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Their association began with a phone call and a question. “What,” Hakeem Olajuwon wanted to know, “are you trying to accomplish?” LeBron James, stuck at a career crossroads, didn’t hesitate. “He told me he has played basketball all his life,” Olajuwon, the Hall of Fame center, recalls on a recent afternoon at his sprawling home in a southwest suburb of Houston. “Facing the basket, shooting threes, this and that, but to complete his game, he needed to get inside.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Hakeem Olajuwon 

“I saw all of the moves we worked on,” Olajuwon, 49, says proudly. “When you work with a player, the satisfaction is in knowing that now, when it counts, when it is valued, he is executing.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Hakeem Olajuwon 

The Knicks had just been eliminated by the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, and Woodson wondered if Olajuwon could help Amar’e Stoudemire with his footwork and low- post moves. When the Knicks did retain Woodson — removing his interim title — and gave him a contract extension, he called Olajuwon again. This time, Woodson was in Houston, ready to execute his plan with Olajuwon. “I feel so honored that he asked me to help,” Olajuwon said. New York Times

Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Having worked with Stoudemire for more than two weeks this summer, Olajuwon is clearly fully invested in assisting Woodson, and ultimately the Knicks, the team he beat in the N.B.A. finals with the Houston Rockets in 1994. “It was something I wanted to do for Mike,” Olajuwon said. “It’s always a joy for me to work with current players, especially for guys that you know you can help their careers.” New York Times

Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Chris Broussard: Olajuwon will be in NY next week to work out with @Amare Stoudemire @Carmelo Anthony @Tyson Chandler & @Marcus Camby Twitter

Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Darnell Mayberry: Serge Ibaka told me he hasn't worked out with Hakeem Olajuwon this summer & doesn't plan on doing so before training camp begins Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka, Hakeem Olajuwon, Training Camp 

Darnell Mayberry: Ibaka: "Olajuwon is one of the best in NBA history so for me it would be a great opportunity and very exciting to work with him." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka, Hakeem Olajuwon, Training Camp 

Darnell Mayberry: Ibaka: "I didn't have time this summer because of the (Spanish) national team. But next year, I really, really would like to work with him." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka, Hakeem Olajuwon, Training Camp 

The Rockets actually had a center in Yao Ming who at one point looked capable of taking the Rockets to the heights they reached with Olajuwon. Unfortunately, right as Yao was establishing himself as the game’s best big man he suffered a string of injuries that eventually led to his premature retirement in 2011. “That was tough especially knowing Yao and how bad he really wanted to play,” Olajuwon said. “I could see the disappointment in his will. It was like a joke. I thought maybe ‘ok that’s not true I’m not reading that right’. To really realize that was like ‘wow, that’s it’. I felt for Yao. He responded positively. He took it very well, moved on. It was tough for the Houston Rockets, especially the owner with all the investments in China and Asia and how that put the popularity of Rockets in Asia. Just to see it for so short, then that was it. Just for the NBA as a whole, I think it was a huge loss for the league and especially the Rockets.” HoopsWorld

Houston Rockets, Yao Ming, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Stoudemire spent part of his summer working with Hakeem Olajuwon in Texas, getting some one-on-one tutelage in an attempt to become more adept at navigating down low. Just the thought of the added dimension that might give the Knicks' offense has Anthony beaming. "It's not like he didn't have those moves. I guess he just didn't feel comfortable down there, or whatever it may be," Anthony said Friday during a break at his two-day youth camp at St. John's University. "But him going down there and putting me on the wing, now I get to play off of him rather than me going down there and him playing off of me, which could be a deadly weapon if it all works out." Newsday

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Anthony is eager to see Stoudemire's updated offensive repertoire. "I haven't seen him," he said. "I've been looking for him, but I haven't see him yet. So I'm ready to see what he's added to his arsenal, and I'm excited . . . that he even went down there and started working with The Dream. So that's a big step forward." Newsday

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Hakeem Olajuwon, the former Houston Rockets star and an oracle of the low post, is pleased with his pupil’s progress. “You won’t believe it,” Olajuwon said in a telephone interview from his ranch outside Houston. The apprenticeship began on Aug. 6, with daily three-hour sessions on Olajuwon’s private court. Stoudemire has proved a quick study, assimilating moves and countermoves as fast as Olajuwon can demonstrate them. “It’s night and day,” Olajuwon said. “What’s so nice is he wants it, he likes the post. He’s always wanted to play there, but he doesn’t have the moves that would give him that option.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Most players come for about four days, Olajuwon said. Stoudemire is staying for two weeks. His motivation is clear. Stoudemire’s 17.5-point scoring average in 2011-12 was his worst in a full season since his rookie year. His .483 field-goal percentage was the lowest since his second season. He had his shot blocked 1.3 times per game, furthering speculation that his body was breaking down (although, in fact, that rate was close to his career average). New York Times

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Jonah Ballow: Woodson watched the STAT workouts w/ Hakeem & says, "I can’t help but think he’s going to be much better when he comes back next season.” Twitter

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Mike Woodson, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Olajuwon, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be an NBA star, believes the sky is the limit for McGee, who finished second in the NBA last season in blocked shots, averaging 2.16 per game. No question, I see him as another star," Olajuwon said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "That guy should dominate the league. "He has tremendous talent. I give him all these moves and he can finish and he's already skilled. So now just show him how to use that skill to (get) to the next level." FOX 26 Sports

Denver Nuggets, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Six-time NBA All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire "can't wait" to explore the moves he has learned from former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon when he returns to play with the N.Y. Knicks. Stoudemire has been in Houston for about a week working with the Hall of Fame center. "It's always room to improve as a player," Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players. "So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me." FOX 26 Sports

Houston Rockets, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

"He helped me a lot," Stoudemire said. "A lot of moves that he has really, really translate to my game. To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me. It's going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard and it's going to be a great year for me. "I have the IQ to implement this and learn fast, but it's not easy. There's a lot of detail that goes into it. He's very, very swift with his footwork, and he's very agile also, at (age) 50 still. It's great to learn from him. This is a great opportunity because you never how long he's going to be able to do this. So while I'm young and can still learn from one of the best, (I'm) very blessed to be a part of it." FOX 26 Sports

Houston Rockets, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Marc Berman: We showed Stoudemire video working out with Olajuwon. Tyson Chandler said after gold medal win those Hakeem "post" plans are scrapped. Twitter

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Amare Stoudemire entered the offseason wanting to work on his down-low game, and coach Mike Woodson agreed, explaining to his power forward that he wanted to use him more on the block next season. From there, Woodson placed a phone call to one of the greatest centers in NBA history, Hakeem Olajuwon, with whom he played on the Rockets from 1988 to 1991. After discussing Stoudemire's goal, Olajuwon, who manages a big-man offseason camp at his home in Houston, booked STAT in his training schedule, which includes only a few players each summer. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Mike Woodson, Hakeem Olajuwon 

"Coach really is the one who made it happen," said Travis King, Stoudemire's longtime training adviser. "Mike Woodson himself said he wants the ball to go through Amare in the post more, taking advantage of Amare and Tyson (Chandler), and even Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks' frontcourt has got to be one of the most experienced and best ones in the league. The games are decided inside most of the time. Amare has been one of the best bigs in the league for the past 10 years, really without any of the stuff that Hakeem has taught him." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Mike Woodson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Travis King