Hakeem Olajuwon Dismantles David Robinson and the Spurs (1995 WCF Game 5) 

7 Jumpers , 6 Jump Hooks, 5 Fade Aways , 1 Drive Thats A Complete Ass whooping

This series exemplified why Shaq said that Hakeem is the best center in the history of the game. He outplayed all of the great centers of his era, and led his team to a couple of championships. At his peak, nobody could guard Hakeem. Not to mention that he is the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots, as well as being in the top 10 all time in steals. He's the only center in the top 25 of that category, and he's in the top 10. Most complete big man of all time.

I remember this game. I felt embarrassed for Robinson. Olajuwon was taking him to the cleaners. Outside, inside, back board, sky hook, shake n bake, jays, dunks, assists, stutter steps, spins... it wasn't even a contest.

Robinson said after the series, "I don't know how I can say it with a straight face, but I thought I defended him pretty well." He wasn't wrong: On every play, he's in the right spot, keeps his feet on fakes, contests the shot, doesn't let Hakeem get by him, and he STILL gets burned. That's how good Hakeem was: He made good defense look helpless.

The Houston Rockets during the 1995 NBA playoffs: 1) Lowest seed (#6) to ever win a NBA championship. 2) No home court advantage in any round. 3) Beat 4 teams with at least 57 wins (60 - Jazz, 59 - Suns, 62 - Spurs, and 57 Magic). 4) Came back from a 1-2 hole to beat the Jazz in the first round. 5) Came back from a 1-3 hole to beat the Suns in the second round. 6) Beat the Spurs and league MVP David Robinson 4-2 in the third round. 7) Came back from 20 down in the 2nd half to beat the Magic in game 1 of the NBA finals. 8) Eventually swept the Magic in the NBA finals. Not sure we'll ever see a playoff run like this one again! Oh, and they also did all this despite Vernon 'Mad Max' Maxwell leaving the team after game 1 of the playoffs (he was a tenacious defender and very streaky player who made some huge shots in the Rockets 1994 title run.)

Talent wise, the greatest center ever. Not even a question. His legacy was diminish by bad team after bad team, at least his peak play was something unbelievable!

42 pts, 9 rebs, 8 assists, 5 blks while defending the MVP of the league...AMAZING!

He made an all time great center in Robinson and a man look like a boy in this series Hakeem was the real deal man

You don't know what fear is until you have to guard Hakeem

Unstoppable moves. Totally stunning and on another level.

" I'll tell u what hakeem olajuwon has david robinson...just bamboozled."

The NBA was so much more skilled back then. Hakeem would average 40 in today's NBA. It amazes how much the talent level has gone down. That's why I can't credit Lebron for dominating this league because there were guys like this everywhere at one point in the NBA and look how amazing this is.

"...the Rockets have to continue to go through Olajuwon." Ya think! LOL

What couldn't he do....also went 8-2 vs the Bulls during their reigning years....but people seem to forget.

I am 29, gosh i miss that NBC basketball theme

Robinson was one of those guys the NBA loved as an "Ambassador" of the game so to speak. He was a Naval graduate and they called him the Admiral, it is no secret that he was a perfect ambassador for the game especially with Jordan being retired in those years between '93 and '95. Granted, that was not the sole reason he got the MVP but that certainly didn't hurt. It is no secret that the NBA MVP award in many people's eyes is nothing but a popular award for those who are well liked by the Media.

still amazes me at how easy he made it look easily top5 when it comes to skills and easily the most skilled big man of all time

I was 9 yrs old back then. I remember crying because this was supposed to be our year. I will never forget it.

Beat Ewing the year before and Killed Robinson, then went on to sweep Shaq Hakeem is underrated

The perfect combination of finesse and power

He had such an amazing combination of privately holding himself to an impossibly high standard endlessly working to improve yet was still a humble gentleman and teammate. Anyone could see he was carrying this team in a couple of the best years anyone has ever had in the NBA, but he always referred to playing together as a team over any individual accomplishments. He said after he won his second title he was happy for Drexler winning for the first time in the midst of personally winning practically every individual achievement award one possibly could. In just 94 alone he was All-NBA first team, All-Defensive first team, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, league MVP, Finals MVP, and won an NBA championship.

