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On June 14, 1995, hundreds of millions of eyes watched the American professional basketball finals at the Houston Coliseum through the TV screen, and witnessed the thrilling scene of the Houston Rockets defeating the Orlando Magic to win the American professional basketball championship.
Houston Rockets fierce center Hakim Olajuwon scored with a beautiful long-range shot 11 seconds before the end to finally achieve his "American dream" of 15 years. With his outstanding skills, he proved himself to be the "MVP". In the face of the fanatical fans in the audience, he kissed the basketball one by one, and the surging heart gathered into the most glorious moment.
Hakim Olajuwon grew up in Nigeria and is 2.09 meters tall, burly and tall, like an inviolable black iron tower. Those eyes that shine with passion exude an insatiable look. The best center striker is highly skilled, able to attack and defend, smash fiercely, and practice accurate long-range shots like a heavy cannon that will overwhelm opponents.
Hakim Olajuwon grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1983. Since elementary school, he has been very passionate about sports and dreams of becoming a footballer. He often goes barefoot and holds the scorching sun on his head, playing soccer and coconut shells in the open-air park with his friends. In middle school, he went on to the school hockey team. Due to his tall stature and agility, he played in Nigerian junior hockey.
In 1978, when he was only 15 years old, he was 1.80 meters tall and as strong and rugged as his father, who was a porter. Soon, he suddenly became obsessed with basketball, and his skills improved rapidly. In high school, he was selected for the Nigerian junior basketball team.
At that time, his family was very poor. His father hoped that Hakim Olajuwon would pursue a career after high school and earn money together to support the family. But Hakim Olajuwon was obsessed with the court, determined to be a basketball star, and ran tirelessly on the training field all day.
Soon, he became the most skilled center on the junior basketball team, and his rampage was intimidating. He has played in important competitions such as the African Basketball Championship and later joined the Nigerian national basketball team.
In 1989, American basketball coach Chris Bond went on a lecture tour to Nigeria. During a match, he had the insight to believe that Hakim Olajuwon, a black boy, has development potential that cannot be underestimated, and has the tendency of a professional player in both physical and technical foundation.
So, immediately after Bond returned home, he recommended Hakim Olajuwon to several clubs in the United States and the University of Houston. He said: "This is the cutest young player I have seen on my trip to Africa, and I will definitely become a big player in the future. ”
The following year, Hakim Olajuwon, with the help of Bond, successfully came to study at the University of Houston. At the time, he had the same gold rush dream as many black youths. He studied and played on the school basketball team. After third grade, he was absorbed by the famous Houston Rockets and became a true professional.
At this time, Hakim Olajuwon's playing skills have become increasingly mature, and his shooting skills under the basket are very masterful, especially long-range one-handed jumpers, almost 100 shots, comparable to basketball superstar Jordan.
At the heart of the Houston Rockets, center Hakim Olajuwon believes in the motto: Let the results speak for themselves. In the 1993-1994 season, he was named both the regular season and playoff "MVP" and was named Defensive Player of the Year. This makes him the first player in the U.S. basketball team to win all three honors in one season.
Hakim Olajuwon averaged 32 points per game in the playoffs, grabbed 10.3 rebounds, provided 5.3 assists, tackled 1.7 and blocked 2.7. What is especially valuable is that Hakim Olajuwon is not very happy and proud, but always credits everyone for what the Houston Rockets have achieved.
Hakim Olajuwon often said: "When you enter the playoffs, people no longer remember which player, but which basketball team. When people talk about the Houston Rockets, they don't talk about how I am Hakim Olajuwon, they don't talk about how Drexler is, and certainly not Hawley, people just care about how the Rockets perform. ”
When you ask Hakim Olajuwon how he withstood the Orlando Magic's 195-kilogram powerful center Shaquille O'Neal, Hakim Olajuwon will not talk about himself, but will introduce you to his teammate, 39-year-old veteran Charles Jones, nicknamed "The Tourist", how well he defended Shaquille O'Neal. Then we will introduce you to how well Shaquille O'Neal plays and what a talented young star he is.
In the eyes of his Houston Rockets teammates, Hakim Olajuwon is a superstar they admire.
Houston Rockets player Hawley received a clever pass from Hakim Olajuwon in the third final against the Orlando Magic and scored three points on a decisive shot to make a contribution to the Rockets. But before that, he rarely shot himself on the court, even though he was already a well-known sharpshooter on the college team.
Hakim Olajuwon discovered this problem during the game. During the break, he quietly called Holly aside and asked, "Why don't you always shoot?" ”
Holly hesitated for a moment, then replied with a red face: "I think you shoot better than me, and I don't want to make me throw the ball that should be thrown by you." ”
Hakim Olajuwon immediately retorted: "In the game, it is not a question of who shoots, but which side wins." If the Rockets are to win, we need each and every one of us to do the best in it, and there's no doubt that you need Hawley to take the opportunity and shoot and score. ”
Hakim Olajuwon's encouragement boosted Hawley's self-confidence, making him a strong player on the team, becoming a "surprise soldier" sent by the Houston Rockets against the Orlando Magic. Holly said heartily: "When Hakim Olajuwon tells you to do something, you just listen." ”
Cassel was instrumental in the Houston Rockets' second-game win against the Orlando Magic. The Rockets started the fourth quarter trailing by 22 points, while Hakim Olajuwon missed two free throws at key moments. Seeing this, Cassel was so anxious that he shouted at Hakim Olajuwon.
