born january known american retired professional basketball player played center position national_basketball_association nba houston rockets toronto led rockets nba championships inducted basketball hall fame inducted listed standing closer admission considered greatest centers play game nicknamed dream basketball career college coach said looked like dream born nigeria traveled home country play college career included trips final drafted houston rockets overall selection nba draft draft included combined form duo dubbed twin towers led rockets lost games traded warriors rockets undisputed leader led league twice blocks times despite nearly traded bitter contract dispute season remained houston player nba history win nba mvp defensive player year awards season rockets won championships college championship loss orlando magic member olympic gold medal winning united_states national team selected ended career league time leader blocks nba players record quadruple double early life born middle class owners cement business nigeria translates surpassing wealth children credits parents virtues hard work discipline siblings taught honest work hard respect elders believe expressed displeasure childhood nigeria characterized backward cosmopolitan city ethnic groups grew environment schools different types people youth soccer helped agility balance size strength basketball contributed shot blocking ability play basketball age entered local tournament said coach nigeria asked demonstrated standing chair tried stand chair staff use chair initially basketball despite early struggles quickly taken game basketball unique immediately pick game know realize sport sports secondary college career emigrated nigeria play basketball coach highly recruited merely offered visit university work coaching staff based recommendation friend lewis seen play later recalled originally arrived airport visit representative school greet called staff told taxi university freshman year clearance ncaa play played freshman eliminated final eventual ncaa champion north_carolina tar heels sought advice coaching staff increase playing time advised work local houston resident multiple winner moses center nba played games season nba players recreation center joined went head head games summer credited experience rapidly improving game way moses helped playing allowing level competition best center nba time trying improve game best returned summer different player teammates including formed dubbed slam fraternity named rim prowess sophomore junior years helped advance consecutive ncaa championship games lost second tip patrick led georgetown team won ncaa tournament player year award played losing team final game date player losing granted honor departed nba leaving lone star team season debated stay college declare early nba draft time nba draft lottery introduced pick awarded coin flip recalled believed houston going win coin flip pick number draft choice wanted play houston decision leave early proved correct lucky toss placed houston ahead considered amateur prospect summer fellow future nba stars selected overall rockets nba draft autobiography living dream mentions intriguing draft trade offered rockets sent number pick nba draft portland exchange rockets deal states rockets selected number pick play alongside established chemistry playing days college speculates trade changed league history maybe entire legend nba championship team included jordan furthermore jordan involved professional career houston rockets rookie sophomore years rockets immediate success rookie season win loss record improved teamed rookie year form original nba twin towers duo averaged points rebounds blocks rookie season finished runner rookie year voting rookie receive votes averaged points rebounds blocks game second pro season rockets finished advanced way faced defending champion rockets won series fairly easily games shocking sports world landing cover sports_illustrated scored points victories games series coach remarked tried bodies helped different angles great player rockets advanced succumbed games team considered best teams nba history mid career years season struggling knee injuries eventually end career prematurely traded golden state warriors season season rockets undisputed leader change coincided hiring new coach rockets ended regular season record finished season league leader rebounds game rebound game performance consistent averages points blocks posted exceptional playoff numbers rpg plus record points game playoff series rockets eliminated round games season disappointment rockets finished season record playoffs eliminated games los_angeles productive defensive seasons interior player history nba won nba crown game time larger margin rebounds game led league blocks averaging game player nba started recording blocked shots average rebounds blocked shots game season joined players nba history point lead league shot blocking season recorded quadruple double season player nba history rockets finished season record nba coach year averaged points game injury caused elbow play games qualify title won consecutive year averaging game league leader robinson averaged rpg averaged league leading blocks game rockets swept playoffs following season low point rockets tenure finished missed playoffs time career missed weeks early season accelerated heart beat despite usual strong numbers lift team making finals rockets playoffs times record playoff series eliminated round times following season requested trade bad contract salary considerably low center contract specifically forbade negotiation expressed displeasure organization efforts surround quality players felt rockets cut corners turn concerned line winning management infuriated season accused injury contract situation agent cited differences organization publicly insulted owner team office season approaching reporter houston_chronicle said dealt close sure thing nonetheless traded rockets began season new coach improved passing setting new career high assists game willingness pass ball increased scoring making difficult opposing teams double triple team set new career high points game rockets set new franchise record wins advanced second round playoffs pushing seventh game losing overtime finished second mvp race votes team rewarded year contract extension end regular season stark contrast previous year rockets entered season team rise solid core young players veterans leader entering prime championship years gained reputation clutch performer centers history based performances seasons centers defensive battles fellow texas based rival head head match ups seven seasons robinson prime averaged points game shooting field robinson averaged retired basketball dealing blow dynasty won consecutive championships absence led rockets championship seven game series team perennial rivals collegiate days took lead game rockets defending lead second guard scored points went finals winning pulled clutch play blocking shot time expired game posted game high points rebounds helped defeat