Yes!!! Game 5. Maybe the best game of his career. You are awesome, sir.

no other center has ever had that combination of footwork and shooting range. thanks for posting!

Olajuwon the standard for which all centers should be measured. He didn't have one go to move, he had several. Put low block on the right or left, he would make you a highlight on sports center

Such an awesome player. Almost like a guard, best footwork on par with Jordan. Love his post moves. You know, he is up there with Bird, Magic and MJ.

The DREAM absolutely had the whole package and that took years of hard work and dedication. He outplayed David Robinson in not just this game but the series.

In all fairness to the great David Robinson...Hakeem tore everyone up, not just The Admiral...and Hakeem would tear up any center that has ever played, his moves, athleticism and game instincts were that damn good

I think they should have re voted after that series

I read it in an NBA.com interview. During 1995 NBA playoffs (if I'm remembering it right) that interviewers ask David "The Admiral" Robinson about his plans of stopping Hakeem. The Admiral smiles and says "You can't stop Hakeem". What else can you say?

For some perspective: Leading up to that series, Robinson in his first 9 playoff games in 95 averaged 26.3 points and 12.7 rebounds It's not like Robinson played badly or was slumping going into this series. Hakeem simply played THAT well these 6 games.

Hakeem Olajuwon is the most underrated player of all time and David Robinson is also a very underrated center. People remember DR after his injury as opposed to before.

Best all-around center of all time, can pass,shoot,footwork,defense,blcosk an steals, quick, athletic..cmon, GOAT

You are totally correct. Hakeem spent his career imposing a superior game on every big man. He did not abuse and misuse as a big thundering center...he just brought more game to the court than any of them. He dismantled Robinson, out did Ewing, Shaq himself admits he was embarrassed by The Dream.

Hakeem outplayed Robinson in that series obviously, but people tend to forget that Robinson averaged 25 pts and 11 rbs against Olajuwon that series too.. And it was a great, competitive series that went 6 games. It wasn't nearly as one-sided as the highlights make it seem.

Everyone respected Olajuwon after this game was over. What a great game by Olajuwon.

i agreem, hakeem is one of the top 3-4 centers of all time, he played both ways with such finesse and power.

Lucky enough to have been a die hard basketball fan and born in Houston in 80. Watched every basketball game I could get my eyes on. From Akeem with the white sleeve to Hakeem the MVP and 2 time champion, was an amazing run. The kiss of death, clutch city, and being mad we traded Horry, Cassell, and Chucky Brown for Barkley. Actually I was mad the year before when we traded Otis Thorpe for Drexler.

dwight has inproved on his post and his defensive foot work is elite

So many moves, so much finesse

hes the greatest center of all time...olajuwon is the only center that could probably still be in the league if he was not a center. he was that athletic.

Wow a big man with a fadeaway jumper, this my first time watching him and I've never seen anything like him at that size to be able to be so skilled is amazing.

Man... Hakeem is arguably the greatest center to ever play this game. Damn..

And I would like to say Shaq averaged 5.3 Turnovers per game while Hakeem only averaged 2.1. That's a huge stat

Olajuwon was just unstoppable in 1995 Playoffs. These playoffs is where Hakeem Olajuwon became the hall of famer he is.

Great post moves made d rob look dumb

Yao could have been a fantastic center and honestly when he was healthy he was quite good. If it wasn't for his knees we could be seeing Yao a lot differently today.

A great player from one of the 3 best draft classes ever. It's a shame that he didn't go on to win more during his stay but back then there was a lot more competition. Showtime Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Jazz, Sonics, etc. And eventually David Robinson got his when they drafted one of the top 3 Power Forwards of all time.

Don't think anyone could have stopped dream during the back to back run.

Dennis Rodman wanted to get the heck out of San Antonio, he was thinking, I'm not gonna win nothing. So he went to the bulls and got 3 more rings with them.

And you know what, he did the majority of his domination of Robinson on his home-court. In today's NBA, there's this huge reliance on home-court advantage. We might not see another team take 3 road games in a series anymore. This was the NBA at its purest. Home-court didn't matter then like it does today.

