He continued playing in good form for the Raptors until his retirement in 2002. 2 Final 4's. WNBA Draftee: Chicago Sky! He spent almost over 20+ years in basketball and played with a reputed and well-known basketball team. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808942&cache=false" He was . You can read up on where "The Dream's" kids will take on prep school hoops in Houston through our partners VYPE Houston. And if they do make it, Olajuwon will be a key piece of the puzzle. So, I put them in a basketball club and a soccer club. He is married to Dalia Asafi and has two daughters with her. But after I tasted [playing basketball], I didn't want to play anything else, I knew that was my passion.". Dalia Asafi may be earning a good amount of money from the profession she is involved in. How Much is Schae Harrison Net Worth? Olajuwon subsequently immigrated to the US to play basketball with the University of Houston Cougars. Olajuwon, a 33-year-old Nigerian who is now a U.S. citizen, worshiped for years at the same Houston mosque as the bride's father. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Dalia Asafi is popular as the wife of Hakeem Olajuwon. { He puts confidence in me to do things I didnt know I could do Were always working hard here, and we go at it together it feels like a family, so theres a good bond. As of now, the husband and wife share two daughters. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808956&cache=false" Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is the third of eight children born on January 21, 1963, to Salim Olajuwon and Abike Olajuwon. Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian-born American former professional basketball player who led the Houston Rockets to consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1994 and 1995. (The star of the Houston Rockets chronicles the cross-cult). However, there is no information about her exact date and place of birth. Additionally, Hakeem tied a knot with his wife when he was just 18 years old. What the foundation does is to help children in the Southwestern part of America get funds for whatever it is that needs financing for them to have better lives. He was especially known for his defense, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice, leading the NBA in blocks 3 times, and retiring with 3,830 career blocks. daughters Aisha and Rahmah and sons Abdullah and Abdul. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. I cannot see it any other way. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. In the 1983 NCAA Championship though his team lost he was awarded the Tournament Player of the Year award. 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Nigerian-American basketball player (born 1963) Hakeem Olajuwon Olajuwon in 2015 Personal information Born (1963-01-21) January 21, 1963(age 60) Lagos, Nigeria Nationality Nigerian / American Listed height 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) Listed weight 255 lb (116 kg) Career information High school Muslim Teachers College (Lagos, Nigeria) College Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 20, 2000 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. ""I'm shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong. Everybody wanted to play it, and so thats what I did.. Hakeem Olajuwon has good memories of the Alamodome, where the Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs three times in the 1995 Western Conference finals en route to their second championship. Their kids are Rahman Olajuwon and Aisha Olajuwon. With their love of basketball growing, Hakeem had to make a decision and knew moving back to the United States would be best for their basketball future. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1984 to 2002, representing the teams, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors. During the 1985-86 season Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game and led his team to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals, but lost the series four games to two. As a teenager and child, he played soccer football, and it was not until 17, that he played basketball. Further, the couple tied a knot on August 8, 1996, in Houston. Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. The closest we've got is VR, Siri, and CrossFit. 11445 Compaq Center West Dr, Houston, Texas, United States. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki, Yes (Abi Olajuwon, Rahmah Olajuwon, Aisha Olajuwon). He was born in 2004 in the country of Jordan, where he spent the first 10 years of his life. Being born on 21 January 1963, Hakeem Olajuwon is 60 years old as of todays date 1st March 2023. He kept his wonderful lone performance in the following five years from 1989 to 1993. You never know. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, Akeem Olajuwon, The Dream. He led the league in rebounds that season, but the Rockets were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. It was around this time he earned the nickname "The Dream" due to his effortless dunking. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American basketball player who played basketball in the NBA between 1984 and 2002. I saw the passion, they started playing some games.". "She has the right concept, the right attitude. In 1993, he also adopted American citizenship. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808959&cache=false" 211. The duo most famously was the reason that Houston Rockets were a part of the NBA Finals in 1986. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808938&cache=false" In his first year in the University, the NCAA didnt give him clearance to play and thus he was redshirted. 