View source for Hakeem Olajuwon

{{short description|Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963)}}
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{{use American English|date=September 2019}}
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{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Hakeem Olajuwon
| image = Nigerian President Buhari Stands With Secretary Kerry, U.S. Delegation After They Attended His Inauguration Ceremony (cropped).jpg
| caption = Olajuwon in 2015
| width = 
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 255
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|1|21}}
| birth_place = [[Lagos]], Nigeria
| nationality = Nigerian / American
| high_school = Muslim Teachers College<br />(Lagos, Nigeria)
| college = [[Houston Cougars men's basketball|Houston]] (1981–1984)
| draft_year = 1984
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 1
| draft_team = [[Houston Rockets]]
| career_start = 1984
| career_end = 2002
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number = 34
| years1 = {{nbay|1984|start}}–{{nbay|2000|end}}
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| years2 = {{nbay|2001|full=y}}
| team2 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| highlights = 
* 2× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|1994}}, {{nbafy|1995}})
* 2× [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] ({{nbafy|1994}}, {{nbafy|1995}})
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] ({{nbay|1993|end}})
* 12× [[List of NBA All-Stars|NBA All-Star]] ([[1985 NBA All-Star Game|1985]]–[[1990 NBA All-Star Game|1990]], [[1992 NBA All-Star Game|1992]]–[[1997 NBA All-Star Game|1997]])
* 6× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA First Team]] ({{nbay|1986|end}}–{{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}}, {{nbay|1996|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1985|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1994|end}}, {{nbay|1998|end}})
* 2× [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] ({{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}})
* 5× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|NBA All-Defensive First Team]] ({{nbay|1986|end}}, {{nbay|1987|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}})
* 4× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|NBA All-Defensive Second Team]] ({{nbay|1984|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}}, {{nbay|1996|end}})
* [[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|1984|end}})
* 2× [[List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders|NBA rebounding leader]] ({{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}})
* 3× [[List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders|NBA blocks leader]] ({{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}})
* No. 34 [[Houston Rockets retired numbers|retired by Houston Rockets]]
* [[NBA anniversary team]] ([[50 Greatest Players in NBA History|50th]], [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team|75th]])
* [[NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player]] ([[1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1983]])
* [[Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year|Helms Foundation Player of the Year]] ([[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1983]])
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1984]])
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders|NCAA rebounding leader]] (1984)
* [[Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|SWC Player of the Year]] (1984)
* First-team All-[[Southwest Conference|SWC]] (1984)
* Second-team All-SWC (1983)
* No. 34 [[Houston Cougars men's basketball retired numbers|retired by Houston Cougars]]
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 26,946 (21.8 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 13,747 (11.1 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| stat3value = 3,830 (3.1 bpg)
| HOF_player = hakeem-olajuwon
| FIBA_HOF_player = Hakeem-Olajuwon
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Team competition]]}}
}}
'''Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon'''{{Audio|Hakeem_Abdul_Olajuwon.wav|listen}}{{efn|{{IPAc-en|h|ə|ˈ|k|iː|m}} {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|l|aɪ|ʒ|u|.|ɒ|n}} {{respelling|hə|KEEM|_|ə|LY|zhoo|on}};{{refn|{{cite web|url=https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/olajuwon-hakeem|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203044857/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/olajuwon-hakeem|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2016|title=Olajuwon, Hakeem – definition of Olajuwon, Hakeem in English from the Oxford dictionary|website=[[OxfordDictionaries.com]]|access-date=January 20, 2016}} }} {{IPA|yo|olaɟuwɔ̃|lang}}}} (born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "'''the Dream'''", is a Nigerian and American former professional [[basketball]] player.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Jonathan|date=February 1, 2017|title=Hakeem refuses to be shaken by Trump's Muslim ban|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2017/02/01/hakeem-olajuwon-donald-trump-muslim-immigration-ban|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713110253/https://www.si.com/nba/2017/02/01/hakeem-olajuwon-donald-trump-muslim-immigration-ban|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1984 to 2002, he played [[Center (basketball)|center]] in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) for the [[Houston Rockets]], and in his last season, the [[Toronto Raptors]]. He led the Rockets to back-to-back [[NBA championships]] in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2008 and the [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] in 2016. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reimold|first=John|date=April 13, 2011|title=Hakeem Olajuwon Remembered: The Best Center of All Time|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/663761-remembering-hakeem-olajuwon-the-best-center-of-all-time|access-date=August 7, 2021|website=Bleacher Report|archive-date=August 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807145132/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/663761-remembering-hakeem-olajuwon-the-best-center-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reardon|first=Logan|date=June 8, 2021|title=Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history?|website=NBC Sports|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/where-does-bill-russell-rank-among-best-centers-nba-history|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=April 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405054451/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/where-does-bill-russell-rank-among-best-centers-nba-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 6, 2007|title=The game's greatest giants ever|website=ESPN.com|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-GreatestCenters|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=April 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415181050/http://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-GreatestCenters|url-status=live}}</ref>

Born in [[Lagos]], Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the [[University of Houston]] under head coach [[Guy Lewis]]. His college career for the [[Houston Cougars men's basketball|Cougars]] included three trips to the [[Final Four]]. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the [[1984 NBA draft]], a draft well known for its immense talent, which also included players such as [[Michael Jordan]], [[Charles Barkley]], and [[John Stockton]]. He combined with the {{convert|7|ft|4|in|cm|adj=on}} [[Ralph Sampson]] to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers". The two led the Rockets to the [[1986 NBA Finals]], where they lost in six games to the [[Boston Celtics]]. After Sampson was traded to the [[Golden State Warriors]] in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. He led the league in [[Rebound (basketball)|rebounding]] twice (1989, 1990) and [[Block (basketball)|blocks]] three times (1990, 1991, 1993).

Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 1992–93 season, he remained in Houston. He became the first non-American to be an [[NBA All-Star]] and start in an [[NBA All-Star Game]], the first non-American to win the NBA [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]], the first non-American to win NBA [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year|Defensive Player of the Year]], and, in the 1993–94 season, became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA's [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]], [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year|Defensive Player of the Year]], and [[NBA Finals MVP|Finals MVP]] awards in the same season. His Rockets won back-to-back championships. [[1994 NBA Finals|The Rockets' 1994 championship]] against the [[New York Knicks]] was the first in franchise history, with Olajuwon avenging his college championship loss to [[Patrick Ewing]]. [[1995 NBA Finals|The following year]], after [[1994–95 Houston Rockets season|a lackluster regular season]], Olajuwon's Rockets swept [[Shaquille O'Neal]]'s [[Orlando Magic]] in 4 games in the NBA Finals. In 1996, Olajuwon was a member of the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Olympic gold medal-winning]] [[United States national basketball team]], and he was selected as one of the [[50 Greatest Players in NBA History]]. In October 2021, Olajuwon was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced|title=NBA 75th Anniversary Team announced|website=NBA.com|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=March 16, 2022|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025195243/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> He ended his career as the league's all-time leader in [[block (basketball)|blocks]] (3,830), is one of four NBA players to record a [[quadruple-double]], and is the all time leader in [[Double-double#Five-by-five|5x5]] games (when a player has at least 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks) with six.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-01 |title=What is a 5x5 game in basketball? Full list of NBA players to accomplish rare statistical feat {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/what-5x5-game-basketball-full-list-nba-players/b3099a715b95d64818e99250 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=5x5club.com |url=https://5x5club.com/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=5x5club.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Olajuwon was born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] owners of a cement business in [[Lagos]], Nigeria.<ref name="nbabio">[https://www.nba.com/history/legends/profiles/hakeem-olajuwon "Hakeem Olajuwon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623080541/https://www.nba.com/history/legends/profiles/hakeem-olajuwon |date=June 23, 2020 }}. NBA.com. Retrieved January 3, 2007.</ref><ref>Olajuwon and Knobler, p. 15.</ref> He was the third of eight children. He credits his parents with instilling virtues of hard work and discipline into him and his siblings: "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves."<ref name="nbabio"/> Olajuwon has expressed displeasure at his childhood in Nigeria being characterized as backward. "Lagos is a very cosmopolitan city ... There are many ethnic groups. I grew up in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people."<ref name="Kunta">Blount, Terry (May 22, 1994). [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1203645 "Hakeem: For the record/'Kunta Kinte' image was way off"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020115027/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1203645 |date=October 20, 2012 }}. ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Retrieved November 6, 2010.</ref>

