Being the wife of such a wealthy personality, surely, Asafi is living a lavish life relishing the wealth amassed by her spouse. The driver figured that Olajuwon meant the University of Houston, and when Olajuwon arrived on campus, the coaching staff immediately knew that they had struck gold. Not to mention his first Oklahoma game in person. Here are some notable quick facts that you should know about the retired Nigerian -American basketball legend. . Being born on 21 January 1963, Hakeem Olajuwon is 60 years old as of todays date 1st March 2023. Following a bad 1991-92 season, Olajuwon improved his passing and set a new career-best of 3.5 assists per game in 1992-93. He was one of the main reasons why the university team went to the Final Four of National Collegiate Athletic Association. Dalia and Hakeem have been happily married couple for the past about 23 years. Following his retirement from the NBA, Olajuwon found significant success in the Houston real estate market. Big Men Who Shook the NBA includes compelling and surprisingly frank profiles of the 25 best NBA centers ever. They married on August 8, 1996, in Houston. Shocked by the hustle and bustle of the airport and New York's cold weather, he cancelled his trip to St. John's and flew straight to Houston, where he asked a taxi driver to take him to the "University of Austin." (Coach Price) is pushing me to my limit, making me do things I didnt think I could do myself, Olajuwon said. Olajuwon, whose father is former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon, said his confidence has been a key reason for the growth of his game. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808937&cache=false" You've gotta be natural.". Recently, Abdullah Olajuwon came to America and started playing high school ball in Houston, Texas. He was thus rewarded with a new four-year contract which settled his contracts concerns. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808950&cache=false" Once again, he was named the Finals MVP, and became the only Rockets All-Star. She flourished in her final year after playing behind Courtney and Ashley Paris. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is the third of eight children born on January 21, 1963, to Salim Olajuwon and Abike Olajuwon. Well, if youre ready, lets start. The 1989/90 season was another bad season for the Rockets as they were defeated in the first round of the playoffs, but Olajuwon emerged as the league rebound leader and also became one of three players in the league to record a quadruple-double. The Nigerians lost in the semifinals to the Central African Republic, but Olajuwon impressed the opposing team's United States-born coach, Chris Pond, with his size and quickness. Hakeem Olajuwon has his position in the Basketball Hall of Fame and FIBA Hall of Fame, both as players. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American basketball player who played basketball in the NBA between 1984 and 2002. In 1993, he also adopted American citizenship. He kept his wonderful lone performance in the following five years from 1989 to 1993. However, there is no information about her exact date and place of birth. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. Are you a follower, or are you a leader? When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. The year proved to be a turning point for Olajuwon and the Rockets. Not to mention, Hakeem is the only player in NBA history to retire in the top ten for all four categories. They were married Thursday in Houston. SAN ANTONIO -- Hakeem Olajuwon has a new favorite memory of the Alamodome: Watching his daughter play in the Final Four. He was especially known for his defense, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice, leading the NBA in blocks 3 times, and retiring with 3,830 career blocks. () (). You never know. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a famous and talented former American basketball player. var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; The 1994 NBA regular season Most Valuable Player recorded 26,946 points and 13,748 rebounds during his career.In 2008, Hakeem was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. Hakeem Olajuwon sat with the rest of Abi's family, and was easy to spot: the Hall of Famer wore a bright green polo shirt in a sea of Sooners crimson. Instead, Houston brought in a new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, who worked to keep Olajuwon in a Rockets uniform. There is a Hakeem Olajuwon Foundation in existence today located in the USA. 34 jerseys. Abdullah Olajuwon's early journey to basketball. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Professional Basketball Player who is Nigerian-American. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. The couple has two daughters, Rahmah and Aisha and two sons, Abdullah and Abdul. Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN's The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. "She said she's not going to wear the number unless she's going to play," Hakeem Olajuwon said. On March 9, 1991, he altered his name from Akeem to the more conventional spelling of Hakeem. The question is: What do you stand for? Daughters: Abi Olajuwon, Rahmah Olajuwon, Aisha Olajuwon; Hakeem Olajuwon's Early Life, Childhood & Family Background. Pronunciation: \ah-KEEM ah-LAH-zhoo-wahn\. Additionally, Hakeem was drafted by the Houston Rockets as a first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. He was . They have three daughters named Abi, Aisha, and Rahmah. They were blessed with two daughters Rahmah and Aisha. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="". Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points and 10.8 rebounds during the season, and in the game that clinched the series, recorded 39 points and 17 rebounds. He is married to Dalia Asafi and has two daughters with her. """ ()". Olajuwon won two NBA championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in both years. Oklahoma Grad. He tells me what Im doing right and what Im doing wrong Ive just got to take it the right way. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? Olajuwon prides his parents as devoted people who made sure they instilled core values such as respect, hard work and honesty in their children. " (Coach Price) is pushing me to my limit, making me do things I didn't think I could do myself," Olajuwon said. Dalia Asafi is a Nigerian Celebrity Wife. He has another child, with Lita Spencer, who played basketball in the WNBA. He has created many records among them is the winning of both Defensive Player of the Year award and Finals MVP awards during the season 1993-94. Wik Sanaya Irani's Biography - Husband Mohit Sehgal, N What is Sara Martins doing now? This has allowed him to minimize risk and exposure when the real estate market softens. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, there is no information about her exact date and place of birth. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it. It was a month ago that the Olajuwons officially reclaimed Houston as their full-time home. Following his introduction to basketball, he came to love the sports that other sports became unimportant. As per Hakeem's last contract, he earned $6,326,923 as an annual average salary. Hakeem Olajuwon was born in 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria to Yoruba parents Abike and Salim, who owned a cement business. In fact, the member of the historic Phi Slamma Jama-era at the University of Houston made a. All Sources of Income, Jonathan Cheban Plastic Surgery Before & After Picture. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808954&cache=false" He and the even taller 7ft 4 in Ralph Sampson were together known as the Twin Towers. A gifted athlete, Hakeem was a soccer goalkeeper from an early age before learning to play team handball as a junior at Muslim Teachers College, a high school in Lagos. Hakeem Olajuwon has good memories of the Alamodome, where the Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs three times in the 1995 Western Conference finals en route to their second championship. 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. He finished the season runner-up to Michael Jordan in the Rookie of the Year voting. "She has the right concept, the right attitude. During the 2000-01 season Olajuwon was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and benched while he took a series of blood thinners. According to a 2006 New York Times profile, Hakeem up to that point had transacted over $100 million worth of real estate purchases. On August 8th 1996, he got married to, wife, Dalia Asafi. Over there, everyone played soccer," he said of Jordan. Olajuwon's run of success with the Rockets ended when the team was eliminated in the second round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs. Call. His name still exists in the history of the NBA as one of the 50 greatest players. Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton celebrate Olympic gold. But basketball was always lurking, he said, at his dads urging. SEE MORE: Biography facts and personal life of basketball players. 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. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808965&cache=false" Physical Characteristics: Foregoing his final year of college eligibility, Olajuwon was selected as the number one overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. Hakeem is a strict observer of Ramadan (he abstains from food and drink during daylight hours for about a month). Terms of Use. His reason for his endorsement of a shoe which is sold at a low price is due to his belief that poor people cant afford such shoes, and kids steal such shoes or sometimes kill for such shoes. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot over Dikembe Mutombo of the Philadelphia 76ers at the First Union Center (now Wells Fargo Center) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808943&cache=false" He was given the opportunity to join the US national team at the Olympics in 1996, and he grabbed the opportunity to be part of a gold medal-winning team. He is also one of the only four players in NBA history to have scored a quadruple-double. Clements' Abdullah Olajuwon sizes up a defender during a Jan. 22 game against Bush. Following a dismal 1991 and 1992 season, Olajuwon requested a trade from the Rocket, citing contract issues as well as unconvincing performance. daughters Aisha and Rahmah and sons Abdullah and Abdul. ""I'm shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong. Olajuwon also has a . Furthermore, Asafi has not revealed anything about her educational qualifications. During the 1985-86 season Olajuwon averaged 23.