BL: Do you have any relationship with Joel Embiid? How well do you know him? DM: I’ve known him since he was a little kid, since he came to Basketball Without Borders for the first time. And I saw him when he went to college, watched him when he came to the NBA. I told so many people with the 76ers, the way this kid is progressing, the way he’s playing, despite his injury, when he would get a chance to play a full season he will show the world [that] he has a chance to become much better than me or somebody else playing in the NBA from the continent. I think his approach to the game—he wants to dominate. I’ll kill you on the block, I’m gonna embarrass you, and that’s something I love about him. He’s a better offensive player than I was because I think when you look at some of his moves, I didn’t have that. It’s kind of a mix of Hakeem Olajuwon and another center. He has all of that, so that’s what makes him the great basketball player that he is.
Hakeem Olajuwon Rumors
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Hakeem Olajuwon
Position: -
Born: 01/21/63
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:255 lbs. / 115.7 kg.
Born: 01/21/63
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:255 lbs. / 115.7 kg.
BL: When did you first realize that you could be an ambassador for basketball in Africa? DM: I think on my draft day. Being the third NBA player from Africa, I have a responsibility to make sure that all the kids on the continent would play the game, that they did play, and also would get a chance to make it to the NBA because my challenge in life was to make sure that I was not the last Dikembe Mutombo playing in the NBA or the last Hakeem Olajuwon. And so I was making sure that we keep that door open for the next generation and I think that I did a good job of that.
Mark Berman: Hakeem Olajuwon (@Hakeem Olajuwon),1994 MVP, on @jharden,2018 MVP: “It’s long overdue.I think James has been the MVP for the last 2 or 3 seasons. I’m happy for him he got it this time because it’s well-deserved. He’s 1 of the hardest working players n the league. I really admire his ability”
Adam Wexler: #Rockets @James Harden wins the #NBA MVP award. It’s his 1st MVP honor. He’s the 3rd Rockets player to win MVP (Olajuwon ’93-’94, Malone ’78-’79 & ’81-’82). @KPRC2
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla compared Ayton with Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. UA coach Sean Miller doesn’t understand why there’s a debate about the No. 1 pick, saying: “I look at the NBA as trying to figure out who they’re going to pick from No. 2 to 60. I think the No. 1 pick’s in. … There’s nobody like Deandre. Nobody.” Colorado coach Tad Boyle told NBA.com: “He’s a monster. I played (at Kansas) in the ’80s, and he’s the best player since Hakeem Olajuwon. He’s that kind of talent.”
12 Jun
