Hakeem seemed to have an effortlessness about him. He was more agile than most guys his size, but never looked like he had to try very hard. He made it look so easy, which is usually a cliche thing to say.
@@MrCandytyper what's in dude's pipe😂? Comparing an all time great to Javale(no disrespect to Javale) is insane, how do you even make that comparison even if you don't particularly like Hakeem, his #'s speak for itself... What are Javale's #'s like side by side? Has he even made an All-Star team or All NBA team, 1st, 2nd or 3rd ever before?😏 A big fat NO?!
I'd say most skilled, most graceful big in NBA history. He didn't dominate with his physique but dominated with footwork, grace, smarts. Cat-quick AF too especially when he was younger.
Hakeem was easily one of the nest of all times. He is the only player that Jordan respected a lot. Whenever MJ talks about Hakeem, he really means it and that says a lot
I'm a huge Hakeem Olajuwon fan. He left a huge mark on the NBA and most people don't even remember his '86 finals run when Hakeem averaged 11.8, 5.5 steals+blocks, and 24.7 against the greatest frontline in NBA history.
My favorite big by far! Silky smooth game, graceful, unbelievable finesse. Footwork the greatest next to Kobe. As skilled and agile as any guard. A defensive juggernaut and an offensive wizard. I can go on and on.
I agree! My only question. Did you see Shaq in his prime? Fast break... full court dribbling behind his back. Eluding the defense.... monster dunk! The Dream was amazing to watch. Miss the basketball i grew up with. But i hear what you're saying. Much respect
Well he would make Shaq look bad every time they played head to head. So yeah, I'd take him over him too. Hakeem is the GOAT at center and criminally underrated all time.
to answer the title question: NO you are not the only one, hakeem is my top all around center EVER. thanks for showing him the love he deserves. another great video!
Who dislikes the big Hakeem? He is an awesome pivot and a grizzly at defense, multiplying humongous blocks and rebounds. He has heart, it's impossible not to like a player as soulful as him, even if he plays against your team!
Agree, I said it so many times, and a bag load of post moves and many post counter moves as the situation asks, defense, rebounding, leadership and the list goes on
@@HiNRGboy you're not listening, the Dream had all the moves in his arsenal + jumpshot and on top of all that the best footwork that any big man could dream of.
@@sergeimalynovskyi1370 I don't need to listen to you, I saw the Dream play LIVE I'll let Hakeem speak for himself. I never said any Center was like Hakeem, all I said was there are other Centers that also have great footwork and could score at ease. You do realize Moses taught Hakeem I hope..
Well, here in Houston we love, love, love the Dream and always will. Fond memories of watching the other team drive the lane and we're like "Don't you know Hakeem is in there?!!?!? No, really, go ahead, try your luck, pal." With his footwork, body control, strength, speed, quickness, agility and intelligence, quite possibly the best athlete I've ever seen in any sport, anywhere, and I'm 61 years old. My buddy taught Hakeem how to play tennis in college and says he's still picking yellow fuzz out of his teeth today after Hakeem figured out how to come to the net on every point.
He's my all-time favorite player. I didn't really get into basketball until 1994, and I watched the Knicks-Rockets Finals. Of course I knew who Jordan was and I had seen how great he was, but he was playing baseball. Seeing Hakeem dismantle Patrick Ewing made an impression on me, and then seeing him beat every great big man the year after also solidified him as my GOAT.
Dismantle? Not so ...he outplayed Ewing yes but dismantle is a stretch.......what Hakeem did to Robinson THAT was not only a dismantle but an outright ass whooping and he totally EMBARRASSED Robinson!
@@MrBez007 and ppl either don't know or forget that Ewing got the best of Hakeem in college which was before Pat's chronic knees issues.... Shaq, Hakeem and Robinson (although David rode Duncan's coattails) won in NBA but Pat won an NCAA chip which some fans consider even bigger.
@@Todd170 Ewing did not get the best of Hakeem in college. Georgetown won the title and Hakeem was still named most valuable player. Georgetown had a team of future nba players (Wingate, Williams) alongside Ewing. Hakeem had a bunch of scrubs....once he left for the nba the cougars fell completely off the ncaa basketball landscape in terms of even making the tournament much less being a powerhouse
I Just moved to Houston from Toledo Ohio in 93, Toledo did not have an NBA team, so we were split between the Cavs, Pistons and the Bulls. Hakeem and Rudy and the Rockets gave me two Championships, 2024 I am still here! Go Rockets!
If Hakeem played in this era he would be the Point Center bringing up the ball with crazy handles. He would be the craziest hybrid ever. He'd be averaging a triple double and winning defensive and MVP awards
And he would be shooting 3s too with a high percentage! I mean if Brooke Lopez could become a 3 point threat, when he started his career playing in the low post, imagine what Hakeem The Dream coulda done!
I started playing ball in the late 80’s when I was around 13. At the time I was taller than most of my friends. I would analyze Hakeem’s moves and practice them in my driveway. He’s still my favorite player of all time.
Fun fact about Hakeem the Dream. He never really won a championship without another superstar in his prime. In 94, he was the only superstar on his team, and in 95 Clyde Drexler, was still good but he wasn't the Clyde Drexler of 1992. All the other big men that won championships, had other all time greats to help them out. Shaq had Kobe, and D Wade. Kareem had the Big O, Magic and James Worthy. Wilt had Jerry West, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham. Bill Russell had Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones to name just a few of his all time great teammates! David Robinson had Tim Duncan! And so on and so forth!
i recall thinking after jordan retired it was going to be the sonics time to shine.....two first round exits later ......still enjoyed the playoff and watching those rockets teams.