During his youth, Olajuwon was a [[Association football|soccer]] [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] which helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his size and strength in basketball, and also contributed to his shot-blocking ability.<ref name="howerton">Howerton, Darryl. [http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/program_olajuwon.html "It Was All A Dream"]. NBA.com. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213021343/http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/program_olajuwon.html|date=December 13, 2006}}. Retrieved January 2, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon did not play basketball until the age of 15 in high school, when he entered a local tournament while at the Muslim Teachers College in Lagos, Nigeria.<ref name="nbabio" /> It has been said that a coach in Nigeria once asked him to dunk and demonstrated while standing on a chair. Olajuwon then tried to stand on the chair himself. When redirected by staff not to use the chair, he could initially not dunk the basketball.<ref>Rapaport, Ron (April 4, 1983). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830404&id=2rUSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5114,528204 "Olajuwon: He's not the best – yet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405054452/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830404&id=2rUSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5114,528204 |date=April 5, 2022 }}. ''Spokane Chronicle''. Retrieved June 22, 2012.</ref>

Despite early struggles, Olajuwon said, "Basketball is something that is so unique. That immediately I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is the life for me. All the other sports just become obsolete."<ref>''Hakeem Olajuwon: Hakeem the Dream''. [[NBA TV]]. March 1, 2007.</ref>

==College career==
Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to play basketball at the [[University of Houston]] under [[Houston Cougars|Cougars]] coach [[Guy Lewis]]. Olajuwon was not highly recruited and was merely offered a visit to the university to work out for the coaching staff, based on a recommendation from a friend of Lewis who had seen Olajuwon play.<ref>Newman, Chuck. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6347831_ITM Foreign-born players migrating to U.S. college basketball in ever-higher numbers.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212108/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6347831_ITM |date=September 30, 2007 }}, November 15, 1995, accessed March 9, 2007.</ref> He later recalled that when he originally arrived at the airport in 1980 for the visit, no representative of the school was there to greet him. When he called the staff, they told him to take a taxi out to the university.<ref name="nbatv">''NBA TV Over Time:Hakeem Olajuwon'', NBA TV, air date December 26, 2006.</ref>

[[File:Hakeem Olajuwon UH retired number.jpg|thumb|upright|One of only five numbers retired by the [[University of Houston]] men's basketball team, Olajuwon's No. 34 hangs in [[Fertitta Center]].]]
After [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirting]] his freshman year in 1980–81 because he could not yet get clearance from the [[NCAA]] to play,<ref name="Kunta"/> Olajuwon came mostly off the bench and served as the Cougars' [[sixth man]] as a redshirt freshman in 1981–82, averaging 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shooting 60% from the field in 18 minutes per game as Houston was eliminated in the Final Four by the eventual NCAA champion, [[1981–82 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]].<ref name="sports-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html|title=Hakeem Olajuwon College Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=February 9, 2019|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729073921/http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Olajuwon sought advice from the coaching staff about how to increase his playing time, and they advised him to work out with local Houston resident and multiple NBA MVP winner, [[Moses Malone]]. Malone, who was then a center on the NBA's [[1981–82 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]], played games every off-season with several NBA players at the [[Fonde|Fonde Recreation Center]]. Olajuwon joined the workouts and went head to head with Malone in several games throughout the summer. Olajuwon credited this experience with rapidly improving his game: "The way Moses helped me is by being out there playing and allowing me to go against that level of competition. He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best."<ref name="Kunta"/>

Olajuwon returned from that summer a different player. He was nicknamed "the Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream."<ref>{{cite web |title=Hakeem Encyclopedia C-D |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/hakeem_tribute/hakeem_encyclopediaCD.html |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221204227/http://www.nba.com/rockets/hakeem_tribute/hakeem_encyclopediaCD.html |archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> He and his teammates (including [[Clyde Drexler]]) formed what was dubbed "[[Phi Slama Jama]]", the first slam-dunking "fraternity", so named because of its above-the-rim prowess. In his sophomore and junior years he helped the Cougars advance to consecutive [[NCAA Men's Basketball Championship|NCAA championship games]], where they lost to [[1982–83 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team|North Carolina State]] on a last-second tip-in in 1983 and a [[Patrick Ewing]]-led [[1983–84 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team|Georgetown]] team in 1984. He averaged 13.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks in 1982–83 and 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks in 1983–84.<ref name="sports-reference.com"/><ref name=cougar_style>[http://uhcougars.cstv.com/trads/hou-trads-bbcougar.html Basketball – Cougar Style] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208094148/http://uhcougars.cstv.com/trads/hou-trads-bbcougar.html |date=December 8, 2008 }}, uhcougars.cstv.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon was voted the [[NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player|NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player]] in 1983,<ref>[http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=16527 Career Summaries of the First 56 Final Four Most Outstanding Players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026170500/http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=16527 |date=October 26, 2006 }}, collegesportingnews.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> when he was also named the [[Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year|Helms Foundation Player of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Bender|title=It's summer—and basketball is back|date=June 29, 1983|page=B-1|newspaper=Waterloo Courier|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64643382/|access-date=December 5, 2020|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|quote=And only the Athletic Foundation funded by First Interstate Bank (formerly the Helms awards) picked Akeem Abdul Olajuwon of NCAA runnerup Houston as its player of the year.}}</ref>

After the 1983–84 season, when he was named a consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]],<ref name=cougar_style/> Olajuwon debated whether to stay in college or declare early for the NBA draft. At that time, before the [[NBA draft lottery]] was introduced in 1985, the first pick was awarded by coin flip. Olajuwon recalled: "I really believed that Houston was going to win the coin flip and pick the first draft choice, and I really wanted to play in Houston so I had to make that decision (to leave early)."<ref name="nbatv"/> His intuition proved correct, and the toss placed Houston ahead of the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]. Olajuwon was selected first overall by the Rockets in the [[1984 NBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Hakeem Olajuwon {{!}} Biography, Stats, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hakeem-Olajuwon |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

In his autobiography ''Living the Dream'', Olajuwon mentions an intriguing draft trade offered to the Rockets that would have sent [[Clyde Drexler]] and the number two pick in the 1984 NBA draft from Portland in exchange for [[Ralph Sampson]].<ref name="smith">Smith, Sam. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/06/26/draft-deal-stranger-than-1984/ Draft deal stranger than '1984'], ''The Chicago Tribune'', June 26, 2007, accessed March 24, 2013.</ref> Had the Rockets made the deal, Olajuwon states the Rockets could have selected [[Michael Jordan]] with the number two pick to play alongside Olajuwon and Drexler, who had established chemistry playing together during their Phi Slama Jama days in college. Sportswriter [[Sam Smith (sportswriter)|Sam Smith]] speculates that such a trade "would have changed league history and maybe the entire Michael Jordan legend."<ref name="smith"/> From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ NBA & ABA Playoff Index] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320191403/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ |date=March 20, 2019 }}, basketball-reference.com, accessed March 24, 2013.</ref>

==Professional career==

=== Houston Rockets (1984–2001) ===

==== Early years (1984–1987) ====
The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwon's rookie season, as their win–loss record improved from a 29–53 record in [[1983–84 NBA season|1983–84]] to 48–34 in [[1984–85 NBA season|1984–85]].<ref name="dbbb">[http://www.basketballreference.com/teams/teampage.htm?tm=hou&lg=n Houston Rockets page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812032959/http://basketballreference.com/teams/teampage.htm?tm=hou&lg=n |date=August 12, 2015 }}, databasebasketball.com, accessed January 2, 2007.</ref> He teamed with the 1984 [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]], 7&nbsp;ft 4&nbsp;in (2.24&nbsp;m) [[Ralph Sampson]] to form the original NBA "Twin Towers" duo. Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.68 blocks in his rookie season.<ref name="nbaplayer">[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/ Hakeem Olajuwon stats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214135956/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/ |date=December 14, 2007 }}, nba.com, accessed January 28, 2007.</ref> He finished as runner-up to Michael Jordan in the 1985 [[NBA Rookie of the Year|Rookie of the Year]] voting, and was the only other rookie to receive any votes.

Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during his second pro season (1985–86).<ref name="nbaplayer" /> The Rockets finished 51–31,<ref name="dbbb" /> and advanced all the way to the [[NBA Playoffs|Western Conference Finals]] where they faced the defending champion [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. The Rockets won the series fairly easily, four games to one, shocking the sports world and landing Olajuwon on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Olajuwon scored 75 points in victories in games three and four, and after the series Lakers coach [[Pat Riley]] remarked "We tried everything. We put four bodies on him. We helped from different angles. He's just a great player."<ref>Simmons. pg. 192</ref> The Rockets advanced to the [[1986 NBA Finals]] where they lost in six games to the [[Boston Celtics]], whose 1986 team is often considered one of the best teams in NBA history.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/toptenteams_index.html Top 10 teams in NBA History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502092015/http://www.nba.com/history/toptenteams_index.html |date=May 2, 2013 }}, nba.com/history, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> 

On March 10, 1987, Hakeem Olajuwon came remarkably close to recording the first quintuple-double in NBA history that was tracked. In a dominant performance against the [[Golden State Warriors]], Olajuwon recorded 38 points, 17 rebounds, 12 blocks, 7 steals, and 6 assists. The game is widely regarded as one of the most complete individual efforts in basketball history, showcasing Olajuwon’s rare two-way dominance. While he fell just four assists and three steals short of the unprecedented feat, his performance remains one of the closest any player has ever come to achieving a '''quintuple-double''' in an official NBA game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Key |first=Tyler |date=2021-12-05 |title=The Forgotten Box Score Series: Hakeem Olajuwon Flirts With a Quintuple-Double |url=https://studentunionsports.com/the-forgotten-box-score-series-hakeem-olajuwon-flirts-with-a-quintuple-double/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Student Union Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Mid-career years (1987–1993) ====
[[File:Jawann Oldham 1986-87.jpg|thumb|right|Olajuwon (right) defending [[Jawann Oldham]] on November 25, 1986]]
During the [[1987–88 NBA season|1987–88 season]], Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the [[Golden State Warriors]]. The [[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89 season]] was Olajuwon's first full season as the Rockets' undisputed leader. This change also coincided with the hiring of new coach [[Don Chaney]]. The Rockets ended the regular season with a record of 45–37,<ref name="dbbb" /> and Olajuwon finished the season as the league leader in [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] (13.5 per game) by a full rebound per game over Charles Barkley. This performance was consistent with his averages of 24.8 [[point (basketball)|points]] and 3.4 [[block (basketball)|blocks]].<ref name="dbbbHO">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061208163936/http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=OLAJUHA01 Hakeem Olajuwon]}} databasebasketball.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon posted exceptional playoff numbers of 37.5 ppg and 16.8 rpg, plus a record for points in a four-game playoff series (150).<ref name="nbaplayerfile">[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html Hakeem Olajuwon's page at nba.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516203041/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html |date=May 16, 2008 }}, nba.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> Nevertheless, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1.

The [[1989–90 NBA season|1989–90 season]] was a disappointment for the Rockets. They finished the season with a 41–41 record,<ref name="dbbb" /> and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated in four games by Los Angeles. Olajuwon put up one of the most productive defensive seasons by an interior player in the history of the NBA. He won the NBA rebounding crown (14.0 per game) again, this time by an even larger margin; a full two [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] per game over [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]], and led the league in [[block (basketball)|blocks]] by averaging 4.6 per game.<ref name="dbbbHO"/> He is the only player since the NBA started recording blocked shots in [[1973–74 NBA season|1973–74]] to average 14+ [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] and 4.5+ blocked shots per game in the same season. In doing so he joined [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] and [[Bill Walton]] as the only players in NBA history (at that point) to lead the league in rebounding and shot-blocking in the same season.<ref name="nbaplayerfile"/> Olajuwon also recorded a [[quadruple-double]] during the season,<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/HOU19900329.html Milwaukee Bucks at Houston Rockets, March 29, 1990] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030318/http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/HOU19900329.html |date=October 1, 2007 }}, basketball-reference.com, accessed January 26, 2007.</ref> becoming only the third player in NBA history to do so.

The Rockets finished the [[1990–91 NBA season|1990–91 season]] with a record of 52–30<ref name="dbbb" /> under [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] Chaney. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points per game in 1990–91, but due to an injury to his eyesocket caused by an elbow from [[Bill Cartwright]],<ref name="nbabio"/> did not play in enough games (56) to qualify for the rebounding title. Otherwise, he would have won it for a third consecutive year, averaging 13.8 a game (league leader Robinson averaged 13.0 rpg). He also averaged a league-leading 3.95 [[block (basketball)|blocks]] per game.<ref name="BR">[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html Hakeem Olajuwon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525025141/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html |date=May 25, 2012 }}, basketball-reference.com, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html 1990–91 NBA season summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704063000/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html |date=July 4, 2011 }}, basketball-reference.com, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs by the LA Lakers.

The [[1991–92 NBA season|following season]] was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwon's tenure. They finished 42–40,<ref name="dbbb" /> and missed the playoffs for the first time in Olajuwon's career. He missed two weeks early in the season due to an accelerated heartbeat.<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1068885 Rockets return Kite to Orlando – Heart problem causes center to fail physical] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114805/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1068885 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', July 7, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> Despite his usual strong numbers, he could not lift his team out of mediocrity. Since making the Finals in 1986, the Rockets had made the playoffs five times, but their record in those playoff series was 1–5 and they were eliminated in the first round four times. Following the season, Olajuwon requested a trade in part because of his bad contract; his salary was considerably low for a top center, and his contract specifically forbade re-negotiation.<ref name="class">Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1086497 Olajuwon's salary short of fair market value] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114820/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1086497 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', October 11, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> He also expressed displeasure with the organization's efforts to surround him with quality players. He felt the Rockets had cut corners at every turn, and were more concerned with the bottom line than winning.<ref>Blinebury, Fran. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1050543 Dream ends for Hakeem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020115056/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1050543 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', April 21, 1992, accessed November 6, 2010.</ref> Management had also infuriated Olajuwon during the season when they accused him of faking a hamstring injury because of his unhappiness over his contract situation.<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1044350 Olajuwon, Rockets trade shots/Club accuses star of feigning injury] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114944/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1044350 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', March 22, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> His agent cited his differences with the organization as being "irreconcilable",<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1069946 Agent: Olajuwon remains firm on leaving Rockets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114809/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1069946 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', July 26, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> and Olajuwon publicly insulted owner Charlie Thomas and the team's front office.<ref name="class"/><ref>Blinebury, Fran. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1086190 A Treetop view of Rockets' woes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114832/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1086190 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', October 10, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> With the [[1992–93 NBA season|1992–93 season]] approaching, a reporter for the ''Houston Chronicle'' said that Olajuwon being dealt was "as close to a sure thing as there is."<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1074550 One more piece of bad news comes to the Rockets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114848/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1074550 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', August 16, 1992, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref>

Nonetheless, he was not traded and the Rockets began the season with a new coach, [[Rudy Tomjanovich]]. Olajuwon improved his passing in 1992–93,<ref>Blinebury, Fran. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1162859 NBA '93/Why not the Rockets as champs?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114955/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1162859 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', October 31, 1993, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> setting a new career-high of 3.5 [[assist (basketball)|assists]] per game.<ref name="dbbbHO" /> This willingness to pass the ball increased his scoring, making it more difficult for opposing teams to double and triple-team him. Olajuwon set a new career-high with 26.1 [[point (basketball)|points]] per game.<ref name="dbbbHO" /> The Rockets set a new franchise record with 55 wins,<ref name="dbbb" /> and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, pushing the Seattle SuperSonics to a seventh game before losing in overtime, 103–100. He finished second in the MVP race to [[Charles Barkley]] with 22 votes to Barkley's 59.<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1131688 Sun's Sir Charles tips MVP crown to Hakeem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020115045/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1131688 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', May 29, 1993, accessed November 6, 2010.</ref> The team rewarded him with a four-year contract extension toward the end of the regular season.<ref>Blinebury, Fran. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1162301 Money explosion annoys Alexander] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020115004/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1162301 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', October 28, 1993, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref>

====MVP and championship years (1993–1995) ====
Olajuwon gained a reputation as a [[Clutch (sports)|clutch]] performer and as one of the top centers in history based on his performances in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons.<ref name="top5">[https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-GreatestCenters Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325001933/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-GreatestCenters |date=March 25, 2007 }}, espn.com, March 6, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007.</ref> He outplayed centers such as [[Patrick Ewing]], [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]], [[Shaquille O'Neal]], and [[Dikembe Mutombo]], and other defensive stalwarts such as [[Dennis Rodman]] and [[Karl Malone]]. Many of his battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]] of the [[San Antonio Spurs]].<ref name="bestmid90s">[http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/Hakeem_Olajuwon_The_NBAs_Bes-91094-34.html Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best In The Mid ’90s] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104124225/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/Hakeem_Olajuwon_The_NBAs_Bes-91094-34.html |date=November 4, 2005 }}, nba.com/rockets, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> In the 30 head–to–head match-ups during the seven seasons from 1989 to 1996, when both Olajuwon and Robinson were in their primes, Olajuwon averaged 26.3 points per game, shooting 47.6% from the field, while Robinson averaged 22.1 and 46.8%.

