“He had no concept what he was doing” – The teammates of former Hakeem Olajuwon mentioned he was very uncooked when he entered the League Initially appeared on Basketball community.
Though Hakeem Olajuwon was a world alternative n ° 1, its grandeur didn’t happen in a single day. Like every other NBA recruit, Olajuwon additionally needed to perceive the right way to play at a excessive degree within the execs.
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Relying on how its outdated Houston Rockets The teammates described it, Hakeem was not removed from the nice skilful man for whom he would later be famend throughout his recruit season. Nevertheless, what stood out most in Olajuwon throughout this era is his unshakable willpower and his deep ardour for the sport.
At first, Hakeem’s relentless driving and his eagerness to enhance had been already apparent. These options have ready the sector for its exceptional evolution in one of the crucial dominant gamers within the league.
“”He had no concept what he was doing, “ Former Allen Leavell Roquettes Guard mentioned From Younger Hakeem in an interview with Hoopshype final yr. “However his athletics was out of the charts. We knew that he may very well be an awesome participant if he discovered the sport. He was simply this younger sponge who had a lot braveness and a lot need,” Including the previous striker of Rockets James Bailey.
Olajuwon lived the identical factor at college
In contrast to most of his colleagues legends of the NBA, Olajuwon made a novel journey to the superstar of basketball. Rising up, he was under no circumstances immersed on the planet of basketball. As a substitute, his old flame was soccer. It was solely when he reached the age of 15 that the dream started to discover sport that may find yourself defining his profession.
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Gifted with distinctive peak and athletics, Olajuwon drew the eye of college scouts and was recruited to play for the College of Houston. His arrival marked the beginning of a reworking section of his profession and his life.
Nevertheless, as one other Houston teammates famous, Clyde Drexler, There was nonetheless a whole lot of work essential to refine the talents of Olajuwon On the time.
“Hakeem has all the time been a extremely fierce employee, however at first he did not actually play a whole lot of basketball” Drexler instructed Vice Sports activities in 2016. “Should you gave him the ball within the publish, he would combine his toes and name for journey towards him. The coach Lewis checked out the remainder of us and mentioned:” Hey. Do not try this. “(Laughs) So we needed to discover different methods to acquire the ball offensively from the ball.”
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“When it was a query of blocking and bouncing, Hakeem was there,” Drexler additionally revealed.
Olajowon took off and by no means appeared again
Because of laborious work and perseverance, Olajuwon rapidly developed his abilities. He proved that he may very well be limitless with regard to studying recreation and dominate his rivals.
Hakeem patiently spent his first yr in Houston as a rescue middle. Nevertheless, Olajuwon improved significantly each offensively and defensively throughout his second yr. As he was junior, the dream was already the most effective college gamers within the nation, having on common 16.8 factors, 13.5 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per recreation.
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Within the NBA, Olajuwon additionally skilled an analogous journey, as described by his former Rockets teammates. He got here as an unpretentious newcomer and rapidly progressed on the prime.
Olajuwon gained a number of stars in her recruit season and completed the yr with a complete of 20.6 factors, 11.9 rebounds and a couple of.7 blocks per recreation. Since then, he has taken off and the remaining, as they are saying, has been in historical past.
This story was initially reported by Basketball community On June 25, 2025, the place he appeared for the primary time.