Agree. I realize today that his game was flawless. The ultimate machine at the 5.

Robinson had a game that by todays standards would be deemed dominant. its just Hakeem had an all time game. goes to show how great both were.

As a native Houstonian, I remember the Houston Cougars started making noise in college hoops and then brought in this new kid from Africa.......and "he might be good IF he develops his game", they said. I havent been able to follow the NBA since Hakeem retired....seriously! He had a few phrases but the one that applies and speaks for him is - *Heart of a Champion* Dream Shake! that even SOUNDS tasty on blazing hot Texas August day...LOL, Hell any hot day from April 1st to Halloween!

Hakeem the great legend of those days......

The thing is David Robinson DID play decent in this series but on THIS day, #34 was the BEST big man out there #shoutouttohakeem

I remember this game well. It was magisterial. (And I liked and like David Robinson.)

Dream 32 and 12, David Robinson 25 and 11. you don't see these big man numbers anymore... oh do I miss the big man

I was never good at Basketball growing up so when I got into highschool and found Freestyle Wrestling and excelled in it, I automatically fell in love. I will say however, my passion for watching and analyzing basketball has never faded away, and I love the adjectives basketballers use to describe and compare skill between players, plays ect. I've seen some hectic moves and technique since I started wrestling but basketball takes the cake! "Dismantles" Lmao, fucking gold.

I miss this NBA.

gotta respect this mans game... fucking legend man

Most people don't consider him the greatest center of all time, but he was. I have NEVER seen any so called 'expert' claim Hakeem was the greatest center of all time.

This is how good Hakeem was. Imagine a big man in today's NBA with: 1) The shooting touch inside the arc of Dirk Nowitzki 2) The rebounding ability of Dwight Howard 3) The defensive ability of Joakim Noah 4) The shot-blocking ability of Serge Ibaka 5) The ability to pass out of the post of Joakim Noah. Imagine a big man in today's game with all of this abilities. That's what Hakeem was. If he was in his prime in the 21st Century Kobe wouldn't have 5 rings, I'll tell you that

Akeem gave Robinson the bizzzzzness....#dreamshake

cont.that is something that will never happen again-ever.i know Clyde started playing great after getting to the rockets,but he didn't make the all star team in '95 because he wasn't playing great until joining his old college buddy,period.Alcinder played great longer than everyone,no doubt,finals MVP at 38 is a miracle.Dream slowed down in '96,he was the top center thru '97,but he was never the same player after '95..But Olajuwon from '86 thru '95-those 10 years he was greater than anyone ever.

40 countem!!!!

You have picked the no argument starting 5 of the past 40 years.

what a great guy, his post game is freaking solid

3:00 smh rob ain't no what else to do but flop...

a game high is the highest point total in the game at that point. at that particular point in the game, no one scored more than Hakeem's 13 points, so his point total is the game high.

He should a been MVP tow years in a row!

I am from San Antonio and I thought dam poor David. Hakeem Olajuwon's the Best

Every time Hakeem catches the ball, he sees how they're defending him, and he already knows the move he's going to make (usually a baseline jump shot or hook shot if he goes middle). But he has such high basketball IQ he also knows when to shake them with fakes or catch a cutting man for an easy lay up. One of the best of all time.

There was a Drexler dunk in this game that was pretty epic. He rose over a guy on the Spurs with a tomahawk jam. It was early in the game but I can't find the highlight on youtube...

True! I forgot how versatile they were KG and Timmy in the early to mid 00's, my god!