Olajuwon led the Rockets to a championship in the [[1994 NBA Finals]] in a seven-game series against the [[New York Knicks]], the team of one of Olajuwon's perennial rivals since his collegiate days, [[Patrick Ewing]]. After being down 2–1, the Knicks took a 3–2 lead into Game 6. The Rockets were defending an 86–84 lead when in the last second, Knicks [[Shooting guard|guard]] [[John Starks (basketball)|John Starks]] (who had already scored 27 points) went up for what would have been a Finals-winning three. Olajuwon pulled off a clutch play by blocking the shot as time expired.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19931994.html Houston's Championship: Dream Come True] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222164530/http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19931994.html |date=February 22, 2012 }}, nba.com/history, accessed April 20, 2007.</ref> In Game 7, Olajuwon posted a game–high 25 points and 10 rebounds, which helped defeat the Knicks, bringing the first professional sports championship to [[Houston]] since the [[Houston Oilers]] won the [[American Football League]] championship in 1961. Olajuwon dominated Ewing in their head–to–head match-up, outscoring him in every game of the series and averaging 26.9 points per game on 50% shooting, compared to Ewing's 18.9 and 36.3%.<ref name="hollywood">[http://www.hollywoodsportsbook.com/nbafinals/mvp_olajuwon94.cfm History of the NBA Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510144933/http://www.hollywoodsportsbook.com/nbafinals/mvp_olajuwon94.cfm |date=May 10, 2007 }}, hollywoodsportsbook.com, accessed January 2, 2007.</ref> For his efforts Olajuwon was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals Most Valuable Player]].

Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. In 1994, he became the only player in [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] history to win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.<ref name="nbasum">[http://www.nba.com/history/players/olajuwon_summary.html nba.com/history player summary-Hakeem Olajuwon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103224751/http://www.nba.com/history/players/olajuwon_summary.html |date=November 3, 2006 }}, nba.com/history, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> He was also the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award.<ref name="Ethnicity">Harris, Nolte, and Kirsch. pg. 345</ref>

On December 1, 1994, Olajuwon recorded a triple-double 37 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a 113–109 win over the Golden State Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199412010GSW.html|title=Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors Box Score, December 1, 1994|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209154253/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199412010GSW.html|url-status=live}}</ref> But despite a slow start by the team, and Olajuwon missing eight games toward the end of the season with [[anemia]],<ref>Brown, Clifton. [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/06/sports/1995-nba-playoffs-olajuwon-plays-above-the-rim-in-the-stratosphere.html?scp=2&sq=Hakeem+Olajuwon&st=nyt 1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Olajuwon Plays Above the Rim, in the Stratosphere] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003094125/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/06/sports/1995-nba-playoffs-olajuwon-plays-above-the-rim-in-the-stratosphere.html?scp=2&sq=Hakeem+Olajuwon&st=nyt |date=October 3, 2016 }}, ''The New York Times'', June 6, 1995, accessed November 5, 2010.</ref> the Rockets repeated as champions in 1995. They were bolstered in part by the acquisition of Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's former [[University of Houston]] "Phi Slama Jama" teammate, in a mid-season trade from the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]. Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game during the regular season.<ref name="BR"/> Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, recently crowned [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|league MVP]], was outplayed by Olajuwon in the Conference Finals: Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points on .560 shooting (Robinson's numbers were 23.8 and .449) and outscored Robinson 81–41 in the final two games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/Hakeem_Olajuwon_The_NBAs_Bes-91094-34.html |title=ROCKETS: Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best in the Mid '90s |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=December 12, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104124225/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/Hakeem_Olajuwon_The_NBAs_Bes-91094-34.html |archive-date=November 4, 2005}}, NBA.com, Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best In The Mid '90s, accessed May 20, 2011.</ref> In the series-clinching game, Olajuwon recorded 39 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199506010HOU.html|title=San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets Box Score, June 1, 1995|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=May 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503065513/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199506010HOU.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told [[Life (magazine)|''LIFE'' magazine]]: "Hakeem? You don't solve Hakeem."<ref name="nbabio" /> The Rockets won every road game that series. In the [[1995 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], the Rockets swept the [[Orlando Magic]], who were led by a young [[Shaquille O'Neal]]. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game,<ref name="hollywood" /> scoring more than 30 points in each and raising his regular-season rate by five while O'Neal's production dropped by one.<ref>[http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1995.htm 1995 NBA Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209155451/http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1995.htm |date=December 9, 2022 }}, webuns.chez, accessed January 2, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon was again named Finals MVP. He averaged 33.0 points on .531 shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks in the 1995 Playoffs.<ref name="nbabio"/> As in 1994, Olajuwon was the only Rockets All-Star.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1995.html 1994 NBA All-Star Game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808160607/https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1995.html |date=August 8, 2019 }}, basketball-reference.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref>

==== Post-championship period (1995–2001) ====
[[file:Hakeemsigningautocropped.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Olajuwon signing autographs]]
The Rockets' two-year championship run ended when they were eliminated in the second round of the [[1996 NBA Playoffs]] by the eventual Western Conference Champion [[Seattle SuperSonics]]. [[Michael Jordan]] had returned from an 18-month hiatus in March 1995, and his [[Chicago Bulls]] dominated the league for the next three years (1996–98). The Bulls and Rockets never met in the NBA Playoffs. The Rockets posted a 57–win season in [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]] when they added [[Charles Barkley]] to their roster. They started the season 21–2,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529072810/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamscores.htm?tm=HOU&lg=n&yr=1996 Houston Rockets 1996–97 Game Log and Scores]}}, databasebasketball.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> but lost the Western Conference Finals in six games to the [[Utah Jazz]]. After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 1995–96 and 1996–97 respectively, Olajuwon's point production dipped to 16.4 in 1997–98.<ref name="dbbbHO"/> After the Rockets lost in the first round in five games to the Jazz in 1998,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071014222951/http://databasebasketball.com/teams/teamscores.htm?tm=HOU&yr=1997&lg=N Houston Rockets 1997–98 Game Log and Scores]}}, databasebasketball.com, accessed April 29, 2007.</ref> Drexler retired. In 1998–99 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star [[Scottie Pippen]] and finished 31–19 in the [[lockout (industry)|lockout]]-shortened regular season. Olajuwon's scoring production rose to 18.9 points per game,<ref name="dbbbHO"/> and he made his twelfth and final [[All-NBA Team]].<ref name="nbaplayerfile"/> However, they lost in the first round again, this time to the Lakers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060513050221/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamscores.htm?tm=HOU&yr=1998&lg=n Houston Rockets 1998–99 Game Log and Scores]}}, databasebasketball.com, accessed April 20, 2007.</ref> After the season, Pippen was traded to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]].

=== Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) ===
Houston began to rebuild, bringing in young guards [[Cuttino Mobley]] and 2000 NBA co-Rookie of the Year [[Steve Francis]]. On August 2, 2001,<ref name="nbastats">[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/ Hakeem Olajuwon's page at nba.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214135956/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/ |date=December 14, 2007 }}, nba.com, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> after refusing a $13 million deal with the Rockets, Olajuwon was traded to the [[Toronto Raptors]] for draft picks (the highest of which was used by Houston to draft [[Boštjan Nachbar]] at #15 in the 2002 NBA draft), with the player having a three-year contract that would give him $18 million. In his first game with the Raptors, he scored 11 points in just 22 minutes of playing time against the Magic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200110300ORL.html|title=Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic Box Score, October 30, 2001|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209171740/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200110300ORL.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Olajuwon averaged career lows of 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in what would be his final season in the NBA, as he decided to retire in the fall of 2002, due to a back injury.<ref name="nbastats"/><ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429101852/http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0930/1439379.html|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0930/1439379.html|archive-date=April 29, 2005|title=Raptors anticipate injured Olajuwon will retire|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=September 30, 2002|url-status=live|access-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Olajuwon retired as the all–time league leader in total blocked shots with 3,830, although shot-blocking did not become an official statistic until the [[1973–74 NBA season]].