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game and led his team to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals, but lost the series four games to two. Wire index, Bulls, Catchings win Sports Humanitarian awards, UNC hires ex-player, coach Crawley as assistant, Docs: Johnson seeks spousal support from Griner, Team USA tops Canada for women's hoops gold, Summitt saluted by Vols family at charity event. To know all the details, keep reading the article until the end. This name was given to him because he used to dunk so effortlessly that his coach from the college said it just looked like a dream to him. Olajuwon, a 33-year-old Nigerian who is now a U.S. citizen, worshiped for years at the same Houston mosque as the bride's father. He earned this hefty sum of money as a professional basketball player from his career. Texas Born Cali Built! Playing alongside five members of the original Dream Team, plus Shaquille O'Neal, Olajuwon and his fellow American players won the gold medal for the tournament. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets moves the ball against Detlef Schrempf of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on January 18, 2000 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. Further, the wedding was conducted traditionally in the presence of his friends and family. Olajuwon also has a daughter named Abisola from a previous relationship. Reportedly, he is fluent in French, Arabic, and the Nigerian languages of Yoruba and Ekiti. Kid of HOF beast @thedr34m. His performance in his first season earned him a second place in the Rookie of the Year voting. He is a fluent multilingual having knowledge of English, French, Arabic, and Nigerian indigenous languages, Ekiti and Yoruba. Facing star center Ewing and the New York Knicks in the NBA finals, Olajuwon won his first NBA title, defeating the Knicks in seven games. The wife of Hakeem Olajuwon, Dalia Asafis was born in 1968 in Nigeria. All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. If you do not know, We have prepared this article about details of Hakeem Olajuwons short biography-wiki, career, professional life, personal life, todays net worth, age, height, weight, and more facts. More success came the next year, as Olajuwon helped the Rockets advance to the Western Conference Finals, which they won. In the summer of 1984, Olajuwon was considered the top college prospect over teammates and future NBA players Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, and was picked for the first time in the 1984 NBA draft by the Rockets. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. Olajuwon, once again named the NBA Finals MVP, ended the season with his second championship title.As Olajuwon aged, his minutes on the court and statistics took a natural decline, and Houston management began planning a future beyond his presence on the court. The following season the Rockets, who were plagued by injuries throughout the regular season, surprised many by returning to the NBA finals, this time facing center Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic. Dalia Asafi married Hakeem when she was just 18 years old even though he was already 33. In his first year in the NBA, Olajuwon formed the first twin towers duo, with Ralph Sampson, the 1984 Rookie of the Year, to help the Rockets improve their performance. Olajuwon can speak French, Arabic as well as his native language, Yoruba. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. He was associated with Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 2002 and played in the position center. 34 -- just like her dad wore with the Rockets. 142k Followers, 1 Following, 30 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Hakeem Olajuwon (@thedr34m) Olajuwon, paired with Ralph Sampson in the front court, had a stellar rookie year, averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, and finished second to Jordan in the Rookie of Year voting. After turning down a $13 million deal with the Rockets, Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2001. All of my fundamental principles that were instilled in me in my home, from my childhood, are still with me. In the 1987/88 season, Ralph Sampsons knee injury which ended his career prematurely started. Kang Yeosang (ATEEZ) Height, Girlfriend, Age, Net Where is Choa from AOA? The way to give thanks is obedience to God. He fell out with the Rockets management, but he returned in good form for the 1992/93 season, where he finished runner-up in the MVP race. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=2808944&cache=false" During the 1998-99 season, Olajuwon's scoring production improved, helping him make his 12th and final All-NBA Team. Clements ' Abdullah Olajuwon came to America and started playing high school ball in Houston Texas. Bad 1991-92 season, Ralph Sampsons knee injury which ended his career surely, has! Asafi married Hakeem when she was just 18 years old as of todays date March. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment in... In Lagos, Nigeria to Yoruba parents Abike and Salim, who played basketball in the of... Sports became unimportant 18 years old as of todays date 1st March 2023 coach Rudy... Basketball was always lurking, he said of Jordan ( ) & ;... 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