Olajuwon is without a doubt one of the top 3 greatest centers in the history of the league. He is the only player to win the regular season mvp, finals mvp, and defensive player of the year award in the same season. He outplayed Patrick Ewing in the finals, and the Rockets won the championship. The season after that, he embarrassed the current MVP (David Robinson) in the playoffs, helping Houston knock out the favored Spurs in 6 games. He then outplayed Shaq in the finals, as the Rockets swept the Magic. Olajuwon was the best center in the league, in an era filled with dominant centers. Hakeem retired in the top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. He is the only center in league history to be anywhere in the top 20 in steals, and he is #8 on the all-time list, right behind Clyde Drexler. Hakeem is #1 on the all-time blocked shots list. It's open to debate as to whether he or Bill Russell is the best defensive center ever. He had the best offensive post game of any center in league history. The Dream also had a great 15-20 foot jumper, and even a decent crossover dribble. His fadeaway was completely unstoppable. No big man in league history was as complete a player as Olajuwon. I'll take a lineup with Olajuwon, Duncan, Pippen, Jordan, and Magic over any.
Hakeem Olajuwon is in the top ten in points, steals, and blocks (all time leader in blocks) and 13th in rebounds. To the guy saying Hakeem doesn't play defense, I'm very much questioning how well you know basketball if you honestly think that's true. Not only was he a world class defender, but I'm almost certain (not completely, though) that he is one of the only players to be top ten in 3 of the 5 major star categories
hakeem is the only player in history to be in the top ten in bocks and steals for one year. and he did it 12 straight years! that’s great defense!! he was named defensive player of the year several times in his career.
Bwahahaha, Hakeem was a beast , he can guard all positions. Bulls had a losing a record against the Rockets when they played head to head with Jordan on the team.
Olajuwon was one of the few players who got better in his 30's and had his best years in his early 30's. Developed that nice mid range jumper to compliment his post moves.
Rick Barry and Steve Nash were others. Ironically Barry and Olajuwon were the only 2 Finals MVPs whose teams swept a NBA Finals despite being the road underdogs.
0:33 Defense shading totally on his right hand. Daring him to go left? Hakeem obliges. 2:47 Is he a center or a guard? Maybe both? 4:17 Takes 'em off the dribble, from the damn 3-point line. Best footwork from a big man - Ever! From 4:43 to the end. Let's give Drexler some IT'S SCARY TO IMAGINE IF OLAJUWON HAD PLAYED HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH ANOTHER SUPERSTAR LIKE DREXLER IN HIS PRIME.
olajuwon was just everything you could want in a player. if it was like a video game and you had skill points to put into skills and you put them all in perfectly he is what you would have come out with. he had all the moves. he was tall, but could move like a smaller player. he could play defense, he was killer on offense, and he could play support. he was just so well rounded.
Right on. A big man who played like a guard, had footwork like MJ's. Actually I like Olajowon's post moves as much as Jordan's. All the ex pro's say he was unguardable.
80s and 90s are absolutely the golden age of nba. look at the skill and consistency of this guy right here. he would totally dominate the game in nba nowadays .
this guy was a center and probably the most dominant center in history in the paint yet he still could shot and take defenders off dribble and use some fake moves. What a legend
Poor Hakeem....he was a 6'0" point guard, trapped in a 6'10" body. He was so freaking fast for a big guy.....on second thought, he was just fast, big or small....
What other center in the history of the NBA could start dribbling (crossover in some cases) and hit 18 foot jump shots like a guard? The most skilled center to EVER play this game, the Dream.
As a bulls faithful the guy suggesting Hakeem had no defense sickens me, he isn't the all time NBA blocks leader for no reason, kids honestly learn a few stats before you open your mouth.
He was 15, but he played hand ball, soccer and other sports until his coach convinced him to play basketball. He fell in love with it and was recommended to University of Houston coach Guy Lewis who worked with him and taught him how to play center and had Moses Malone mentor him and this is the result. Top 50 player of all time, Hall of Famer, leading all time shot blocker in NBA history, Olympic Gold Medalist and multi millionaire housing investor.
I don't know how it got its name but its a pass from around the arch, in or out, to a player posted up against a defender at the low post. It sounds simple but its not. An offenisive player has to work hard against a good defender to get them posted just right and the ball has to be delivered to them quick and in the right spot. The person defending the ball handler is also defending his attempt to make that pass. That's why you see horry making head fakes just to get the pass off.
