hakeem’s ability to create separation to get a good shot off was unparalleled. Every move he had, there was a counter. Every counter he had, there was another counter. His footwork and touch were unlike anything we’ve seen. Every big man who plays basketball should watch tape of him in games and in practice because you’ll be a much better player in doing so.
Defense
Hakeem was not only the greatest player to have ever lived, but he is also one of the best defensive players as well. You don’t become the all-time leader in blocks in the NBA without being a serious defensive presence.
Many people don’t know this, but Olajuwon is actually 9th in the all-time steals list as well. He was so good on defense both individually and for his team that he lead the league in defensive rating five straight years.
His quickness served him especially well as he was able to challenge shots with ease at the rim and strip the ball from attackers as well.
Overall Hakeem is easily one of the greatest players in NBA history and a true legend of the game. Whenever any good post-move happens in games, commentators are quick to call it “Dreamshake-Esque”. Michael Jordan respects him so much that he includes him in his own personal starting five.
Whilst other centers like Kareem, Shaq and Wilt Chamberlain might rank higher in peoples’ minds, for me it’s got to be Hakeem. He was the first jersey I bought, and I always try to pull off some of his moves whenever I wear it.