Hakim Olajuwon (born January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player who plays as a center and is nicknamed "Big Dreams". Hakim Olajuwon attended university at the University of Houston and led the Houston Cougars to the Final Four three times. In the 1984 NBA Draft, Hakim Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 1st place in the 1st round and played for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors during his career. In the 1993-94 season, Olajuwon, who was elected NBA regular season MVP that season, led the Rockets to win the NBA championship, and he also became the first player in NBA history to be awarded the regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and finals MVP (FMVP) in one season. The Rockets have won the NBA championship for two consecutive years, defeating the New York Knicks with Patrick Ewing and the Orlando Magic with Shaquille O'Neal. Olajuwon's NAB career has been selected to the NBA All-Star Team 12 times, the NBA All-Star Team 6 times, the NBA Best Team Second Team 3 times, the NBA Best Team 3 times, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice, the NBA Best Defensive Team 1 team 5 times, the NBA Best Defensive Team 2 team 4 times, the NBA Rebounding King twice, and the NBA Block King 3 times. In 1996, Olajuwon won the Olympic gold medal with the American Dream Team, and was named to the NBA's 50 superstars in the same year. On 9 November 2002, Hakim Olajuwon officially announced his retirement. The Rockets also retired his No. 34 jersey that day. As of 2018, he ranks first in the league in total number of blocks. On September 1, 2008, Hakim Olajuwon was inducted into the Nye Smith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Olajuwon 'feared' defeat like a god, and he wanted to win all the games he played. He doesn't want to disappoint his teammates, his coaches, his fans. Olajuwon has been an opponent's nightmare for years, it was he who pushed the Rockets to the top, and it was he who led the Rockets to two consecutive seasons to win championships. In the course of his career, he won two championships. Olajuwon's world-famous "Dream Footsteps" is still a stunt imitated by professional basketball players and children around the world, he is very humble on the court, always speaks softly, and he is the most beloved athlete in the history of professional sports in Houston. His movement on the inside has given people a new definition of the concept of center forward. Olajuwon has taken the pace and technique of low-post offense to the extreme, and his two consecutive championships in Houston are the most memorable, because at that time the Rockets were only one superstar, surrounded by some quality role players, which is almost the only example in NBA history that can achieve two consecutive championships with only one superstar.
Olajuwon is a skilled player on both ends of the board. Defensively, his rare combination of speed and strength allows him to defend from the inside out, and he's also known for his excellent blocking ability and steals that are rare as a frontcourt player. Olajuwon is the only player in league history to block 200+ and steal 200+ in a single season, averaging 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game in his career. He's also the only center to rank in the top ten of the league's steals list. He is also an excellent rebounder, averaging 11.1 rebounds per game in his career. Offensively, Olajuwon is known for his excellent shooting touch, and in the low position, he has beaten the four long men with his graceful footsteps. When attacking with the ball, Olajuwon showed his varied fake movements and turning skills, especially his "dream dance steps" that were invisible. In addition, Olajuwon can also score points with the ball like an outside player, and he has skillful dribbling skills. He is one of only four players in league history to have played a "quadruple double."