Dossier · 1990s
Hakeem Olajuwon
The only player to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in one season.
1984-2002 · Rockets, Raptors
- Career blocks
- 3,830, a record
- Titles
- 2 (1994, 1995)
- 1994
- MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP
- Career line
- 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks
- 1995 conference finals
- 35.3 per game vs San Antonio
- Started basketball
- at 15 years old
The numbers
Olajuwon has 3,830 career blocked shots. That is the record, and the era that recorded them began in 1973-74, so it covers everyone who could hold it.
In 1993-94 he won the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season. Nobody else has ever done all 3 in 1 year.
His career line is 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. He won titles in 1994 and 1995, the 2 seasons Michael Jordan was playing baseball, which is the first thing anyone says about them.
He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and did not play basketball until he was 15. He played soccer as a goalkeeper, which is where the feet come from.
The context
The Dream Shake is a soccer move performed at the low block. Shoulder, pivot, shoulder again, and the defender has committed twice before the shot goes up. It is the most copied post sequence of the last 30 years.
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