bringing professional sports championship houston won championship dominated head head match game series averaging points game shooting compared efforts named pinnacle career player nba history win mvp finals mvp defensive player year awards season foreign born player win league mvp award despite slow start team missing games end season rockets repeated champions bolstered acquisition teammate mid season trade averaged points rebounds blocks game regular season displayed impressive moments career playoffs center recently crowned league mvp conference finals averaged points shooting robinson numbers robinson final games asked later team solve robinson told life magazine don solve rockets won road game series rockets swept led young game scoring points raising regular season rate production dropped named averaged points shooting rebounds blocks playoffs rockets star post championship period rockets year championship run ended eliminated second round nba playoffs eventual returned month hiatus march dominated league years met nba playoffs rockets posted win season season added roster started season lost games utah jazz averaging points respectively point production rockets lost round games jazz retired rockets acquired veteran star finished shortened regular season scoring production rose points game twelfth final lost round time season traded toronto houston began rebuild bringing young guards nba rookie year august refusing million deal rockets traded toronto draft picks highest houston draft player having year contract million averaged career lows points rebounds game final season nba decided retire fall injury retired time league leader total blocked shots shot blocking official nba season shortly retirement jersey retired rockets national team career arriving played junior team created problems tried play united_states men national basketball team initially rules prohibit players representing country international competition players year waiting period change ineligible selection hadn citizen american citizen april olympics received exemption eligible play dream team iii team went win gold medal atlanta tournament shared minutes played games started averaged points rebounds assists steals seven games player profile pick center time best team leaves patrick leaves chamberlain leaves lot people reason simple versatile position scoring blocked shots people don realize seven steals great decisions court game highly skilled offensive defensive player defense rare combination strength allowed guard wide range players effectively noted outstanding shot blocking ability unique talent player stealing ball player nba history record blocks steals season averaged blocks steals game career center rank time steals outstanding career average rebounds game led nba twice seasons twice named year time selection offense famous shooting touch basket low post ball displayed vast array spin moves highlighted signature dream shake prolific scorer averaging points game career average offensive averaging offensive rebounds game additionally skilled ability score face situations like perimeter player players recorded quadruple double nba noted quadruple doubles possible season blocked shots steals kept statistics nba dream shake best seen big man established unusually skilled offensive player big man set spin moves known trademark dream shake executed speed power regarded pinnacle big man stated moves gives moves traced soccer playing days youth dream shake actually soccer moves translated basketball accomplish things opponent opposite way freeze opponent leave devastated tracks shake opponent giving chance contest shot dream shake difficult defend like sky hook notable dream shake happened game western conference finals spurs guarding performed cross drove basket faked robinson excellent defender kept remained planted spun faked jump shot robinson voted nba mvp fell fake jumped block shot robinson air performed easy referred basketball science described signature vivid detail point guard throws ball jump ball jump set second touch landing defender waiting come jumped gone land defenders wow quick don know going basing jump set come jump turn land boom defender react waiting come defend time showed react fake way jump hook dream shake jump don pivot foot come jump jumping don pivot foot use foot way way frozen doesn know way going shake mix jump stop choice pivot foot doesn know gon turn court married current wife august houston daughters daughter met college represented west girls mcdonald american game played addition english fluent french arabic languages wrote autobiography living dream author year nba career earned salary earlier career signed shoe endorsement deal gear later face athletic shoe line endorsed dream outlets known players professional sport endorse high visibility retail brands declared poor working mother boys buy cost kids steal shoes stores kids kill higher education attending college important priority physical education major muslim faith college career early years nba talking officials getting minor fights players technical later took active interest spirituality devout muslim march altered conventional spelling saying changing spelling later recalled studied day home mosque read games faith learning new meanings time turned page didn faith gave religion dominates life said recognized league elite centers despite strict food drink daylight hours month occurred playing season career noted playing better month named month february began february year life played consecutive seasons houston rockets considered local icon houston beloved athletes great success houston real estate market estimated profits exceeding million buys cash purchases islamic law pay interest splits time jordan moved family pursue islamic studies ranch near houston nba offseason opened teaches young players finer points playing post expressed interest coaching team wishes game helping younger players asked league guard oriented big men emphasized responded big man big maybe play speed agility big man game big man plays right way defense big man rebound block shots offense draws double teams creates opportunities add easier entire team runs camp free worked nba players including power forward center september worked post moves dream shake recently working helping post moves encouraging mental focus offseason flew houston spent time working worked inducted member class april rockets unveiled sculpture honor outside attended nba draft bid farewell retiring commissioner stern announcement final pick round pick announced stern august special appearance exhibition game member awards achievements nba champion nba finals mvp nba mvp year nba team nba second team nba team defensive team defensive second team star olympic gold medalist named ended career time blocks scoring steals player nba history retire categories 12th time elected member class ranked revision greatest players time published august issue nba statistics regular season totals career highs shot blocking efforts regular season playoffs
Hakeem Olajuwon