Shortly after his retirement, his No. 34 jersey was retired by the Rockets. For his NBA career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points on 51% shooting, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks in 1,238 career games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html|title=Hakeem Olajuwon Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=April 8, 2022|archive-date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525025141/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==National team career==
In 1980, before arriving in the US, Olajuwon played for a Nigerian junior team in the All-Africa Games. This created some problems when he tried to play for the [[United States men's national basketball team]] initially.<ref name="SI">[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/events/1996/olympics/daily/july20/dream.html Dream's Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523132400/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/events/1996/olympics/daily/july20/dream.html |date=May 23, 2012 }}, ''Sports Illustrated'', 1996.</ref> [[FIBA]] rules prohibit players from representing more than one country in international competition, and players must go through a three-year waiting period for any nationality change. Olajuwon was ineligible for selection to the "[[United States men's national basketball team|Dream Team]]" as he hadn't become a US citizen.<ref name="SI"/>

Olajuwon became a naturalized American citizen on April 2, 1993.<ref name="SI"/> For the 1996 Olympics, he received a FIBA exemption and was eligible to play for [[United States men's national basketball team#Olympics|Dream Team III]]. The team went on to win the gold medal in Atlanta. During the tournament, he shared his minutes with [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]]. He played 7 out of the 8 games and started 2. He averaged 5 points and 3.1 rebounds and had 8 assists and 6 steals in seven games.

==Player profile==

{{quote box |align=right| width=40%| text = If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. It leaves out a lot of people. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. People don't realize he was in the top seven [in NBA history] in steals. He always made great decisions on the court. For all facets of the game, I have to give it to him.|author = —[[Michael Jordan]]<ref name="Cigar">Shanken, Marvin. [http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,213,00.html One-on-One with Michael Jordan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722083727/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,213,00.html |date=2010-07-22 }}, ''Cigar Aficionado'', September 1, 2005, accessed July 13, 2010.</ref>}}

Olajuwon was highly skilled as both an offensive and defensive player. On defense, his rare combination of quickness and strength allowed him to guard a wide range of players effectively. He was noted for both his outstanding shot-blocking ability and his unique talent (for a frontcourt player) for stealing the ball. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game for his career.<ref name="nbastats"/> He is the only center to rank among the top ten all-time in [[Steal (basketball)|steals]].<ref name="nbastats"/> Olajuwon was also an outstanding [[rebound (basketball)|rebounder]], with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game.<ref name="nbastats"/> He led the NBA in rebounding twice, during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He was twice named the [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year]], and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Defensive Player of the Year award as The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.<ref>{{cite news |title=NBA renaming MVP after Jordan in awards update |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35243492/nba-naming-mvp-michael-jordan-top-awards-reimagined |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107175444/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35243492/nba-naming-mvp-michael-jordan-top-awards-reimagined |url-status=live }}</ref>

On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft shooting touch around the basket and his nimble footwork in the [[low post]]. With the ball, Hakeem displayed a vast array of fakes and spin moves, highlighted in his signature "Dream Shake" (see below). He was a prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game for his career,<ref name="nbabio"/> and an above-average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game.<ref name="nbabio"/> Additionally, Olajuwon became a skilled dribbler with an ability to score in "face-up" situations like a perimeter player.<ref>Araton, Harvey. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E3DD153AF93BA35755C0A962958260 ON PRO BASKETBALL; Feet of Dancer, Touch of Surgeon, and a Shot, Too] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206165822/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E3DD153AF93BA35755C0A962958260 |date=December 6, 2008 }}, ''New York Times'', June 8, 1994, accessed April 1, 2008.</ref> He is one of only four players to have recorded a [[quadruple-double]] in the NBA, which have only been possible since the 1973–74 season, when blocked shots and steals were first kept as statistics in the NBA. In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Olajuwon as the 11th greatest player in NBA history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3102533/2022/02/04/nba-75-at-no-11-hakeem-olajuwon-used-his-agility-and-athleticism-to-dominate-on-the-court-and-inspire-a-generation/ | title=NBA 75: At No. 11, Hakeem Olajuwon used his agility and athleticism to dominate on the court — and inspire a generation | work=The New York Times | access-date=March 11, 2023 | archive-date=March 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311002833/https://theathletic.com/3102533/2022/02/04/nba-75-at-no-11-hakeem-olajuwon-used-his-agility-and-athleticism-to-dominate-on-the-court-and-inspire-a-generation/ | url-status=live | last1=Guillory | first1=William | date=October 7, 2022 }}</ref>

===''Dream Shake''===
{{blockquote|The best footwork I've ever seen from a big man.|
[[Pete Newell]]<ref name="howerton"/>}}

Olajuwon established himself as an unusually skilled offensive player for a big man, perfecting a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark ''Dream Shake''. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of "big man" footwork.<ref name="howerton"/> [[Shaquille O'Neal]] stated: "Hakeem has five moves, then four countermoves – that gives him 20 moves."<ref name="nbabio"/> Olajuwon himself traced the move back to the soccer-playing days of his youth. "The Dream Shake was actually one of my soccer moves which I translated to basketball. It would accomplish one of three things: one, to misdirect the opponent and make him go the opposite way; two, to freeze the opponent and leave him devastated in his tracks; three, to shake off the opponent and giving him no chance to contest the shot."<ref name="howerton"/> The Dream Shake was very difficult to defend, much like [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]'s [[hook shot|sky-hook]].<ref name="howerton"/>

One notable Dream Shake happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. With David Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with Olajuwon and remained planted. Olajuwon spun counterclockwise and faked a jump shot. Robinson, who was voted the 1995 NBA MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup.<ref name="D-Rob">Murohy, Michael. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1276886 The Dream Shake/Legendary, elusive move earns place in history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016070403/http://chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1276886 |date=October 16, 2007 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', May 28, 1995, accessed March 16, 2007.</ref>

Olajuwon has referred to basketball as a science, and described his signature move in vivid detail: "When the point guard throws me the ball, I jump to get the ball. But this jump is the set-up for the second move, the baseline move. I call it the 'touch landing.' The defender is waiting for me to come down because I jumped but I'm gone before I land. Defenders say 'Wow, he's quick,' but they don't know that where I'm going is predetermined. He's basing it on quickness, but the jump is to set him up. Before I come down, I make my move. When you jump, you turn as you land. Boom! The defender can't react because he's waiting for you to come down to defend you. Now, the first time when you showed that quickness, he has to react to that quickness, so you can fake baseline and go the other way with your jump hook. All this is part of the Dream Shake. The Dream Shake is you dribble and then you jump; now you don't have a [[pivot foot]]. When I dribble I move it so when I come here, I jump. By jumping, I don't have a pivot foot now. I dribble so now I can use either foot. I can go this way or this way. So he's frozen, he doesn't know which way I'm going to go. That is the shake. You put him in the mix and you jump stop and now you have choice of pivot foot. He doesn't know where you're gonna turn and when."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bobb|first=Maurice|title=SLAM 147: Hall of Famer and low-post wizard Hakeem Olajuwon is happy to share his knowledge with today's stars.|date=March 26, 2011|url=http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2011/03/masterpiece-theater/|publisher=SLAM Online|access-date=March 28, 2011|archive-date=September 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911034256/http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2011/03/masterpiece-theater/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996, in Houston.<ref name="nba.com/rockets">[http://www.nba.com/rockets/hakeem_tribute/hakeem_encyclopediaNO.html Hakeem Tribute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201082415/http://www.nba.com/rockets/hakeem_tribute/hakeem_encyclopediaNO.html |date=February 1, 2015 }}, nba.com/rockets, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> The couple have four children together.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grobeck |first=Joe |date=13 December 2021 |title=Hakeem Olajuwon's Net Worth: How "The Dream" Built a Staggering Fortune |url=https://fanbuzz.com/nba/hakeem-olajuwon-net-worth/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828233245/https://fanbuzz.com/nba/hakeem-olajuwon-net-worth/ |archive-date=August 28, 2022 |access-date=28 August 2022 |work=FanBuzz}}</ref> Olajuwon also has an older daughter, [[Abi Olajuwon|Abisola]] from a previous relationship with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college. Abisola represented the West Girls in the [[McDonald's All-American Game]] and played in the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]].<ref>Caldwell, Deborah. [http://www.backtoislam.com/?p=8 Hakeem] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306115933/http://www.backtoislam.com/?p=8 |date=March 6, 2006 }}, backtoislam.com, accessed January 2, 2007.</ref> Two of his sons, Abdullah and Abdulrahman, represent [[Jordan men's national basketball team|Jordan]] in international basketball, making their debut in the [[2025 FIBA Asia Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Zero pressure as Abdullah Olajuwon proves worth in Jordan debut |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-asiacup-2025/news/zero-pressure-as-abdullah-olajuwon-proves-worth-in-jordan-debut |website=FIBA Basketball |date=August 6, 2025 |access-date=7 August 2025}}</ref>

