Hakeem Olajuwon cemented his status as an NBA legend by leading the Houston Rockets to two championships. Beyond his success with the team, he excelled as a well-rounded player, influencing every aspect of the game. Despite these accomplishments, he is frequently overlooked in the GOAT debate, which typically centers around Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Addressing this oversight, Kyrie Irving recently weighed in on Olajuwon’s legacy.
“We’re not going to allow people to revise history: Hakeem Olajuwon…We’re not going to let people pretend like Hakeem was not that. Before there was a Tim Duncan, there was a Hakeem Olajuwon… I’m not comparing the two—I’m not. But I’m saying before there was Kobe, there was Mike. Before there was a Mike, there was Julius Erving. You guys gotta really just put it in perspective how I’m saying these things,” Kyrie Irving said on his Twitch stream.
Kyrie is not attempting to discredit any historic player in the NBA. Instead, he wants to remind us of the foundation upon which the league was built, and Hakeem Olajuwon was a significant part of it. Therefore, leaving him out of the GOAT debate could be unfair. His ability to make a difference for the Houston Rockets impacted all areas of the game. He even won two Defensive Player of the Year awards while maintaining a high level of offensive contribution.
Michael Jordan delivers high praise on Hakeem Olajuwon’s all-around dominance
While Michael Jordan dominated the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls, he encountered several formidable challengers. Among them was Hakeem Olajuwon, the star of the Houston Rockets. His imposing physique and versatile skill set caught the attention of the Bulls legend, who did not shy away from offering him high praise.
Hakeem Olajuwon playing for the Houston Rockets.
“He was in the top 10 in five categories, steals, rebounds, blocked shots, scoring, and shooting percentage. To have a big guy of his size to be in the top 10 in steals, you would assume that he would be in blocks, which to me showed versatility and what type of guy he really was,” he said, via NBA 2K14.
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NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon compared Clippers’ veteran to Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain
Hakeem Olajuwon makes a crystal-clear choice in the GOAT debate
In a 2015 interview with CNBC Worldwide Exchange, Hakeem Olajuwon was asked about the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Without hesitation, the Rockets legend delivered a resounding answer. “When people start comparing him (LeBron James) 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.”
Despite this, Hakeem spoke about LeBron James, making it clear that he does not seek to discredit what the Lakers veteran has achieved. A decade has elapsed since he made those statements, and much has evolved. James has extended his illustrious career, shattering numerous league records. However, the Rockets legend position likely remains unchanged, as he highlighted that the distinctions he drew went beyond mere statistics and numbers.
