Every so often, Wiseman’s phone will buzz with the ghosts of Big Men Past: Hakeem Olajuwon, Arvydas Sabonis, Chris Webber, Rik Smits, Vlade Divac. They arrive in grainy YouTube clips, via text messages from Andre Iguodala.
Hakeem Olajuwon Rumors
All NBA Players
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Hakeem Olajuwon
Position: -
Born: 01/21/63
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:255 lbs. / 115.7 kg.
Earnings: $102,998,594 ($636,574*)
Born: 01/21/63
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:255 lbs. / 115.7 kg.
Earnings: $102,998,594 ($636,574*)
Rockets fans will fondly remember Luis Scola as the “Ice Cream Man” for how he was able to scoop and score on a consistent basis. Sengun’s not too far off himself — it’s that good already. Sengun’s eyes light up when he speaks about potentially working with footwork guru and Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. “I was working in a young team in Turkey,” Sengun said of his footwork. “I was watching a lot. When I watch, I learn quickly, and it also helps me a lot. But also I’d like to work with Hakeem Olajuwon about this. We will work in the future. He said, ‘I’ll teach you some moves.’ It’s good for me, I’m waiting.”
As a rookie, Cassell was called-up to play for the Rockets in most of the pre-season games. The young Cassell was so hyped up heading into his maiden NBA experience only to get baffled by Olajuwon’s poor pre-season showing. “In my rookie year, we go 0-7 in the preseason,” Cassell said on Point God with Baron Davis. “We lose by 40 to GP [Gary Payton] and Seattle [Supersonics]. I remember calling my boy and saying, man, Hakeem Olajuwon, sorry as s–t. He was 3-12 and only got 3 rebounds in 15 minutes. He got 3 rebounds, not knowing veterans didn’t take preseason serious[ly], they used the preseason to get in shape. [Because] Back then, the preseason was a full month.”
According to the three-time NBA champ, “The Dream” went off right in the Rockets’ opening game of the regular season. “Opening night comes, we play the Golden State Warriors; Hakeem Olajuwon is out there handling his business!,” he recalled. “I’m sitting back, saying, where did this come from? Why didn’t he do this in the pre-season? I mean he gave those boys the business. He comes out of the game, I say ‘way to work Dream.’ He says, ‘Son, preseason don’t count, the popcorn is popping now. Pre-season stat sheets?, they don’t send to New York, these stats sheets, they send to New York.’ He put on a show. He had like 37 and 15 in 3 quarters.”