In addition to English, Olajuwon is fluent in French, [[Arabic language|Arabic]], and [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]].<ref name="Ethnicity"/> He wrote his autobiography, ''Living the Dream'', with co-author [[Peter Knobler]] in 1996. During his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon earned more than $110 million in salary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html|title=Hakeem Olajuwon|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=October 20, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525025141/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Olajuwon's rookie year he signed a 5-year agreement for $2.5 million, to endorse Etonic Shoes with a Signature line, the Dream Shoe. Later in his career, he signed a shoe endorsement deal with [[LA Gear]], and became the face of [[Spalding (sports equipment)|Spalding]]'s athletic shoe line and endorsed a sneaker that retailed in various outlets (such as [[Payless ShoeSource]]) for $34.99.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/may/27/how-hakeem-olajuwon-tried-and-failed-to-stop-the-90s-sneaker-killings | title = How Hakeem Olajuwon tried and failed to stop the 90s sneaker killings | last = Baumgaertner | first = Gabriel | date = May 27, 2015 | website = The Guardian | access-date = December 17, 2015 | archive-date = December 22, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145015/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/may/27/how-hakeem-olajuwon-tried-and-failed-to-stop-the-90s-sneaker-killings | url-status = live }}</ref> This made him one of the very few well-known players in any professional sport to endorse a sneaker not from [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], [[Reebok]], [[Adidas]], or other high-visibility retail brands. As Olajuwon declared: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? ... She can't. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. Sometimes they kill for them."<ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor |first=Betsy |url=http://www.newdream.org/newsletter/taylor.php |title=Can We Have Social Justice In A Commercial Culture? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312054858/http://www.newdream.org/newsletter/taylor.php |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |website=[[New Dream]] |access-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref>

===Higher education===
Attending college was also an important priority for Olajuwon. At the University of Houston, Olajuwon was a physical education major.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uh.edu/pride-stories/hakeem-olajuwon/hakeem-story/index.php | title=Living the Dream – University of Houston | publisher=University of Houston | access-date=August 24, 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817102052/http://www.uh.edu/pride-stories/hakeem-olajuwon/hakeem-story/index.php | archive-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref>

===Muslim faith===
In Olajuwon's college career and early years in the NBA, he was often undisciplined, talking back to officials, getting in minor fights with other players and amassing technical fouls. Later, Olajuwon took an active interest in spirituality,<ref>Abdul Malik Mujahid, [http://soundvision.com/info/peace/hakeem.asp Tawakkul] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629194456/http://soundvision.com/info/peace/hakeem.asp |date=June 29, 2006 }}, soundvision.com, accessed January 2, 2007.</ref> becoming a more devout [[Muslim]]. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem, saying, "I'm not changing the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it".<ref name="Olajuwon pg. 207">Olajuwon and Knobler. pg. 207</ref> He later recalled, "I studied the [[Qur'an]] every day. At home, at the mosque ... I would read it in airplanes, before games and after them. I was soaking up the faith and learning new meanings each time I turned a page. I didn't dabble in the faith, I gave myself over to it."<ref name="Olajuwon pg. 207"/> "His religion dominates his life", Drexler said in 1995.<ref>Feigen, Jonathan. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281366 Keeping the Faith – Olajuwon's, Rockets' quiet confidence has roots in Mecca] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020114800/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281366 |date=October 20, 2012 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', September 6, 1995, accessed November 4, 2010.</ref> Olajuwon was recognized as one of the league's elite centers even while observing [[Ramadan]] (i.e., abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset during the lunar month of Ramadan on the Islamic calendar), which occurred during the playing season throughout his career. Olajuwon was noted as sometimes playing better during the month of Ramadan, and in 1995 he was named [[NBA Player of the Month]] in February, even though [[Ramadan]] began on February 1 of that year.<ref name="nbabio"/><ref name="ramadaninfo">[http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/r.school.asp Ramadan: Fact Sheet for Teachers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517014157/http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/r.school.asp |date=May 17, 2007 }}, soundvision.com, accessed May 20, 2007.</ref>

==Post-NBA life==
Olajuwon played for 20 consecutive seasons in Houston, first collegiately for the University of Houston Cougars and then professionally with the Houston Rockets.<ref name="nbabio" /> He is considered a Houston icon and one of the city's most beloved citizens.<ref>Associated Press. [http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1108/1457890.html Rockets to send out Olajuwon in style Saturday night] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604003949/http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1108/1457890.html |date=June 4, 2010 }}, via espn.com, November 8, 2003 accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon has had great success in the Houston [[real estate]] market, with his estimated profits exceeding $100 million. He buys in cash-only purchases, as it is against [[sharia|Islamic law]] to [[riba|pay interest]].<ref>Murphy, Kate. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/realestate/commercial/06houston.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin A Slam Dunk in Real Estate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223214334/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/realestate/commercial/06houston.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin |date=February 23, 2017 }}, ''The New York Times'', December 6, 2006, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon splits his time between [[Jordan]], where he moved with his family to pursue Islamic studies,<ref name="howerton"/> and his ranch near Houston.

In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Camp, where he teaches young frontcourt players the finer points of playing in the post. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team, he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players. When asked whether the league was becoming more guard-oriented and big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, "For a big man who is just big, maybe. But not if you play with speed, with agility. It will always be a big man's game if the big man plays the right way. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team." He runs the camp for free.<ref name= "Blinebury">Blinebury, Fran. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4093612.html Here's How it Done] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604104320/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4093612.html |date=June 4, 2011 }}, ''Houston Chronicle'', August 4, 2006, accessed March 9, 2007.</ref> Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players, including power forward [[Emeka Okafor]],<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-061125-26 Daily Dime-November 26, 2006], ESPN.com, accessed December 7, 2006.</ref> and center [[Yao Ming]].<ref>Sefko, Eddie. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/100606dnspomavscamp.2b8db59.html Thursday in Mavericks Camp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114041453/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/100606dnspomavscamp.2b8db59.html |date=November 14, 2006 }}, ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'', October 5, 2006, accessed January 3, 2007.</ref><ref>Associated press. [https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2879460 Yao works out with Olajuwon], espn.com, May 22, 2007, accessed May 29, 2007.</ref> In September 2009, he also worked with [[Kobe Bryant]] on the post moves and the Dream Shake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/kobe-putting-olajuwons-post-moves--nba.html |title=Kobe putting Olajuwon's post moves to work |website=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |language=en-US |date=November 6, 2009 |access-date=June 2, 2018 |author=J. E. Skeets}}</ref> In 2010, Olajuwon worked with [[Dwight Howard]], helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus.<ref>Sify News. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101027152910/http://sify.com/news/olajuwon-keeps-the-dream-alive-in-dwight-howard-news-news-kkow5iefjga.html Olajuwon keeps 'The Dream' alive in Dwight Howard], sify.com, October 14, 2010, accessed October 14, 2010.</ref> In the 2011 offseason, [[LeBron James]] flew to Houston and spent time working with Olajuwon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9109245/how-lebron-james-transformed-game-become-highly-efficient-scoring-machine|title=The Evolution of King James|last=Goldsberry|first=Kirk|date=March 29, 2013|work=Grantland|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114040442/http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9109245/how-lebron-james-transformed-game-become-highly-efficient-scoring-machine|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|author=Ibrahim Arch|title=Hakeem Olajuwon & LeBron James Training Sessions 2011|date=January 28, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF0vQGFpHrs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/yF0vQGFpHrs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=June 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Olajuwon has also worked with [[Ömer Aşık]], [[Donatas Motiejūnas]], [[Amar'e Stoudemire]], [[Carmelo Anthony]], [[JaVale McGee]] and [[Kenneth Faried]]. In an interview with the [[Sporting News]] in April 2016, Olajuwon said that Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student. He stated, "I’ve worked with a lot of players, but the one who really capitalized on it the most is Kobe Bryant. When I watch him play, he’ll go down in the post comfortably, naturally, and he’ll execute it perfectly."<ref>{{cite web|author=Adi Joseph|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/hakeem-olajuwon-houston-rockets-post-moves-kobe-bryant-anthony-davis/1jcboker9fbqz12h04gtyuef7a|title=Hakeem Olajuwon says Kobe Bryant was his greatest success as a coach|publisher=[[Sporting News]]|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=September 26, 2021|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927043835/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/hakeem-olajuwon-houston-rockets-post-moves-kobe-bryant-anthony-davis/1jcboker9fbqz12h04gtyuef7a|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ben DuBose|url=https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2020/01/29/hakeem-olajuwon-said-kobe-bryant-was-his-best-low-post-student/|title=Hakeem Olajuwon said Kobe Bryant was his best low-post student|publisher=[[USA Today Sports Weekly]]|date=January 29, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2021|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927043833/https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2020/01/29/hakeem-olajuwon-said-kobe-bryant-was-his-best-low-post-student/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Olajuwon was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] as a member of the class of 2008. On April 10, 2008, the Rockets unveiled a sculpture in honor of him outside the [[Toyota Center]].