Olajuwon is without a doubt one of the top 3 greatest centers in the history of the league. He is the only player to win the regular season mvp, finals mvp, and defensive player of the year award in the same season. He outplayed Patrick Ewing in the finals, and the Rockets won the championship. The season after that, he embarrassed the current MVP (David Robinson) in the playoffs, helping Houston knock out the favored Spurs in 6 games. He then outplayed Shaq in the finals, as the Rockets swept the Magic. Olajuwon was the best center in the league, in an era filled with dominant centers.
Hakeem retired in the top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. He is the only center in league history to be anywhere in the top 20 in steals, and he is #8 on the all-time list, right behind Clyde Drexler. Hakeem is #1 on the all-time blocked shots list. It's open to debate as to whether he or Bill Russell is the best defensive center ever.
He had the best offensive post game of any center in league history. The Dream also had a great 15-20 foot jumper, and even a decent crossover dribble. His fadeaway was completely unstoppable. No big man in league history was as complete a player as Olajuwon.
I'll take a lineup with Olajuwon, Duncan, Pippen, Jordan, and Magic over any.
Joel Villarreal Kareem is 3rd. He could have probably been #1.
the BEST center ever!!!!!!
@Gary Thompson
L
@Damon Tul FUCK NO!!!
Id give it to him and Kareem!
FACTS Rock Matt!!!!!! Da Nigerian nightmare
Damon Tul Kareem is, then it’s Hakeem, then it’s Shaq, Then Russell and then Wilt
That 1995 HOU Playoff run was one of the best ever. They were always the underdog in each round, 2 series went to the final game
That split on the double team off the up and under has to be one of the sickest moves Ive seen from a big
That move at 2:48 is so nuts. Goes against two defenders and creates a wide open layup. Marvelous.
Hakeem Olajuwon is in the top ten in points, steals, and blocks (all time leader in blocks) and 13th in rebounds. To the guy saying Hakeem doesn't play defense, I'm very much questioning how well you know basketball if you honestly think that's true. Not only was he a world class defender, but I'm almost certain (not completely, though) that he is one of the only players to be top ten in 3 of the 5 major star categories
hakeem is the only player in history to be in the top ten in bocks and steals for one year. and he did it 12 straight years! that’s great defense!! he was named defensive player of the year several times in his career.
Who said that? He is arguably the best defender ever
Most Skilled Center in the history of the NBA.
Bwahahaha, Hakeem was a beast , he can guard all positions. Bulls had a losing a record against the Rockets when they played head to head with Jordan on the team.
Olajuwon was one of the few players who got better in his 30's and had his best years in his early 30's. Developed that nice mid range jumper to compliment his post moves.
Rick Barry and Steve Nash were others. Ironically Barry and Olajuwon were the only 2 Finals MVPs whose teams swept a NBA Finals despite being the road underdogs.
Greatest player in nba history other than Jordan
Rip champ
goddamn that last move by drexler was badass. crossover and dunk. olajuwon and drexler: two incredibly underrated players
I was there! I guess I was 12 or so, great memories!
0:33 Defense shading totally on his right hand. Daring him to go left? Hakeem obliges.
2:47 Is he a center or a guard? Maybe both?
4:17 Takes 'em off the dribble, from the damn 3-point line. Best footwork from a big man - Ever!
From 4:43 to the end. Let's give Drexler some
IT'S SCARY TO IMAGINE IF OLAJUWON HAD PLAYED HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH ANOTHER SUPERSTAR LIKE DREXLER IN HIS PRIME.
Most skilled center in the post ever
What sort of bamboozelement is that 2:50
Oh my goodness gracious
That move in slow mo at 3:22 ! Ga damn that's smoove! And DR34M is a legit center! GOAT defensively also btw
nice finish by clyde at 550
That move at 2:49 brought a tear to my eye, so beautiful.
There is no way Dwight's gonna learn these, he's far too limited. Hakeem's game was pure magic.
Look at the bench after that 2:49 move.
Loved watching these Rockets 🚀 teams. Dream was unstoppable when he was in his game.
Best center ever !
olajuwon was just everything you could want in a player. if it was like a video game and you had skill points to put into skills and you put them all in perfectly he is what you would have come out with. he had all the moves. he was tall, but could move like a smaller player. he could play defense, he was killer on offense, and he could play support. he was just so well rounded.