4800 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004, United States. The following season the Rockets, who were plagued by injuries throughout the regular season, surprised many by returning to the NBA finals, this time facing center Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic. At the time of his retirement, Olajuwon ranked 7th in career points scored in the NBA (26,946) and 11th in career rebounds (13,748); he was also the league's all-time leader in blocked shots (3,830).After retirement, 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. He endorsed Spalding shoe, the Dream which sells as low as $35. Once logged in, you can add biography in the database, athlete His retirement was as a result of a back injury. ""I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. He was born in Jordan, a Middle-Eastern country just east of Israel, in 2004 before moving to England when he was 10 years old. "I tried out for a soccer team, and I made it. Confidence keying Clements Olajuwons performance, Lady Chargers hoops setting foundation with state tournament trip, Can Taking a Break From Social Media Help You Recharge? Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 22, 2000 at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. All of that just comes together and creates the player I am.. As Asafi was very young to get married, her marriage hit the headlines during that time. Memorabilia in Baybrook Mall hosts a Hall of Fame afternoon with Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon ( taking pictures with fans and signing autographs. Her spouse Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian-born professional basketball player. He has a tell-all autobiography written along with Peter Knobler in 1996 titled Living the Dream. They were married Thursday in Houston. Many people are curious about Dalia and her spouse Hakeems relationship. Some time after graduation from college, Olajuwon became a devout Muslim. . About Us Oklahoma Grad. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. In fact, the member of the historic Phi Slamma Jama-era at the University of Houston made a. After three months, they forgot about soccer. Olajuwon stated he believed the Houston Rockets will win the coin flip and thus he entered the draft cause he wanted to play for the Rockets. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets lays up a shot during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 3, 2000 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. But he also has different skill sets than his father did, and has molded himself into a unique player on the court, according to his coach. The six-foot, eleven-inch Nigerian was offered a full scholarship.At the suggestion of head coach Guy Lewis, Olajuwon, who weighed barely 190 pounds in 1980, "red-shirted," or sat out, his first year to mature physically and learn the fundamentals of basketball. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808937&cache=false" Hakeem is shy and respectful. Are you a follower, or are you a leader? He is one of the few known athletes who endorse shoes, not from very prominent brands such as Adidas, Nike, or Reebok. "You want her to do so well, and win so bad. Olajuwon dominated at both ends of the floor, and the Rockets took the seven-game series in four games. Besides this, there is no information concerning her early life and family background. He appears to have found it this season, and has been one of the key factors for the Rangers amassing a 21-7 overall record so far this season along with a 5-3 mark in District 20-6A as they seek the programs first playoff berth since 2014-2015. basketball player. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808945&cache=false" "Hes more relaxed on the floor this year. He earned this hefty sum of money as a professional basketball player from his career. During the height of his career, Olajuwon was selected as a member of the 1996 US Olympic basketball team, dubbed Dream Team II. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors drives against Zeljko Rebraca of the Detroit Pistons during game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto, Canada. The wife of Hakeem Olajuwon, Dalia Asafi's was born in 1968 in Nigeria. After the 1984 season, Olajuwon opted to turn professional. However, there is no information about Asafis career. basketball player. Physical Characteristics: She is a Nigerian citizen, whereas her ethnicity is Hausa-Fulani. ""I always keep a ball in the car. Hakeem Olajuwon, after winning the NBA MVP. Jason Collins of the New Jersey Nets takes a shot over Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors during a game at the Continental Airlines Arena (now Meadowlands Arena) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Do they share any children from their relationship? Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, originally Akeem Olajuwon, is a former professional basketball player from Nigeria. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808964&cache=false" "But when my dad told me to forget about soccer, I really didn't believe it. Abdullah Olajuwon's early journey to basketball. Also, he belongs to the ethnic group the African. The year proved to be a turning point for Olajuwon and the Rockets. 142k Followers, 1 Following, 30 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Hakeem Olajuwon (@thedr34m) 6 Championship Dr, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, United States. var params = src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808950&cache=false" Besides, the couple is a proud parent of three daughters, Rahmah and Aisha Olajuwon, Abi Olajuwon. "It was a very private ceremony with just family," said Pamela Greaney, Olajuwon's personal assistant. The wife of Hakeem Olajuwon, Dalia Asafis was born in 1968 in Nigeria. Moreover, Olajuwon was born under the star sign, Aquarius. Not to mention his first Oklahoma game in person. In that New York Times profile, Hakeem explained: "I have been blessed thus far to be able to work with my own capital, which gives me the ability to decide when I want to sell as opposed to having a bank loan hanging over my head that in some cases, can force you to sell even though you may not be ready to.". 