Hakeem Olajuwon - one of the best center in NBA history

The nineties of the XX century was a time of legendary basketball players such as Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Shaquille O'Neal. Not least among them is a tall center-Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigerian basketball player who spent the NBA for nearly twenty years in the "Houston Rockets". Over the years, he twice won the main event of the planet, set many personal records on the number of rebounds and block shots, and rightfully earned his place in the NBA Hall of Fame.

Fan "Manchester United" from Lagos

Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria in 1963. He was the third of six children in a large close-knit family. Parents owned a small factory for the production of cement, so Hakim's life was easier than most of his peers from Nigeria.

From an early age he instilled a love of work, desire to learn and develop their self-confidence and self-esteem, so that he became profitable in the future, with the background of many flighty sports stars. Favorite sport in Africa has always been a football, and Hakeem Olajuwon childhood chasing the ball with your friends. He also engaged in handball - and it was not until 17 years. Nigerian favorite club, for which he is ill so far, was "Manchester United".

Only when Hakim went to the British School, he is the first ever picked up a basketball. High boys progress has been incredible: in just a few months, he made up for lost years and began to play at the level of the great masters.

in the US Moving

Hakeem Olajuwon could well remain in Nigeria, but he said the American coach Christopher Pond, who worked at that time in Africa. He saw the huge potential in Hakim and persuaded him to try his luck in the United States.

Hakeem Olajuwon went first to New York, but the local climate was too harsh for the heat-loving Africans. In the end he found the perfect place to live in Texas and joined the University of Houston team.

Initially, Hakeem Olajuwon barely fit into the established team Team reckless Houston. American students scoured the area with jet speed and played at a level which is not used to a Nigerian.

But he was lucky again with the coach. Guy Lewis was very demanding, but very patient and a lot of time to ensure that a beginner can quickly adapt to the new environment.

Soon Hakeem Olajuwon played so that several years in the status of the leader takes his team to the final four major US student league.

The workaround Michael Jordan

Nigerian game centering on college teams aroused such admiration in the NBA, that in 1984 he was selected in the NBA Draft in the first round by the first number. And that year was historic, as this is when their teams were expecting John Stockton and Michael Jordan. The latter was chosen only by number three pick. So a few years ago, an unknown young man beat a Nigerian, perhaps, the best basketball player of all time. Already in his first season Hakeem Olajuwon, the growth of which is, according to various estimates, from 2, 07 m 2, 13 m, is among the top five rookie season. Together with him, "Houston Rockets" played another tall player - Ralph Sampson, whose height was 2, 24 m They even nicknamed the "Twin Towers.". Hakim, who was below, have better coordination, grace and it earned him the nickname "Dream", that is "a dream". Such an impressive tandem helped "Houston" to reach the NBA finals in 1986 year, which was only stopped by the guys from the "Boston Celtics".

By the end of the eighties, after the departure of Sampson, he was a real leader, "Houston Rockets". Repeatedly, he became leader of the regular season in rebounds and blocked shots.

period Champion

The first victory in the championship of the NBA Hakeem Olajuwon was produced and "Houston" in 1994. The fans were ready to wear huge centering on his hands, but after 10 months, their mood changed dramatically.

The Nigerian was not similar to itself, often missed, barely moved his feet on the ground. The reason was really simple - was the month of Ramadan, and Hakeem Olajuwon as a devout Muslim to adhere to strict fasting and did not touch the food and water during daylight hours. It is no wonder that he simply had no strength for a full game. However, when the time has come the playoffs, Hakeem Olajuwon was revived and once again led the team with him. Particularly impressive has stood out a series of matches with "Utah". "Houston's" hopelessly inferior, it was necessary to win the remaining two matches. And Hakeem Olajuwon, gaining 73 points in two games, literally dragged his club to the next stage of the playoffs.

In the final, "Houston Rockets" met "Orlando Magic", which was then beginning his career Shaquille O'Neal. Hakeem Olajuwon, was played out to the final, he did not leave any chance to the young opponent and almost single-handedly beat his team in four games.

In recent years, a big player in the NBA,

Nigerian basketball player played for your favorite "Houston Rockets" until 2001. By this time, he became the leader of the NBA all-time in the number of block shots, which he had collected more than three thousand.

Last season he played in the "Toronto Raptors". Maybe he would have spent a couple of seasons at a high level, but the player's body had been worn by numerous injuries. And in 2002, still an active career ended Hakeem Olajuwon.

Whom he coached with great pleasure, because it is his daughter - Abisolu. She inherited his father's talent and now plays in the WNBA.