Right on. A big man who played like a guard, had footwork like MJ's. Actually I like Olajowon's post moves as much as Jordan's. All the ex pro's say he was unguardable.
Damn I'm good.
80s and 90s are absolutely the golden age of nba. look at the skill and consistency of this guy right here. he would totally dominate the game in nba nowadays .
@NeuMasterful I agree. It's upsetting to me that there's almost no footage of McHale's points in a game. :(
Drexler had 40 in this game, as well, I believe..
this guy was a center and probably the most dominant center in history in the paint yet he still could shot and take defenders off dribble and use some fake moves. What a legend
Thanks so much! I love all of your vids! Hakeem was unstoppable. How about a Kevin Mchale highlight?
love the commentator's. One being the late and great Chuck Daly!
Poor Hakeem....he was a 6'0" point guard, trapped in a 6'10" body. He was so freaking fast for a big guy.....on second thought, he was just fast, big or small....
Commentator:"Look at that move! Is that pretty?" Me (captivated decades later):"Yes. Yes, it is!"
Hakeem the Dream.
What other center in the history of the NBA could start dribbling (crossover in some cases) and hit 18 foot jump shots like a guard? The most skilled center to EVER play this game, the Dream.
Mr Unstoppable in the 1995 NBA Playoffs, the absolute best Center of the 1990s.
at 2:49 I never seen any center do that
2:49 DAMN never seen any other center do that
DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Olajuwan AMAZING!!!
What a center olajuwon was Smh
I remember I couldn't watch this game cause the Rockets would make Houston fans order PPV for home playoff games.
Anyone else remember that?
pay attention to how good Horry is at that entry pass.
As a bulls faithful the guy suggesting Hakeem had no defense sickens me, he isn't the all time NBA blocks leader for no reason, kids honestly learn a few stats before you open your mouth.
Flash2910 He is also a two time defense of player of the year !!
Yao Ming would have been GREAT if he had an entry passer like Horry.
Olajuwon on loistava pelaaja!
wow,olajuwon and drexler tearing it up
The best offensive player all time
5:45
personal replay button for clyde the glide ownage.
The move at 2:50! WOW!
He opened up the game with a freeze hang dribble from 18 😂😂😂 TOP 5
@fatal9ish Thanks a bunch!
Tell me another center in nba history that can do the move at 2:48
clyde was ballin'
How old was Hakeem again when he started playing ball? And, I think this guy is self-taught. Those moves are unteachable.
He was 15, but he played hand ball, soccer and other sports until his coach convinced him to play basketball. He fell in love with it and was recommended to University of Houston coach Guy Lewis who worked with him and taught him how to play center and had Moses Malone mentor him and this is the result. Top 50 player of all time, Hall of Famer, leading all time shot blocker in NBA history, Olympic Gold Medalist and multi millionaire housing investor.
muy bueno
So this is why Kenny Smith shits on Stockton on Inside the NBA... Stockton kept leaving him to double Olajuwon and he still feels disrespected.
The best
Sam Donaldson thinking get me out of here coach
No kidding.
No-one has.
Clydec and dream clyde gets no respect
@2:48 Yes Greatness!!
dont ever compare The Dream to another player.
I don't know how it got its name but its a pass from around the arch, in or out, to a player posted up against a defender at the low post. It sounds simple but its not. An offenisive player has to work hard against a good defender to get them posted just right and the ball has to be delivered to them quick and in the right spot. The person defending the ball handler is also defending his attempt to make that pass. That's why you see horry making head fakes just to get the pass off.
whats an entry pass?
holy shit
He wasn't self taught though. I think Moses Malone taught him a few tricks
5:47 i just pooped in my brain.
Is thatJim Nance!?
Karl Malone wanted no part of this
haha...damn...
And youngsters think big men suppose to be shooting 3s like the small guys 😆!!!
! olajuwon at 2:49
Really? Never seen Dirk play huh?
@NeuMasterful soon
Clyde had 40 too!!!!!
clyde with 40
olajuwon and glyde underatted?
Normal move for The Dream. =)
His skills suck what good is skills but no defense he couldn't win against the bulls in 96 through 98
Olajuwon form has been rapidly declined after winning 1995 championship
I saw some kid compare howard to The dream saying the former is better.
Best center ever!