Hakeem Olajuwon Quotes

• My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Shaq always wanted me to show him steps over and over.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• I always keep a ball in the car. You never know.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• When I look at the system here and look at my position – not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from – I feel so blessed to be from Africa.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• I’ve now been in this country for thirteen years, since I was seventeen. So this is my second home.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• When you get to that level, it’s not a matter of talent anymore – because all the players are so talented – it’s about preparation, about playing smart and making good decisions.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of my fundamental principles that were instilled in me in my home, from my childhood, are still with me.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• I don’t think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• Basketball is in my blood. It is my obligation to try.

  Hakeem Olajuwon

• All these boundaries – Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America – are set by men. But you don’t have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man – at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower, or are you a leader?

  Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon (10)

Birth:	21st January, 1963
Nationality:	American, Nigerian
Profession:	Basketball Player

About

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, known as Akeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was a member of the Olympic gold-medal-winning United States national team, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Related Authors

• Bob Cousy
• Manute Bol
• Kevin Durant
• Dwight Howard
• Michael Jerome Cooper
• Sue Wicks
• Tim Hardaway
• Chris Webber
• Pat Summitt
• Tom Heinsohn

Advertisement

Today's Anniversary - 22nd November

Births

• 1867 - Joseph Martin McCabe
• 1932 - Robert Vaughan
• 1927 - Nathan Rosenberg
• 1940 - Terry Gilliam
• 1984 - Scarlett Johansson

Deaths

• 1774 - Robert Clive
• 1997 - Michael Hutchence
• 2011 - Svetlana Alliluyeva
• 2001 - Norman Granz
• 1918 - Randolph Bourne