Olajuwon Rockets era 1985: 3-2 victory by Midwest Division ➗ rival Utah 1st round... The Rickey Green 🍏💚 Adrian Dantley, Darrell Griffith and Thurl Bailey Jazz. Stockton is rookie off bench role player. 1986 : defeated Pacific Division rival 62-20 Lakers 4-1 in WCF. Rockets were 51-31 in 1985-86 and 48-34 in 84-85 in Hakeem and Sampson's first two regular seasons as well as 3-2 in playoff series. After Sampson had a 14-68 Rockets 83 team 29-53 in 1984. 1987: Lost in West Semis round 2 vs Seattle in 6 games. Rockets were 42-40 #6 seed after being #2 seed in 1986 and #3 seed in 1985, Chicago Bulls were 40-42 #8 seed. Rockets were 3-1 vs Blazers in WCR1. 1988 : Houston was 46-36 #6 seed and lost to Midwest Division ➗ rival Mavericks #3 seed 1-3. First year post Sampson as he is traded in 1987-88 mid season to Golden State for Sleepy Floyd. Hakeem is now planet rock for H-Town. 1989: 45-37 #5 seed Rockets lose to Seattle the 2nd time in Hakeem era in postseason. Lose 1-3. 1990 & 1991 : #8 41-41 in 90 and #6 52-30 in 91. Lose to Magic Johnson post Kareem 63-19 and 58-24 Lakers 3-1 in 1990 and 0-3 in 1991. Hakeem is 1-2 from 86-91 vs Magic 🪄 Johnson in postseason. In 1992 Hakeem misses the postseason for first time with Rockets from 85-91. Hakeem is 4-7 in postseasons from 85-91. 93, Rockets win 1 and lose 1 in postseason. They win 8 series in 94 and 95 with 2 titles 🏆🏆. 9-1 from 93-95. 10-2 (14-9 overall from 85-96) from 93-96 with 0-2 record vs Seattle to go 0-4 in Hakeem era from 85-96 vs Seattle. 1-0 vs Clippers in 1993 WCR1. 1-0 vs Blazers and they trade for Drexler in 95 making Hakeem 2-0 vs Drexler's Blazers from 85-96 in postseasons. 2-0 vs Utah Jazz in 94 and 95. 2-1 vs Utah from 85-96 in postseason. 2-0 vs Phoenix in 94 and 95, Hakeem 2-0 vs Barkley in postseason. 8-6 W-L record in 14 games. Jordan 3-0 vs Barkley and 12-4 W-L record in 1990, 1991, and 1993 postseasons vs Barkley. 1-0 vs Spurs and 1-0 Hakeem over David in 1995. Olajuwon MVP in 94. David MVP in 95. Hakeem DPOY in 93 and 94. Robinson is DPOY in 92. Bird 🐦 won 3 MVPs from 84-86. Magic won 3 MVPs from 87,89&90. Jordan went 3 in 88, 91 & 92. 93 Barkley added his name. Hakeem and David did in 94 and 95. Jordan won 4 to separate himself further from Magic and Bird. Malone added himself in 97 and 99 while Duncan and Jordan won titles on his MVP watch. Jordan won MVP 5 in 98 and closed the Jordan era with the SHOT #2. Then the Spurs and Lakers led by Duncan and Shaq took over from 99-03 with MVP seasons from Shaq, Iverson, and two from Duncan from 00-03. Then came the LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Wade, KG era until 2011-14 or so. Rockets are 2-1 vs Eastern Conference Atlantic Division ➗ opponents in the NBA Finals in 86,94&95. 0-1 vs Celtics. 1-0 vs Knicks and M*gic ✨. In 97 Hakeem and Rockets start their big 3 era that ends after 1999. The big 3 Rockets go 2-3 in playoff series making Hakeem era Rockets 16-12 in 28 playoff series. They never face Jordans Bulls in playoffs 🐂♉. Jordan goes 2-0 vs Stockton in postseason. 3-0 vs Barkley. Hakeem and Barkley go 2-3 in playoff series as teammates and versus Hakeem goes 2-0 vs Barkley. Making Barkley 0-5 vs Jordan and Olajuwon. 0-7 vs Stockton, Jordan and Olajuwon. Stockton goes 3-2 vs Hakeem and 5-4 vs the 1984 Hall of Fame draft selections in postseasons, 2-0 vs Barkley and 0-2 vs Jordan. Hakeem is 4-3 vs 1984. Jordan 5-0 Olajuwon 4-3 Stockton 5-4 Barkley 0-7. In 1996, Hakeem the 2x champion 🏆🏆 tied Magic 🪄 Johnson 5x champion 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 2-2 in playoff series. Jordan was 1-0 vs Magic 🪄 Johnson in the Finals.