As a huge Jordan fan in the late 80s and 90s, Hakeem was the one center and the Rockets the one team that I always thought had the chance to dethrone MJ and the Bulls. And the 2 years MJ was retired I watched a lot of the Heat, and the Magic too because Shaq and Penny were awesome to watch. It amazes me how underrated Hakeem is these days. He was an absolute monster in the paint.
March of 1990, Hakeem recorded a quadruple-double against the Golden State Warriors with 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. Nuff said. :) I am German and hate to say this, but he is better than Dirk (Marginally :) ) with regards to the best foreigner to ever lace them up. Yanni and Luka still coming up. For now Hakeem is still number 1.
And we all never really knew what Sabonis could do outside the NBA. He could have and might be the true number 1. But the Soviets kept a tight lid on him. He destroyed international games, and too bad the US only ever sent pros to the Olympics after 1992.
You Can Make Unlimited Videos For Hakeem Still It Would Not Be Enough To See Him . He Was The Best Center Ever Played The Game In Every Way .. The Dream
I still say to this day, The Dream was the best Big Man, though he only has 2 Chips. I know some other bigs (Shaq and The Admiral) had their moments where they got him, but he was an amazing player. And to thing that he was 7'1"......and playing like a shooting guard is just unreal.
Let’s get this straight right now once and for all Hakeem Olajuwon is among the very greatest players to ever play the game at any position that is a FACT!
Hakeem Olajuwon is arguably the best player ever. He could do it all. His problem was he played on a team that was not in the social media midstream Market I never got recognition.
My all time starting 5 - MJ, Magic, Lebron, Bird and The Dream. Flexible lineup. Lots of height. Lots of basketball IQ. Three of the best defensive players of all times, plus two good team defensive players. Best scorer, shooter, and passer of all time. Defensive players that can guard multiple positions. All five can pass the ball. Possibly the two best closers of all times. Five players capable of getting double digit points, assists and rebounds. The best center at stealing the ball. The best guard at stealing the ball. All can carry the scoring load. Can’t really do much better than that…
From a real team perspective. I would replace LeBron with Pippen. Too me, LeBron's skill set would be diminished on this team. Pippen is a full capable scorer and one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Now you have two of the 5 best wing defenders of all time to go with the GOAT Olajuwon. Add two great team defensive players in Magic and Bird and that is a nasty defensive team that can just outscore if they want to.
@@kevinthomes1046 Actually I totally agree. Bills fan here. I love Scottie, but saddened by recent comments by him. I was trying to justify including him and dropping LeBron. LeBron is an all time great but I question his mental toughness. Scotties defense could put him over the top. As you say, those there defenders would be something to see. LOCKDOWN
Olajuwon alsofasted each year for a entire month not eating during or drinking in daylight and would get super sick and be put on ivs. He also had heart circulation issues they fixed middle of career.
If someone tells me they feel Kareem, Russell or Wilt was better, I can totally see why. But Dream is my favorite center. The only knock might be he didn't have great FG%, because he took so many mid-range shots. But having to respect his shooting led to so many defenders getting bamboozled. Plus, he was one of those guys that was also fun to watch on defense. Rare to see a guy that was as enjoyable to watch on both ends.
Hakeem is the greatest center of all time and a top 5 player all-time. When the casuals that run ESPN or SLAM magazine put up their top 10 players, I get so embarrassed for them. They really don't know ball.
I don’t think Hakeem is the GOAT, but I definitely think he needs to be in the conversation a lot more than he is. He’s probably the most complete big man ever to play and he deserves to be in the GOAT conversation a lot more than a certain media hyped flopper who is patting himself on the back for breaking decades old records in what has become the softest and easiest era to score in NBA history.
Hakeem is, to me, the 2nd player I’ll pick after MJ. The most amazing fact about Hakeem is that he was selected BEFORE MJ, and nobody says that the Rockets made a mistake… that’s insane Hakeem, Kareem, Shaq, TD, Joker. These are the top 5 centers from the 80’s going. Sorry Moses, you deserve more but that’s the reality.
He had the best footwork of any big man in history.. he would jump as he caught the ball and that would help him be able to do the next step very quick while the defender is caught flat footed..
The craziest thing is that we’ve seen people emulate the once novel moves and abilities of past icons. Moves that changed the game. Jordan’s fadeaway-> Kobe Stephs 30ft pull-ups -> Dame and others However every big who has attempted emulate the footwork of Hakeem and his arsenal has failed. He can’t be mimicked. Hakeem might be the biggest freak specimen to play basketball or any sport.
Between Ewing,David and Shaq I think Ewing played him the best..... Hakeem outscored Pat but Pat out rebounded and out blocked him ....great centers all of them
@@ziginaigra but in the important games Hakeem killed Shaq....and also remember Hakeem was already old when Shaq came in the NBA.... so was Ewing..... Robinson was the only younger one.
Hakeem the player who could potentialy break any legendary center -like Shaq admitted or Rodman trying... Actually now Jokic is the second same type of offensive force that can use timing so well. I only wonder how Hakeem would play against Bill Russell. In history he is the only big man who could possibly press that dream shake... Beautiful what ifs, indeed Hakeem is top2 defensive centers. Not only blocks and rebounds but style of defending greats like Ewing, Robinson, Shaq. I dont care if he greatest, he's also my favorite in history, maybe Jokic will get that... But always been Olajuwon :)
Dream was the best big man ever in my opinion. If the world would have seen the rockets play the bulls in the finals, it would be common knowledge now.