Olajuwon attended the [[2013 NBA draft]] to bid farewell to retiring commissioner [[David Stern]] as Stern made his announcement for the final pick of the first round. Olajuwon was the first pick announced by Stern back in [[1984 NBA draft|1984]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/video-hakeem-olajuwon-surprises-david-stern-at-nba-draft/ |title=VIDEO: Hakeem Olajuwon surprises David Stern at NBA Draft |last=Norlander |first=Matt |date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005090024/https://cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/video-hakeem-olajuwon-surprises-david-stern-at-nba-draft/ |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[CBSSports.com]]}}</ref>

On August 1, 2015, Olajuwon made a special appearance for Team Africa at the [[NBA Africa Game 2015|2015 NBA Africa exhibition game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13359599|title=NBA stars, legends shine in Africa exhibition|date=August 1, 2015|website=ESPN.com|access-date=December 10, 2018|archive-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010229/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13359599|url-status=live}}</ref> He became a member of the [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/news/2016-class-of-fiba-hall-of-fame-inducted|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829130208/http://www.fiba.com/news/2016-class-of-fiba-hall-of-fame-inducted|url-status=live|archive-date=August 29, 2016|title=2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame inducted|work=FIBA.com|date=August 27, 2016|access-date=August 28, 2016}}</ref>

==Awards and achievements==
'''NBA'''
* 2× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|1994}}, {{nbafy|1995}})
* 2× [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] ({{nbafy|1994}}, {{nbafy|1995}})
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] ({{nbay|1993|end}})
* 2× [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] ({{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}})
* 12× [[List of NBA All-Stars|NBA All-Star]] ([[1985 NBA All-Star Game|1985]]–[[1990 NBA All-Star Game|1990]], [[1992 NBA All-Star Game|1992]]–[[1997 NBA All-Star Game|1997]])
* 6× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA First Team]] ({{nbay|1986|end}}–{{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}}, {{nbay|1996|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1985|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1994|end}}, {{nbay|1998|end}})
* 5× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|NBA All-Defensive First Team]] ({{nbay|1986|end}}, {{nbay|1987|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}})
* 4× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|NBA All-Defensive Second Team]] ({{nbay|1984|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}}, {{nbay|1996|end}})
* [[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|1984|end}})
* 2× [[List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders|NBA rebounding leader]] ({{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}})
* 3× [[List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders|NBA blocks leader]] ({{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1992|end}})
* 6× [[NBA Player of the Month and Week#Notable Records|NBA Player of the Month]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Players of the Month |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/pom.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 12× [[NBA Player of the Month and Week#Notable Records|NBA Player of the Week]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Players of the Week |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/pow.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Named one of the [[50 Greatest Players in NBA History]] (1996).
* Named to the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]
* No. 34 [[Houston Rockets retired numbers|retired by Houston Rockets]]
* The [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] award was renamed The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Renames Defensive Player of Year Award in Honor of Hakeem Olajuwon {{!}} Houston Rockets |url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/nba-renames-defensive-player-of-year-award-in-honor-of-hakeem-olajuwon |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref>

'''USA Basketball'''
* [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic]] Gold Medal ([[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996]])

'''NCAA'''
* 2× [[Southwest Conference|SWC]] Regular Season Champion ([[1982–83 Houston Cougars men's basketball team|1983]], [[1983–84 Houston Cougars men's basketball team|1984]])
* 2× [[Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament|SWC Tournament]] Champion ([[1983 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament|1983]], [[1984 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament|1984]])
* [[NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player]] ([[1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1983]])
* [[Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year|Helms Foundation Player of the Year]] ([[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1983]])
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans#1984 Consensus All-America team|1984]])
** [[Associated Press|AP]] first-team All-American ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans#Individual All-America teams|1984]])
** [[U.S. Basketball Writers Association|USBWA]] first-team All-American ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans#Individual All-America teams|1984]])
** [[National Association of Basketball Coaches|NABC]] first-team All-American ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans#Individual All-America teams|1984]])
** [[United Press International|UPI]] second-team All-American ([[1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans#Individual All-America teams|1984]])
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders|NCAA rebounding leader]] (1984)
* [[Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|SWC Player of the Year]] (1984)
* First-team All-[[Southwest Conference|SWC]] (1984)
* Second-team All-SWC (1983)
* No. 34 [[Houston Cougars men's basketball retired numbers|retired by Houston Cougars]]

'''Media'''
* [[The Sporting News|''Sporting News'']] NBA MVP (1994)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Sporting News MVP Award Winners |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/tsn_mvp.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[The Sporting News|''Sporting News'']] 1990s NBA All-Decade First Team<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-27 |title=The 1990s NBA All-Decade Team {{!}} Sporting News India |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/in/nba/news/the-1990s-nba-all-decade-team/1bozabmfqo44n1n81niq02d312 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-in}}</ref>
* [[Associated Press|AP]] 1990s NBA All-Decade Team<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-23 |title=Jordan highlights AP's 1990s all-decade NBA team |url=https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-utah-jazz-nba-sports-charles-barkley-f514ba622973641bbb538261411cd73d |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

'''Halls of Fame'''
* [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] – Class of 2008<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-04-10 |title=NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2008 :: Three Legendary College and NBA Players, Coach with Five NBA Titles, Television Personality who Elevated NCAA Basketball, Pioneer Coach in Women's Game and NBA and WNBA Team Owner Comprise Elite Group |url=http://www.hoophall.com/genrel/040708aaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410220737/http://www.hoophall.com/genrel/040708aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-04-10 |access-date=2025-04-17 }}</ref>
* [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] – Class of 2016<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-11 |title=2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Hakeem Olajuwon |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2016-class-of-fiba-hall-of-fame-hakeem-olajuwon |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.fiba.basketball |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Texas Sports Hall of Fame]] – Class of 1998<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hakeem Olajuwon |url=https://www.tshof.org/store/p255/Hakeem_Olajuwon.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Texas Sports Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Houston Sports Hall of Fame]] – Inaugural Class of 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/halloffame.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.houstontx.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=iC-Pr4PSO9c |title=Houston Sports Hall of Fame Induction |date=2018-06-04 |last=HCHSA |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

'''NBA Records'''
* [[List of NBA career blocks leaders#Blocks leaders|Most blocks in NBA history]] with 3,830<ref name="ESPN.com a269">{{cite web | title=National Basketball Association | website=ESPN.com | url=https://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks | access-date=3 December 2023 | archive-date=December 5, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205083121/https://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders#Playoff blocked shots leaders|Most blocks per game in NBA playoff history]] with 3.26<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Blocks Per Game |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_per_g_career_p.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders#Progressive list for blocks|Most blocks in a single NBA playoff]] with 92<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA All-Time Blocks Leaders: Single Playoffs Totals |url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/all_time_leaders/blocks_total_single_playoffs.htm#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.landofbasketball.com}}</ref>
* Only player in NBA history to retire in the top eleven all-time in career [[Block (basketball)|blocks]], [[Point (basketball)|points]], [[Rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], and [[Steal (basketball)|steals]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Greatest African Basketballers And Their NBA Records • The49thStreet |url=https://the49thstreet.com/celebrating-african-nba-icons-and-their-astounding-records/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Only player in NBA history to record more than 3,000 [[Block (basketball)|blocks]] and 2,000 [[Steal (basketball)|steals]] in a career<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Hakeem Olajuwon |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/hakeem-olajuwon/#:~:text=Selected%20to%20twelve%20NBA%20All,2,000%20steals%20in%20a%20career. |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.hoophall.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Only player in NBA history to record 200 [[Block (basketball)|blocks]] and 200 [[Steal (basketball)|steals]] in the same season ([[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehdi |first=Samir |date=2022-09-11 |title=$300 million Hakeem Olajuwon outdid Michael Jordan with 200+ blocks and steals but lost DPOY to 7'4 Jazz star |url=https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-300-million-hakeem-olajuwon-outdid-michael-jordan-with-200-blocks-and-steals-but-lost-dpoy-to-74-jazz-star/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=The SportsRush |language=en}}</ref>
* One of four players in NBA history to record a [[quadruple-double]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-23 |title=Which NBA players have recorded a quadruple-double? |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44371126/which-nba-players-recorded-quadruple-double |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

