Latest news with #HakeemOlajuwon
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Hakeem Olajuwon's sons Abdullah and Abdulrahman represent Jordan in FIBA Asia Cup
The sons of Hakeem Olajuwon, FIBA Hall of Famer and former NBA Most Valuable Player, are continuing their father's legacy in the ongoing 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Abdullah and Abdulrahman Olajuwon are donning the colors of Jordan, the country where they were born, as they make their debut in the Asian tournament. Abdullah, 21, has already posted averages of 10 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 assists in Jordan's past two games. Abdulrahman, meanwhile, 19 years old, has been playing limited minutes for the squad. Hakeem flew to Saudi Arabia to watch his sons play. In an update on the FIBA website, he said he is proud of his sons' stint with Jordan. "I'm just so happy for them because they have the opportunity to play for the national team. It's a great game, totally. They will gain a lot of experience," said the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2016 inductee. Abdullah also played for the University of Detroit Mercy in the United States. "I've been wanting to do this since, like, '23," he said in a FIBA website report. "So, yeah, it's been a couple of years. I've been waiting." Jordan is among the four teams in Group C, along with China, India, and Saudi Arabia. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"All the critics can shut up" - Hakeem Olajuwon defended LeBron James from his haters after he won his first NBA Championship
"All the critics can shut up" - Hakeem Olajuwon defended LeBron James from his haters after he won his first NBA Championship originally appeared on Basketball Network. After nine long years, LeBron James finally joined the NBA champions' club when he won his first title with the Miami Heat in 2012. Hakeem Olajuwon was among those recognizable figures who expressed his admiration for James' career milestone. Everybody knows Olajuwon isn't one of the most outspoken NBA legends. However, he surprisingly silenced LeBron's haters at the time. Hakeem did not hesitate to call for the haters to stop and just give James the respect he deserved. Olajuwon also raved about James' future in the league. He predicted it wouldn't be Bron's first and only NBA championship. "Now, all the critics can shut up," the Hall of Fame center said of James after the Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 Finals. "He's an iconic superstar, and he's becoming a legend," added Hakeem. "He will only get better. I think he will win many more championships." Hakeem is honored to have helped LeBron Before winning the chip that year, James flew to Olajuwon's ranch in Texas to work on his post-game and footwork. After watching James perform throughout the season, Dream could tell that the 1-on-1 training sessions they had in the summer paid off. Olajuwon was impressed with how LeBron applied everything he learned and led the Heat to another championship. That being said, Hakeem also considered James' success personally fulfilling. "I'm just so happy for him," Olajuwon said of James' first NBA title. "It's so well deserved. It's so special. I feel so proud to have contributed to his career." "I just tried to tell him to rely on some of the things we had gone over," Hakeem revealed. "There were so many times when it looked like they might not get out of a series, but he had that determination and confidence level to overcome that."Hakeem shut down the MJ vs. LeBron debate Even before James won his first NBA championship, people had already been comparing him to the one and only Michael Jordan. They are widely regarded as the top two NBA GOAT candidates, but others felt (and still feel) like LBJ had yet to reach MJ's level. For Olajuwon, who faced Jordan during his playing years in the league, none of these MJ vs. LeBron comparisons and debates make sense. Though Dream believes Jordan is indeed in a class of his own, he argues that James was also able to carve his own path in the game. "When people start comparing him with Jordan, then that's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a far more superior player in a very, very tough league, and very, very creative," the two-time NBA champion once told CNBC's Worldwide Exchange. "That's not taking away anything from LeBron because he is a great player, but it is not a fair comparison because Jordan is a far superior player." Hakeem turned out to be right about LeBron. He continued to dominate the league and won three more championships since 2012. Today, James has undoubtedly cemented his legacy, but to receive such praise from Olajuwon back then meant a lot to his career. It did not only serve as a powerful testament to his greatness but also to the hard work he put in to help his team win season after story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
James Harden's sacrifice sets up Los Angeles Clippers' title push amidst Hakeem Olajuwon's praise
James Harden is in the L.A. Clippers now (Image via Facebook / @James Harden) As an 11-time All-Star, 2018 MVP, and multiple All-NBA pick, NBA legend James Harden is unquestionably one of the most decorated players in NBA history. However, he's never taken home a ring. Nevertheless, another NBA icon, Hakeem Olajuwon, now believes that he is a complete player. During the June 2020 celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Houston Rockets' 1994-95 championship season, he opened up regarding the player's future. James Harden's contract move and Hakeem Olajuwon's endorsement boost Los Angeles Clippers ' title hopes Despite their lackluster postseason performance, James Harden 's nine-year relationship with the Houston Rockets was unique. After scoring thirty points while dozing off, he became a formidable offensive force that wowed Hakeem Olajuwon and other franchise icons. He was a consistent contender for league MVP, winning the award in 2018. Later, Hakeem Olajuwon spoke out about the NBA player's skill and prospects. In 2020, he said: "It's very difficult to carry a team from that position, and he's proven that comfortably, reaching new heights. Look at his statistics. He's a player to the level of Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. It's something unbelievable in this era. There's no question about James' ability as a champion. I think it's just a matter of time. Any player you put with James Harden, it will work. Because James is such a complete player. He's a winner, and he knows how to win.' Meanwhile, James Harden might have gotten $50 million from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for his skills. However, he chose the early 40s over the $50 million club and agreed to a two-year, $81.5 million contract to help the franchise win this summer's free agency. As a result, the L.A. Clippers' best chance to pursue the championship may have been subtly set up. Sports Illustrated reported that according to team president Lawrence Frank: "So, without James, we can't even get Brad, because we wouldn't have use of the full MLE. So that allowed us to get Brook and Brad because of the way James structured his contract. Two, the way he's structured his contract in year two gives us flexibility that if we want to have max space, we can choose to do so." James Harden was in Philadelphia 76ers (Image via Facebook / @James Harde) The Los Angeles Clippers might not have had a chance to win a championship if James Harden hadn't dropped his salary. Now, the Western Conference is on notice and the door is wide open because of his sacrifice. Also read: Bradley Beal joins Los Angeles Clippers after Phoenix Suns buyout, signs 2-year deal with player option Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hakeem Olajuwon on what separates Michael Jordan from LeBron James: "Jordan was a far more superior player in a very, very tough league"
