In 2001, Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors. During his 18-year NBA career, Olajuwon earned more than $110 million in salary. The Rockets finished the 199091 season with a record of 5230 under NBA Coach of the Year Chaney. Dalia Asafi beoncloudz Olajuwon earned more than $107 million in salary during his 18 year NBA career at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Dalia with husband, Hakeem Olajuwon (source: photo.com) Olajuwon got married to Dalia Asafi in August 1996. Lagos is a very cosmopolitan city There are many ethnic groups. [1], Born in Houston, Texas, Olajuwon played varsity basketball for her Californian high school, Marlborough School, and helped her team win three consecutive Southern Section titles. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a Nigerian-American basketball player who used to go by the name Akeem Olajuwon. Ralph Sampson, who was 7ft 4in tall, played with him, and the two of them were known as the Twin Towers. He weighs 116kgs. #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/OO1eLRO3nL, Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 6, 2017. 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. Olajuwon averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shooting 60% from the field in 18 minutes per game. Marion Barber Net Worth: What Happened to Him? Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Hakeem Olajuwon and other top speakers and . Heaviest Sumo Wrestler List, 25 Best 80s Tennis Players. Relatives. 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. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem, saying, Im not changing the spelling of my name, Im correcting it. Olajuwon played center for the Houston Rockets, whom he led to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, and the Toronto Raptors.. Olajuwon traveled from his home country of Nigeria to play collegiately for the University of Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon is a retired professional basketball player who was born in Nigeria. Olajuwon was a 2006 McDonald's All-American,[1] and was one of the most prized recruits of the 2006 graduating high school class. Also find out how he got rich at the age of 58. From the 1996 season to the 1999 season, Olajuwon continued in fine form, but with Michael Jordan back in action, the Rockets struggled to claim another Championship. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers and one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He later recalled that when he originally arrived at the airport in 1980 for the visit, no representative of the school was there to greet him. He is, to date, the last player from a losing side to be granted this honor. In 1996, Olajuwon 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. Exploring Dougray Scotts Career and Net Worth, Zari Hassan Net Worth 2023: A Look into the Wealth of East, How Janet Yellen Built Her $16 Million Fortune? Please have a look in the below part if you are interested about him birthday and birthplace related facts. Abisola who is Hakeem's daughter from the aforementioned previous relationship has since followed in the footsteps of her father by professionally playing basketball. The birth date is 21-Jan-63. However, there is no detail on the career of . [12] After being waived she played for Esportivo Ourinhos (Brazil),[13] and Heilongjiang Chenneng (China). In his first year in the University, the NCAA didnt give him clearance to play and thus he was redshirted. Olajuwon was still recognized as one of the leagues elite centers despite his strict observance of Ramadan (i.e., abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month), which occurred during the playing season throughout his career. Houston. Listed at 7ft 0in (2.13m), Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Camp, where he teaches young frontcourt players the finer points of playing in the post. [6] After being waived, Olajuwon signed with Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Vd Gyr,[7] and later played for CSM Satu Mare (Romania). The Pope Exorcist Ending Explained: Does the Pope, War Sailor Ending Explained: What Happens Between, Murder Mystery 2 Ending Explained: Is Connor Miller, Wellmania Ending Explained: What Happens With Liv and, Unseen Ending Explained: Who is Responsible for. Sportswriter Sam Smith speculates that such a trade would have changed league history and maybe the entire Michael Jordan legend. In fact, the good things that every parent tries to teach their children. Olajuwon and his wife, Dalia Asafi, reside in Jordan and have two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha. Nevertheless, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics, 3 games to 1. Olajuwon emigrated from Nigeria to the United States of America. More recently he has been working with Dwight Howard, helping him diversify his post moves and encouraging more mental focus. He and his teammates (including Clyde Drexler) formed what was dubbed Phi Slama Jama, the first slam-dunking fraternity, so named because of its above-the-rim prowess. The foundation helps children in the Southwestern part of the United States get money for whatever they need to live better lives. Currently, she is an assistant coach for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA . She will. Career, Awards, & Nominations Hakeem has started his career while playing for the University of Houston under Guy Lewis coach. Olajuwon retired as the alltime league leader in total blocked shots with 3,830, although shot blocking did not become an official statistic until the 197374 NBA season. His contract was indeed not good enough, as he received a low salary for a player of his Caliber and also a lack