He was asked afterwards: "When yelling at Hakim Olajuwon, did you think that you were facing one of the most famous center forwards?" Cassel replied: "I was thinking that at that moment, he should have said something to me, and he didn't." So I thought I should say something to him. ”
Hakim Olajuwon really doesn't put any arguments on his teammates.
Houston Rockets coach Tomginovic described Hakim Olajuwon as a center as great as star Bill Russell. He said proudly: "You can even think that his level is even higher than that. He can play inside or outside, he can defend, he can play the ball well, he can do almost anything on the field. I looked at him differently from his first day with the Rockets, and I still often surprise him to this day. ”
Hakim Olajuwon has become one of the best players in American basketball history to score 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, and 1,000 blocks.
In the summer of 1995, the list of U.S. men's basketball players for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was finalized and officially announced. There were some twists and turns when he was selected for Hakim Olajuwon. Nigerian-born Hakim Olajuwon obtained his U.S. citizenship in June 1993, but represented Nigeria in basketball at the African Games in his early years. According to FIBA rules, a player cannot represent two countries in international competitions.
Hakim Olajuwon was devastated that he could not participate in the tournament he had dreamed of for years. Later, after many efforts and maneuvers, FIBA Secretary General Swingovic finally personally announced that Hakim Olajuwon could represent the United States in the Atlanta Olympics. Upon hearing the news, Hakim Olajuwon, 33, said happily: "It's too good to be true. ”
Soon, the first batch of sweatshirts for this "dream team", which is all composed of American professional basketball stars, has been produced. Hakim Olajuwon's No. 15 tricolor shirt is a bit tight. But this is the most desired set of shirts he has only come to order after a lot of hard work, and it doesn't matter if it fits or not.
When Hakim Olajuwon became famous, he became the subject of journalists' interviews. Hakim Olajuwon did not put on the shelf of celebrities, was very modest and easygoing, and gave them satisfactory answers one by one.
When a reporter asked, "When you first arrived in the United States, did anyone help you in particular?" ”
Hakim Olajuwon said: "Kyle Patrick, an assistant coach at the University of Houston at that time, helped me a lot, he was very enterprising, always gave me 'little stoves' and didn't let go of any small mistakes in my technique. Always let me improve my skills in real battles, which has benefited me a lot. ”
A reporter asked: "You have practiced handball and football before, do you think these sports have helped your basketball career?" ”
Hakim Olajuwon replied: "These sports are very helpful to me. I learned and mastered the skills of fast movement, coordination and feigned movements from handball and soccer training. I have a lot of fake moves in the American basketball game. I'm actually not a power player. I always use fake moves to make the defender's center of gravity move incorrectly, and then shoot and break through. And not just by strength and body. I've never been the kind of fighter who just relies on his body to punch and punch. I only use it when my technical movements require strength and body the most. ”
Another reporter asked Hakim Olajuwon: "You are considered one of the most physically fit players, what is the secret of this?" ”
Hakim Olajuwon laughed when he heard this: "I think the most important thing is nutrition, which many people often overlook. I always eat nutritious and wholesome foods. For breakfast I eat oatmeal, pies and some pasta, and for lunch and dinner I eat a lot of rice, lots of chicken and fish, salad and pasta. I drink a lot of water every day, do not drink raw water, do not drink alcohol, reasonable and sound nutrition helps to strengthen your body structure and develop physical fitness. ”
When asked by a reporter about Hakim Olajuwon's new goals after winning the championship, Hakim Olajuwon confessed: "We have to defend the title and drive us to fight desperately to win the championship again and play at our highest level." This is a new beginning in our athletic career and we continue to move forward. ”
Keep improving, that's Hakim Olajuwon's goal in life.
In addition to being one of the best centre-forwards in the world, Hakim Olajuwon is a successful and unusual businessman. Hakim Olajuwon said: "As a businessman, you have to seize any business opportunity, but only if you do not violate your own ethics. His ethic is to do "things that are good for himself and people" all the time.
Hakim Olajuwon never uses his celebrity effect to advertise alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. This is one of the moral codes he upholds. He thinks there are many good things, but before advertising this product, it is necessary to recognize its quality.
His favorite is to sign a contract with the company "Spadin", which specializes in the production of low-cost sneakers. Because the company's shoes sell for less than $50 per pair on the market. He was reluctant to sign with a brand-name company.
"Signing a sneaker sponsorship contract with a big company means he produces a pair of shoes for you and then markets them in your name for $120 or $150 per pair, when in reality the shoes cost as little as $30 or $20," he said. I'd rather have a joint venture to design and make a high-quality, low-priced, aesthetically pleasing sneaker that I can wear to the MLC finals. ”
Hakim Olajuwon always pointed to his feet when selling sneakers for manufacturers on the spot and said: "I'm proud of this design." It's a beautiful pair of shoes, of good quality, and affordable for most people and accessible to everyone. ”
Hakim Olajuwon treats business like a game on a basketball court, saying, "Just do your duty, just do your best." I'm not worried about failure! ”
Hakim Olajuwon's "American Dream" is not over yet, and he says that there are still many beautiful goals waiting for him to pursue...
A humble article, the writing is immature, and I beg the officials in the ranks to forgive or give advice. Thank you!
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