Hakeem Olajuwon on what separates Michael Jordan from LeBron James: "Jordan was a far more superior player in a very, very tough league" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Hakeem Olajuwon did not sugarcoat his answer when asked to weigh in on the GOAT debate during a 2015 interview. Advertisement At that time, LeBron James was dominating the league after winning two championships and making four consecutive NBA Finals appearances with the Miami Heat. Being only 29 at the time — the same age when Michael Jordan recorded his first three-peat with the Chicago Bulls — people felt James could even match Jordan's six championships. But even if he did that, Olajuwon wouldn't put the two on the same level. "When people start comparing him with Jordan, then that's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a far more superior player in a very, very tough league, and very, very creative," the two-time NBA champion told CNBC's Worldwide Exchange. "That's not taking away anything from LeBron because he is a great player, but it is not a fair comparison because Jordan is a far superior player." Hakeem played against Mike and trained LeBron The Houston Rockets selected Olajuwon with the first pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. That same year, Jordan went third overall to the Bulls. Advertisement Hakeem played Michael 23 times during his NBA career, winning 13 of those matchups. Still, Jordan was great in their head-to-head games, averaging 30.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.0 steals per contest. Meanwhile, Olajuwon retired after the 2001-02 season, two years before James jumped from high school to the NBA. However, he got to see his game firsthand when the latter flew to Houston to train with him during the summer of 2011. James not only wanted to learn Olajuwon's footwork and moves but also his championship mindset. "He was so determined," the legendary big man said. "That's number one. He was always saying, 'I'm here.' That pushes me. When somebody wants it so much and is so eager … wow. I was very happy because I knew I could help him…I could see when he left the ranch, his excitement was high and he was ready. "I thought, 'He has completed his game. He feels that. He believes that." Advertisement Related: "Once it goes in, it never comes back out" - Danny Ainge explains why Kevin McHale earned the most accurate nickname in NBA history A lot has changed since then James returned better than ever. He won three NBA championships in the next five seasons and was the back-to-back league MVP in 2012 and 2013. The third of three NBA titles was won in 2016 after he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, James has added a fourth NBA championship to his resume, the inaugural In-Season tournament championship and MVP, plus countless records that speak to his unmatched longevity in the league. Advertisement In 2023, he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record and continues to add to his total, as he prepares to enter his 23rd season in the Association. But while James may have even surpassed Jordan in terms of career achievements, that should not change Olajuwon's GOAT pick. For all of LeBron's greatness, most people, former players especially, still share Hakeem's view. Related: "Everybody say he is the greatest of all time. I always say what criteria are you using" - George Gervin on why he questions Michael Jordan's status as the GOAT This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen feud recalled by former Rockets teammate
The post Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen feud recalled by former Rockets teammate appeared first on ClutchPoints. For years, NBA legends Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley were not on the best of terms. That was even the case when they were teammates on the Houston Rockets. Advertisement During the strike-shortened 1999 season, Pippen and Barkley were on the same team. Clyde Drexler had retired, and Pippen was brought in to fill that void. Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon was still the focal point of the franchise. The hope was for Pippen and Barkley to help the Rockets regain their prominence. However, neither of them gelled, and it only lasted for one year. Now, a former teammate, Cuttino Mobley, is providing insight on the nature of their relationship, per All The Smoke Podcast. On the latest episode, Mobley recalls receiving mentorship from Pippen on how to be a pro, whereas Barkley was sometimes absent from practice. Advertisement 'Scottie was at practice at 10, Scottie was there like seven lifting. I'm in there with him just learning how to be a pro,' he said. 'What I should eat before, what I should eat afterwards. Getting shots up after practice. He taught me how to do those things. Because sometimes Dream (Olajuwon) was like on a fast, Charles may not even come to practice, and it bumped heads with Scottie because he didn't come from that. He was looking at Charles like, dog what are you doing? Like we're total opposites. Kind of like Kobe and Shaq at the time.' When host Matt Barnes asked, 'Could you feel the beef between them two?' Mobley responded: 'Yeah especially when it came to games we could win with just them. Forget all us young guys. All the young guys, just be out there. We'll win the game, but I need you and your energy to help me do this.' The tempestuous time between Pippen and Barkley on the Rockets The Rockets finished 1999 31-19 and were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Advertisement Eventually, the beef found its way into the media with Pippen and Barkley taking jabs at one another. Pippen expressed frustration about how the offense was designed for Barkley and Olajuwon. Ultimately, Pippen left Houston for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000. In a 1999 ESPN article, Pippen did say some nice things about Barkley. 'I feel bad for him,' Pippen said before his Portland Trail Blazers played Minnesota. 'I didn't want to see him end his career like that. I wanted him to go out fighting.' However, Pippen doesn't regret calling Barkley 'fat' at the height of their feud. Related: Rockets waive 6-foot-11 forward Related: Former Rockets teammate says Yao Ming had Nikola Jokic type skills but was held back