This is the game where Hakeem decided that the Rockets were going to win the series. Notice the abscence of the pump fakes he had been using up to that point. Hakeem took it upon himself to carry the team to the finals. Robinsons whole demeanor at the end of the game said:"We are going to lose this series." A trip to the finals on the line and this is how Robinson decides to respond, it's like he didn't want to win or something.

He had the perfect game to beat a few teams...besides you state Robinson was a great shot blocker...David was playing against the man with the most blocked shots in the NBA.

0:40 Horry tells Hakeem he can't gaurd you go back to that spot LOLLL

The greatest classic story of Hakeem is when they have the Mvp to David Robinson and one of the Rockets told Hakeem that's messed up and Hakeem said don't worry about it and tore David's ass lmao i will never forget this

Olajuwon might as well have been playing against a high school kid this day he was so unstoppable...

He is the best all-around center in NBA history

Not only aren't there numbers like this anymore, there aren't players like this anymore. This was during the golden age of centers, and Olajuwon was at the top of the heap. There has never been a dude that size who could move like that. I still have this entire series on vhs [but I don't have a vcr anymore]. Dwight Howard is Kevin Willis with longer arms and less skill. He would be DESTROYED by anyone from this era.

I want to ad... On this night... They had presented David Robinson with the MVP trophy before the game... I think Hakeem took it personal...

This man is why they made the 5 second back to basket rule

the best post move center

The most skilled big man in NBA history period. What happened to NBA centers? Anthony Davis gives hope in seeing a big man dominate the game.

I think its now clear that Jordan and Hakeem are the GOATS in the 80es and 90es. Jordan was unstoppable force in offense and Hakeem was all around big man with God given talents in post moves. No doubt they could play in any era even from 1950es till modern Nba.

The admiral was a beast of nature.

I'm from, and have lived most of my life in Houston.. There's no bigger fan of Olajuwon, than me, but... The greatest basketball player to ever walk the planet, center or otherwise, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.. I'm sorry, but I gotta give props to the Captain..

MAN, Hakeem destroying Robinson, with Bill Walton commentating, with a texas vs texas series. Its hard to beat this....

Mid range, amazing post moves and top notch defense, what did the Dream not do? Top 3 center, and my personal favorite.

6 blocks that game DAMNNNN!!! nowadays you get one block and your a defensive god.

Right after LeBron lost this year he said nobody in NBA history one a championship without another star player lol didn't hakeem do it his first championship against Orlando they were a good team no doubt probably the only team to have enough role players to not need a 2nd star player all im saying is I think hes the only one to do it without another star player

Hey, brother, there isn't a bigger fan of the Dream, than me.. I grew up in Houston, and watched his entire career, including at UH.. I agree, Olajuwon was/is probably the greatest low post defender, ever, and yes, he could do it all.. But that doesn't change my opinion about who the greatest BB player ever, is.. Jabbar was all defense 11 times, 14 times all NBA, 6 time MVP, and even won Finals MVP at age 38 (WOW).. Plus, Alcindor went 88-2 at UCLA, and won 3 NCAA titles.. 79-2 at prep school..

Sigh, this is when the NBA Playoffs were actually good. They were very unpredictable, and the road teams actually could win playoff games. So much different than it is now, where the home teams almost always win. You'll never see a series in today's NBA where the home team just wins one game in a 6 game series. It shows how road teams could step up to win in another team's home building.

Actually Barkley was about 6'4 and 1/2. That was his listed height during his playing career.

Fair point. Personally, I don't think there's a debate there about whose bettter, but I agree, given the circumstances and the rarity of great centers, no one can tell the Rockets they made any kind of mistake. I think we can agree that both picks were slightly better than Sam Bowie!

Damn 33 points, 13 rebounds a game.

Really amazing that none of those buckets were dunks or bunnies. Pretty much all contested jump-hooks and open or contested jumpers. Now, when a big man "dominates" a game he gets at least 10 layups/dunks (see Dwight).

Very true. There wasn't a better center from 86-95. Sad that Olajuwon wasn't part of the first Dream Team (he wasn't a citizen yet). I think that guys like Kareem and Chamberlain were greater than Olajuwon in terms of career accomplishments, but neither possessed his talent. Olajuwon could hit threes and was superbly well-rounded for a big man. His stats for the '89 and '90 seasons were otherworldly.