600 West Amelia Street Orlando, Florida, United States. He thus earned little playtime as a redshirt freshman. Olajuwon is a practicing Muslim, and has talked about studying the Qur'an every day. In 1984, with Clyde Drexler gone to the NBA's Portland Trailblazers, Olajuwon became the focal point of the Houston team, leading the nation in rebounding, averaging 13.5 per game, and field-goal accuracy with 67.5 percent, while earning Player of the Year honors. 50 NJ-120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, United States. He is best known for playing the center position for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 2002 within the National Basketball Association (NBA). id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1996. The two tied the knot of husband and wife in August 1996. Recently, Abdullah Olajuwon came to America and started playing high school ball in Houston, Texas. Required fields are marked *. Though many think his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, was backward, Olajuwon counters such claims, claiming his childhood in Lagos was never backward as he met and interacted with various individuals from different ethnic groups. Their marriage produced four children; two daughters - Rahmah and Aisha and two sons - Abdullah and Abdul. Moreover, Olajuwon is also aurthor of the book named, Living the Dream, which is an autobiography about him and was published in 1996. Hakeem is a strict observer of Ramadan (he abstains from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month). On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem. Houston Texans Under Tomjanovich the team began to once again post wins, making it into the second round of the NBA playoffs before losing to the Seattle Supersonics in seven games. We're always working . All Sources of Income, Jonathan Cheban Plastic Surgery Before & After Picture. They have three daughters named Abi, Aisha, and Rahmah. ""My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players. Instead, Houston brought in a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, who worked to keep Olajuwon in a Rockets uniform. A comprehensive reference work on the development of athletics in the United States; this encyclopedia examines the sporting experience of Native Americans, African Americans and the immigrant groups of the United States from Colonial times to the present. "They're both very happy.". Olajuwon also has a . They married on August 8, 1996, in Houston. Olajuwon can speak French, Arabic as well as his native language, Yoruba. " (Coach Price) is pushing me to my limit, making me do things I didn't think I could do myself," Olajuwon said. This was his earliest memory in the introduction to basketball. But since men and women are separated when praying, he did not meet his future bride or her mother until a meeting was arranged. The couple has two children. Reportedly, he is fluent in French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. The other players were older, bigger, and stronger than Olajuwon, who was still in high school, and he saw limited action. Following his retirement from the NBA, Olajuwon found significant success in the Houston real estate market. For now, the duo is living a happy married life with their beautiful children without any rumors of divorce and extramarital affairs. A gifted athlete, Hakeem was a soccer goalkeeper from an early age before learning to play team handball as a junior at Muslim Teachers College, a high school in Lagos. Originally, when they moved to the UK, Abdullah admitted they had a passion for soccer. 600 West Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida, United States. Furthermore, Asafi has not revealed anything about her educational qualifications. They had played it before, so they didn't mind. () (). . You've gotta be natural.". Olajuwon, whose father is former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon, said his confidence has been a key reason for the growth of his game. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors looks to pass the ball as he is guarded by Popeye Jones of the Washington Wizards during the game at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto, Canada. Texas Born Cali Built! Olajuwon, paired with Ralph Sampson in the front court, had a stellar rookie year, averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, and finished second to Jordan in the Rookie of Year voting. After retiring, Hakeem embarked on what became a highly-successful entrepreneurial career. Due to his enormously successful performances in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, Olajuwon earned a reputation as one of the top centers in NBA history. In 1988, Ralph Sampson was traded with Warriors, and that made Hakeem Olajuwon, the sole star player for the Houston Rockets. His undefendable fade-away jump shot, combined with his powerful dunks and tenacious defense under the basket proved a nearly unstoppable combination. Although his personal statistics remained impressive, Olajuwon struggled with injuries and an overall weak team that failed to produce playoff wins. This is just one of these examples. Why did she leave AOA? During the 1985-86 season Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game and led his team to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals, but lost the series four games to two.The next several years of Olajuwon's career proved frustrating. For the 1988-89 season, Olajuwon was the undisputed leader of the Rockets, finishing as the league leader in rebounds with 13.5 per game. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808962&cache=false" If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Hakeem Olajuwon Biography, Childhood, Career, Life, Facts, please dont hesitate to contact us.

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