'''Media Rankings'''
* Ranked #10 in ''[[ESPN]]'''s All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever (published in 2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank10/all-nbarank-10 |title=All-Time #NBArank: Hakeem No. 10 |work=ESPN |date=February 9, 2016 |access-date=February 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828061741/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank10/all-nbarank-10 |archive-date=August 28, 2016}}</ref>
* Ranked #12 in ''[[SLAM Magazine]]'''s 2018 revision of the top 100 greatest players of all time (published in the January 2018 issue)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slamonline.com/nba/slams-top-100-players-time-50-11/|title=SLAM's Top 100 Players Of All-Time: 50-11|work=SLAM|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=May 1, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924172327/https://www.slamonline.com/nba/slams-top-100-players-time-50-11/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y|record=y}}

=== NBA ===

==== Regular season ====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1984}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || 35.5 || '''.538''' || {{sort|-|—}} || .613 || 11.9 || 1.4 || 1.2 || 2.7 || 20.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1985}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 68 || 68 || 36.3 || .526 || {{sort|-|—}} || .645 || 11.5 || 2.0 || 2.0 || 3.4 || 23.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986–87 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 75 || 75 || 36.8 || .508 || .200 || .702 || 11.4 || 2.9 || 1.9 || 3.4 || 23.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987–88 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 79 || 79 || 35.8 || .514 || .000 || .695 || 12.1 || 2.1 || 2.1 || 2.7 || 22.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988–89 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || 36.9 || .508 || .000 || .696 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|13.5* || 1.8 || '''2.6''' || 3.4 || 24.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989–90 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || 38.1 || .501 || .167 || .713 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''14.0'''* || 2.9 || 2.1 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''4.6'''* || 24.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 56 || 50 || 36.8 || .508 || .000 || .769 || 13.8 || 2.3 || 2.2 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|3.9* || 21.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 70 || 69 || 37.7 || .502 || .000 || .766 || 12.1 || 2.2 || 1.8 || 4.3 || 21.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''82'''* || 39.5 || .529 || .000 || .779 || 13.0 || 3.5 || 1.8 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|4.2* || 26.1
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#AFE6BA;"|{{nbay|1993}}{{dagger}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 80 || 80 || '''41.0''' || .528 || '''.421''' || .716 || 11.9 || '''3.6''' || 1.6 || 3.7 || 27.3
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#AFE6BA;"|{{nbay|1994}}{{dagger}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1994–95 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 72 || 72 || 39.6 || .517 || .188 || .756 || 10.8 || 3.5 || 1.8 || 3.4 || '''27.8'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1995}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 72 || 72 || 38.8 || .514 || .214 || .724 || 10.9 || '''3.6''' || 1.6 || 2.9 || 26.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1996}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996–97 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 78 || 78 || 36.6 || .510 || .313 || '''.787''' || 9.2 || 3.0 || 1.5 || 2.2 || 23.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1997}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 47 || 45 || 34.7 || .483 || .000 || .755 || 9.8 || 3.0 || 1.8 || 2.0 || 16.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998–99 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|50* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|50* || 35.7 || .514 || .308 || .717 || 9.6 || 1.8 || 1.6 || 2.5 || 18.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999–2000 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 44 || 28 || 23.8 || .458 || .000 || .616 || 6.2 || 1.4 || .9 || 1.6 || 10.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000–01 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 58 || 55 || 26.6 || .498 || .000 || .621 || 7.4 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 1.5 || 11.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2001}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2001–02 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
| 61 || 37 || 22.6 || .464 || .000 || .560 || 6.0 || 1.1 || 1.2 || 1.5 || 7.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 1,238 || 1,186 || 35.7 || .512 || .202 || .712 || 11.1 || 2.5 || 1.7 || 3.1 || 21.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 12 || 8 || 23.2 || .409 || 1.000 || .520 || 7.8 || 1.4 || 1.3 || 1.9 || 9.8
{{s-end}}

====Playoffs====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!GS
!MPG
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!SPG
!BPG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985 NBA playoffs|1985]]
|[[1984–85 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|5
|5
|37.4
|.477
|{{sort|-|—}}
|.1000
|13.0
|1.4
|1.4
|2.6
|21.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986 NBA playoffs|1986]]
|[[1985–86 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|20
|20
|38.3
|.530
|.000
|.638
|11.8
|2.0
|2.0
|3.5
|26.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987 NBA playoffs|1987]]
|[[1986–87 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|10
|10
|38.9
|'''.615'''
|.000
|.742
|11.3
|2.5
|1.3
|4.3
|29.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988 NBA playoffs|1988]]
|[[1987–88 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|4
|4
|40.5
|.571
|.000
|'''.884'''
|'''16.8'''
|1.8
|2.3
|2.8
|'''37.5'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989 NBA playoffs|1989]]
|[[1988–89 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|4
|4
|40.5
|.519
|{{sort|-|—}}
|.680
|13.0
|3.0
|'''2.5'''
|2.8
|25.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990 NBA playoffs|1990]]
|[[1989–90 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|4
|4
|40.3
|.443
|{{sort|-|—}}
|.706
|11.5
|2.0
|'''2.5'''
|'''5.8'''
|18.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991 NBA playoffs|1991]]
|[[1990–91 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|3
|3
|43.0
|.578
|.000
|.824
|14.7
|2.0
|1.3
|2.7
|22.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993 NBA playoffs|1993]]
|[[1992–93 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|12
|12
|'''43.2'''
|.517
|.000
|.827
|14.0
|'''4.8'''
|1.8
|4.9
|25.7
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#AFE6BA;"|[[1994 NBA playoffs|1994]]{{dagger}}
|[[1993–94 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|'''23'''
|'''23'''
|43.0
|.519
|'''.500'''
|.795
|11.0
|4.3
|1.7
|4.0
|28.9
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#AFE6BA;"|[[1995 NBA playoffs|1995]]{{dagger}}
|[[1994–95 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|22
|22
|42.2
|.531
|'''.500'''
|.681
|10.3
|4.5
|1.2
|2.8
|33.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996 NBA playoffs|1996]]
|[[1995–96 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|8
|8
|41.1
|.510
|.000
|.725
|9.1
|3.9
|1.9
|2.1
|22.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997 NBA playoffs|1997]]
|[[1996–97 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|16
|16
|39.3
|.590
|.000
|.731
|10.9
|3.4
|2.1
|2.6
|23.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998 NBA playoffs|1998]]
|[[1997–98 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|5
|5
|38.0
|.394
|.000
|.727
|10.8
|2.4
|1.0
|3.2
|20.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999 NBA playoffs|1999]]
|[[1998–99 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|4
|4
|30.8
|.426
|{{sort|-|—}}
|.875
|7.3
|0.5
|1.3
|0.8
|13.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002 NBA playoffs|2002]]
|[[2001–02 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
|5
|0
|17.2
|.545
|{{sort|-|—}}
|.667
|3.8
|0.4
|1.4
|0.8
|5.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|145
|140
|39.6
|.528
|.222
|.719
|11.2
|3.2
|1.7
|style="background:#E0CEF2;"|3.3{{Double-dagger}}
|25.9
|}

==See also==
* [[List of NBA career scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career steals leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career blocks leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career turnovers leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career personal fouls leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career games played leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career minutes played leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff steals leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NBA annual rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of NBA annual blocks leaders]]
* [[List of NBA single-game blocks leaders]]
* [[List of NBA single-season blocks per game leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders]]
* [[Islam in Houston]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* Harris, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B. ''Encyclopedia of Ethnicity and Sports in the United States'', Greenwood Press. 2000 {{ISBN|0-313-29911-0}}
* Heisler, Mark. ''Big Men Who Shook the NBA.'' Triumph Books. 2003 {{ISBN|1-57243-766-9}}
* Olajuwon, Hakeem with Knobler, Peter. ''Living the Dream: My Life and Basketball.'' Little, Brown and Company. 1996 {{ISBN|0-316-09427-7}}
* [[Bill Simmons|Simmons, Bill]], ''[[The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy]]'', ESPN 2009 {{ISBN|0-345-51176-X}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q273256|c=category:Hakeem Olajuwon|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
*{{basketballstats|bbr=o/olajuha01}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061103224751/http://www.nba.com/history/players/olajuwon_summary.html Hakeem Olajuwon] entry at NBA Encyclopedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071214135956/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/ Hakeem Olajuwon player profile] at NBA.com
* {{Basketballhof|hakeem-olajuwon}}

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[[Category:Nigerian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Nigerian Muslims]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Sugar Land, Texas]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Toronto Raptors players]]
[[Category:United States men's national basketball team players]]
[[Category:Yoruba sportspeople]]