Hakeem Olajuwon sat with the rest of Abi's family, and was easy to spot: the Hall of Famer wore a bright green polo shirt in a sea of Sooners crimson. . . 600 West Amelia Street Orlando, Florida, United States. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Nigerians lost in the semifinals to the Central African Republic, but Olajuwon impressed the opposing team's United States-born coach, Chris Pond, with his size and quickness. To know all the details, keep reading the article until the end. }; src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808961&cache=false" Their marriage produced four children; two daughters - Rahmah and Aisha and two sons - Abdullah and Abdul. ""I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. Hakeem had a relationship with Lita Spencer, with whom he has an older daughter, Abisola. He and the even taller 7ft 4 in Ralph Sampson were together known as the Twin Towers. Following his retirement, his jersey was retired by the Houston Rockets. She's a great kid. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808944&cache=false" He also became the first player not born in the US to win the MVP. Center Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors shoots a jump shot during the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto, Canada. 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. wid: "428986", She belongs to a mixed (Nigerian-African) ethnicity and holds a Nigerian nationality. Additionally, he was a member of the gold medal-winning Olympic US team in 1996. Olajuwon studied at the University of Houston. Olajuwon is a practicing Muslim, and has talked about studying the Qur'an every day. { Clements' Abdullah Olajuwon sizes up a defender during a Jan. 22 game against Bush. . Chucky Atkins of the Detroit Pistons stretches for a shot against Dell Curry and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors 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. 3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, United States. His highest-earning year was the the 2000-2001 season when he made $16.7 million from the Houston Rockets. He sought advice from the Houston staff on how to earn more playing time and it was recommended that he work out with NBA star, Moses Malone. 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. 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. Olajuwon can speak French, Arabic as well as his native language, Yoruba. He was better known by his game name "The Dream," during his basketball journey. They were married Thursday in Houston. 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 growing confidence appears to be paying dividends for both Olajuwon and the Rangers, who are seeking the programs first playoff berth in eight seasons. In his entire career, he has managed to become an NBA champion two times in 1994 and 1995, respectively. 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. As per Hakeem's last contract, he earned $6,326,923 as an annual average salary. The Rockets repeated as NBA champions in 1995, sweeping the Orlando Magic. He led his team to the NCAA Championship finals in his Sophomore and Junior years. Dalia Asafi is popular as the wife of Hakeem Olajuwon. Hakeem Olajuwon was born in 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria to Yoruba parents Abike and Salim, who owned a cement business. The next season, Olajuwon rode high in his newly found momentum and led the Rockets to another Championship win, while claiming a second successive Finals MVP. Posting a season average of 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game, Olajuwon was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; Some time after graduation from college, Olajuwon became a devout Muslim. Last month, Olajuwon signed a $55 million, five-year contract extension with the Rockets. The couple has two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha and two sons, Abdullah and Abdul. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="". But basketball was always lurking, he said, at his dads urging. 34 jerseys. During his career, Hakeem has played for. His height is 2.13 m tall, and his weight is 116kg. Together, the couple has four children: daughters Aisha and Rahmah and sons Abdullah and Abdul. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Kang Yeosang (ATEEZ) Height, Girlfriend, Age, Net Where is Choa from AOA? He led the Cougars to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship game, but Houston lost again, this time to the Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing. The former Houston Rockets star has lived in Jordan for the past several years, splitting his time between there and Houston. Olajuwon is a very devout Muslim who observes Ramadan. There he played only one season before retiring in 2002. Wiki Bio, husband, What is Grace Fulton doing now? Facing star center Ewing and the New York Knicks in the NBA finals, Olajuwon won his first NBA title, defeating the Knicks in seven games. "Hes seen that he can get some things done on the court, so his confidence has really grown. He thus earned little playtime as a redshirt freshman. He led the Rockets to their first NBA Championship win, and also emerged as the only player to have won the league MVP, Finals MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year awards and the NBA Championship in one season. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. Additionally, he works with other NBA players to help them perfect their moves. In 2001, Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Further, the wedding was conducted traditionally in the presence of his friends and family. He was thus rewarded with a new four-year contract which settled his contracts concerns. He has led the Rockets to the NBA first team in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994 and 1997. He is the oldest son of former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon, an NBA Hall of Famer who was a 12-time all-star and the 1993-1994 NBA Most Valuable Player. He is one of the few known athletes who endorse shoes, not from very prominent brands such as Adidas, Nike, or Reebok. Playing as a goalkeeper helped Olajuwon learn how to balance his weight as well as strength. This prevented him from playing for the US team because he wasnt a citizen and FIBA regulations prevented a player from representing multiple National teams. "Hes more relaxed on the floor this year. She is 54 years old and holds Nigerian nationality. He finished the season runner-up to Michael Jordan in the Rookie of the Year voting. Kid of HOF beast @thedr34m. "He puts confidence in me to do things I didn't know I could do. Learn how your comment data is processed. http://www.BoredFIlmGrads.comhttp://www.Facebook.com/BoredFilmGrads@BoredFIlm src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808946&cache=false" He tells me what Im doing right and what Im doing wrong Ive just got to take it the right way. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. As of now, the husband and wife share two daughters. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. However, there is no further information about her family background, just like another NBA star's wife, Tamara Houston. Center Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors faces up center Patrick Ewing of the Orlando Magic during the NBA game on March 10, 2002 at the TD Waterhouse (later Amway Arena) in Orlando, Florida. Hakeem Olajuwon, after winning the NBA MVP. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808965&cache=false" His name still exists in the history of the NBA as one of the 50 greatest players. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets circa 2000 at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808957&cache=false" " (Coach Price) is pushing me to my limit, making me do things I didn't think I could do myself," Olajuwon said. In his second year, Olajuwons performance improved greatly as he led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. During the height of his career, Olajuwon was selected as a member of the 1996 US Olympic basketball team, dubbed Dream Team II. "You feel goose bumps," Hakeem Olajuwon said. Hakeem Olajuwon is a $200 million net worth. Olajuwon also has daughter, Abisola Olajuwon, who was drafted by the Chicago Sky of the WNBA in 2010 and played for the Tulsa Shock in 2011. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808948&cache=false" src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808954&cache=false" However, there is no information about her exact date and place of birth. "Every time I'd leave them with a basketball, I'd come back in it would turn into a soccer ball," Hakeem, who spoke to VYPE in an exclusive interview, said. She was 18 when they got married. So, I put them in a basketball club and a soccer club. Olajuwon subsequently immigrated to the US to play basketball with the University of Houston Cougars. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\. "Dalia may be 18 in terms of age, but because of her background, beliefs and religious understanding, she, like many other Islamic young women, possesses a maturity, knowledge and wisdom beyond her years.". Being born on 21 January 1963, Hakeem Olajuwon is 60 years old as of todays date 1st March 2023. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808963&cache=false" Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth $200 Million Earnings & Financial Data Lists Ranked On Richest Basketball Players Statistics Source of Wealth: NBA Age: 58 Height: 7' (182 cm) Weight: 255 lbs (115.7 kg) Marital Status: Married (Dalia Asafi) Full Name: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon Nationality: Nigerian-American Date of Birth: January 21, 1963 Occupation: Hakeem OlajuwonDalia Asafi - wifeAbi, Aisha, and Rahmah - daughters He fell out with the Rockets management, but he returned in good form for the 1992/93 season, where he finished runner-up in the MVP race. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball over Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, during game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on May 2, 2002. 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. You have permission to edit this article. ""I've now been in this country for thirteen years, since I was seventeen. Since Dalia is known because of her husbands name and fame, there are no details about her profession. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem. In 1993, he also adopted American citizenship. They had played it before, so they didn't mind. ", This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2809132&cache=false" src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808960&cache=false" "I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. Hakeem specializes in buying properties that are ripe for development via public improvements like stadiums or train stops. basketball player. Your tongue moves, and the Arabic language is so beautiful. Year voting a mixed ( Nigerian-African ) ethnicity and holds Nigerian nationality '' alt= '' '' class= gallery-slider__content__img! Are ripe for development via public improvements like stadiums or train stops by his game name & ;..., & quot ; the Dream, & quot ; he puts confidence in me to do things I &. 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