of contract negotiations clause in his contract. He married Dalia Asafi in 1996 as per an arranged marriage. Hakeem Olajuwon was born on 21 January 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria into a middle-class Yaruba family, and is a popular former basketball player. He subsequently went on to mesmerize the NCAA division so much so that by the time the NBA draft came up, he was picked first overall, above players such as Michael Jordan. Hakeem made $110 million in salary during his time in the NBA. Playing as a goalkeeper helped Olajuwon learn how to balance his weight as well as strength. He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. Hall of Famer, NBA Champion and MVP @DR34M will be the #Texans Homefield Advantage Captain this Sunday against the @49ers! Olajuwon, meanwhile, signed a lucrative shoe endorsement deal with LA Gear and later became the face of Spaldings The Dream athletic shoe line. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from purchases made on Amazon via our links. He played 7 out of the 8 games and started 2. 2023 WeAfrique - Famous people of African descent, celebrities, news, and everything Interesting, Shawn Howell Wayans Is Marlon Wayans Son: Everything To Know About Him, 20 Nollywood Actors And Their Marital Status, Who Is Stevie Vann: Details About The Singer No One Told You About, 50 Most Popular African Dishes You Should Find In A Good African Restaurant, 25 African Restaurants In The United States, Simple Steps On How To Cook Edikang Ikong Soup ( Edikaikong Soup ), Lexington Budden Is One Of Joe Buddens Children: All To Know. With the ball, Hakeem displayed a vast array of fakes and spin moves, highlighted in his signature Dream Shake (see below). Relation: Name: Birth: Daughter: Aisha Olajuwon: Daughter: Rahmah Olajuwon: Husband: Hakeem Olajuwon: Jan 21 1963: Spotted an error? He endorsed Spalding shoe, the Dream which sells as low as $35. Michael Jordan had returned from an 18-month hiatus in March 1995, and his Chicago Bulls dominated the league for the next three years (199698). However, the Rockets were swept in the playoffs by the LA Lakers. When he was in Nigeria, it was hard for him to find shoes that fit just right. From 1991 to 1998, every NBA championship team included either Jordan or Olajuwon; furthermore, at least one of Drexler, Jordan, and Olajuwon was involved in every NBA Finals from 1990 to 1998. I grew up in an environment at schools where there were all different types of people.. The boys played basketball and soccer while growing up, and they are still drawn to the sports. He first moved to Jordan to pursue Islamic studies but later fell in love with the nation. This willingness to pass the ball increased his scoring, making it more difficult for opposing teams to double and triple-team him. Also, Olajuwon bought a 41-acre piece of land near NASAs Johnson Space Center and turned it into a community for retired people. Aegir Svensson. Abisola Olajuwon, his daughter with Lita Spencer, whom he met in college, represented the West Girls in the McDonald's All-American Game and played in the WNBA. Hakeem Olajuwon was born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, working-class Yoruba owners of a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. The Rockets had immediate success during Olajuwons rookie season, as their win-loss record improved from 2953 in 198384 to 4834 in 198485. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon was on a university basketball team and played for three years (1981-1984). He was born on January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria. Olajuwon has also worked with mer Ak, Donatas Motiejnas, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Dalia Asafi may not be the most famous of individuals at the moment, but she has been in the limelight since the 1990s when she got married to former NBA star, Hakeem Olajuwon. A housewife, Dalia Asafi, came to limelight after marrying a Nigerian-American former NBA-player from Lagos, Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon. Hakeem Olajuwon was born on 21 January 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria into a middle-class Yaruba family, and is a popular former basketball player. Besides, Daila is the second wife of Hakeem. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. Olajuwon attended the 2013 NBA draft to bid farewell to retiring commissioner David Stern as Stern made his announcement for the final pick of the first round. He was a very good player in a team, and because of him, the team was in the final four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Abisola was drafted by the Tulsa Shock and played in the 2011 season with WNBA. When asked whether the league was becoming more guard-oriented and big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, For a big man who is just big, maybe. Every basketball analyst agrees. Also, Hakeems love of fashion led him to start a clothing line in 2010 called DR34M. Net Worth and Salary. Meanwhile, the wife of an NBA player, Dalia Asafi, is living a very luxurious lifestyle with her husband's estate and assets. His parents owned a cement business. The book tells the story of a players move from Nigeria to the United States, as well as the highs and lows of his career and the rivalries he had with other players. After redshirting his freshman year in 198081 because he could not yet get clearance from the NCAA to play, Olajuwon played sparingly as a redshirt freshman in 198182, and the Cougars were eliminated in the Final Four by the eventual NCAA champion, the North Carolina Tar Heels. He only sells high-end brands, such as Gucci, Prada, and Coach. Hakeem Olajuwons real estate business has helped him buy a lot of homes in the United States. You dont solve Hakeem. The Rockets won every road game that series. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former professional basketball player who was born in a Muslim Nigerian family. They finished the season with a 4141 record, and though they made the playoffs, were eliminated in four games by Los Angeles. Olajuwon outscored ONeal in every game, scoring more than 30 points in each and raising his regular season rate by five while ONeals production dropped by one. After averaging 26.9 and 23.2 points in 199596 and 199697 respectively, Olajuwons point production dipped to 16.4 in 199798. Dont miss to subscribe to our new feeds, kindly fill the form below. He is one of the few known athletes who endorse shoes, not from very prominent brands such as Adidas, Nike, or Reebok. He finished as runner-up to Michael Jordan in the 1985 Rookie of the Year voting, and was the only other rookie to receive any votes. On April 10, 2008, the Rockets unveiled a sculpture in honor of him outside the Toyota Center. 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. Name: Aisha Olajuwon: Gender: Female: Description: Aisha Olajuwon is the daughter of Hakeem Olajuwon. He was a legend while playing, and he is still a legend now that he is retired. Hakeem Olajuwon is worth $110 million. They have two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha Olajuwon. Besides this, there is no information concerning her early life and family background until now. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft, a draft that included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Dalia Asafi is popular as the wife of Hakeem Olajuwon. He was drafted into the NBA first overall by the Houston Rockets in 1984. Their traditional wedding ceremony was very private, where only the closest family members were invited. He led his team to the NCAA Championship finals in his Sophomore and Junior years. The following season was a low point for the Rockets during Olajuwons tenure. After being down 21, the Knicks took a 32 lead into Game 6. Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. 209K subscribers Hakeem Olajuwon is the best Center in NBA History. He wrote his autobiography, Living the Dream, with co-author Peter Knobler in 1996. Olajuwon dominated Ewing in their headtohead match-up, outscoring him in every game of the series and averaging 26.9 points per game on 50% shooting, compared to Ewings 18.9 and 36.3%. On March 9, 1991, he changed his name from Akeem to Hakeem, which is a more common spelling. They had a solid core of young players and veterans, with a leader in Olajuwon who was entering his prime. The Golden Age of Tennis, 22 Most Beautiful Female Beach Volleyball Players in the world, Top 25 Hottest Female Surfers in the World Right Now, Kawhi Leonard Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life, Sebastian Vettel Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, LeBron James Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life. -. He had a unique Skillset and was the perfect. Apart from her birthdate and nationality, there is not much information about Asafi's family background. Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career during the playoffs. The sun sign of the basketball star is Aquarius. Join Facebook to connect with Aisha Olajuwon and others you may know. Though, he is 2.13 m tall, he weighs about 116 kg. During the 198788 season, Sampson (who was struggling with knee injuries that would eventually end his career prematurely) was traded to the Golden State Warriors. In 199899 the Rockets acquired veteran All-Star Scottie Pippen and finished 3119 in the lockout-shortened regular season. He was also the first foreign-born player to win the leagues MVP award. From 1995 to 1998, he was joined on the Houston Rockets by fellow Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler. During the tournament, he shared his minutes with Shaquille ONeal and David Robinson. It will always be a big mans game if the big man plays the right way. One of the things that Dalia holds close to her heart is her religion which is Islam. 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. They have two daughters, their first and second children; their names are Rahma and Aisha. Birth Facts and Education Dalia Asafi was born in the year 1968 in Nigeria. How Janet Yellen Built Her $16 Million Fortune? On offense, Olajuwon was famous for his deft shooting touch around the basket and his nimble footwork in the low post. During his career, Hakeem has played for. Dalia Asafi is the wife of Hakeem Olajuwon. His relationship with Dalia is one of the best-arranged marriages that Americans have ever had. However, the children's birthdate remains hidden or private. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. SEE MORE: Biography facts and personal life of basketball players. Olajuwon was also an outstanding rebounder, with a career average of 11.1 rebounds per game. The Truth About Her Sexual, The Return of Pachinko: Season 2 Release Date and, Les Dennis Net Worth Revealed: How Much Has He Really. Flaked Season 3: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, And Where to Watch! Recently, Abdullah Olajuwon came to America and started playing high school ball in Houston, Texas. Aisha Olajuwon. Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth, Biography & Lifestyle: Born Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, popularly known today as Hakeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association and have played before for Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors.After leading the Rockets to a back-to-back championship, he became an all-time star and got inducted into the .