In response to the NBA’s “NBA Defense Week” social media campaign, the Houston Rockets asked fans who the best defender in team history was.
The response was nearly unanimous. Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, who remains the NBA’s best player all-time leader in blocked shotswas the obvious choice.
To this day, Olajuwon remains the only player in league history to win the NBA Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) and NBA Finals MVP awards in the same season (1993-94). The award came as Houston won its first championship in franchise history.
Olajuwon actually won the DPOY in two consecutive seasons, having previously won the same honor in 1992-93. He remains the only player in Rockets history to win the award, and since 2022-23, the NBA’s annual DPOY winner has received what is now known as the like the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy — named after “The Dream” for its defensive dominance.
Olajuwon is one of the top 15 rebounders in the world. NBA All-Time Listjust ahead of fellow Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. As you may recall, Olajuwon and the Rockets beat O’Neal and the Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals to secure a second straight title.
More: Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon unanimously voted best international player of all time
This article was originally published on Rockets Wire: Rockets honor Hakeem Olajuwon as best defender in team history
