[SLAM] The Professor -Dream Q & A

RV6 · Jul 9, 2013

This is actually very short, but it's better than nothing at all.

In full: http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2013/07/hakeem-olajuwon-rockets-jersey/

If Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s signature skyhook was the League’s most unblockable shot, Hakeem Olajuwon’s classic “Dream Shake” was the League’s most unstoppable move. But whereas the skyhook’s substance was obvious, the subtle brilliance of Olajuwon’s patented Shake—the dizzying combination of nimble footwork and an array of intricate spin moves, jukes and fakes—wasn’t discernable to the naked eye. Still, every defender who had to stare down the former soccer player as he made his way toward the basket knew this: Embarrassment was the end result. Case in point: the Western Conference Finals in ’95. Olajuwon destroyed the San Antonio Spurs’ David Robinson, the League MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year, with an epic performance (35.3 ppg) that helped the Houston Rockets eliminate the favored Spurs en route to their second straight NBA title.

Recently, Mitchell & Ness released a throwback No. 34 jersey that Olajuwon wore in ’96-97. The former League MVP, who averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a whopping 3.1 blocks over 18 seasons, phoned SLAM from Amman, Jordan, to talk about being picked over Michael Jordan, jerseys and why he’s the L’s most sought after low-post teacher.

SLAM: You were drafted No. 1 overall in the ’84 Draft before Michael Jordan. Ever hear any flack about that?

Hakeem Olajuwon: No. Any time in basketball you have a choice to choose a quality big man, you take the big man. Of course Michael Jordan is exceptional, but they never questioned the decision where you take a quality big man over a guard.
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TC777JLIN168 · Jul 9, 2013

RV6 said: ↑

This is actually very short, but it's better than nothing at all.

In full: http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2013/07/hakeem-olajuwon-rockets-jersey/
Click to expand...

Nice read. Thx

johnstarks · Jul 9, 2013

Nice read. This line about his pedagogical approach is great:
"From a basketball perspective, I teach them the joy of turning basketball into a science. For example, if you know about construction and engineering, if you want to do some remodeling and you have a load-bearing wall, you cannot move it. But when you have a column that’s not load-bearing, there’s lots of possibilities because it moves. So when we create a move in basketball, you make a player shift his weight to his load-bearing leg and then you attack that leg because now he cannot move. When I work with young players and see the expressions on their face, it’s a true joy for me. They realize that basketball is a science."

Also, I've adopted another line as my new sig.

Happy187 · Jul 9, 2013

I thought this was going to be about this guy:

But I was pleasantly surprised with a nice Dream story. Thanks for sharing.

TJ VS TR · Jul 9, 2013

Happy187 said: ↑

I thought this was going to be about this guy:

But I was pleasantly surprised with a nice Dream story. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought too!

It's a shame some idiots decide that his teaching is a scam, smh...

HO: It was a development of movement from playing soccer. It didn’t translate into basketball until later on in my career when it became more instinctive. When my opponent is not giving me anything, my first reaction is to read what the defense is giving me and take it, that’s the efficiency of a player able to read what he’s given and take it. If you give me a jump shot, I’m going to take it; if you get physical, I’m going to spin off; if you are undecided, I will force you commit to something. So basketball is a very intelligent game, you have to be very precise in your decisions.
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