Remember when he was "Akeem?"
Back then, he lost every Final Four he ever played in, including to Jim Valvano.
More accurately, it was Akeem Abdul Olajuwon.
What?!?
First, his full name when he arrived at the University of Houston was Akeem Abdul Olajuwon. Second, while playing for Phi Slama Jama at UH, they lost every Final Four they played in and most famously to Jim Valvano and NC State. He would go on to lose the 1986 NBA Finals. It was only upon changing his name to Hakeem that he started to win les.
That's what I was saying.
Yeah, he grew up a devout Muslim and is fluent in Arabic. I think the name change was unofficial, though.
you got it all wrong tbh.
It was Akeem Olajuwon and then he changed it to Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon.
Hakeem didn't grow up as devout, he changed his name to Hakeem when he started practicing religion.
Should have consulted a religious individual name first before changing his name to Abdul Olajuwon though.
linguistically, it doesn't make sense at all
Religiously, It's also wrong because to my knowledge Abdul should be followed by God's name, and Olajuwon isn't God's name..
Basically his name is saying I obey and pray to olajuwon instead of God...
Embarrassing mistake![]()
Go watch the Final Four broadcasts, they clearly referred to him as Akeem Abdul Olajuwon back in the mid-80's.
IIRC, he changed him name upon being granted US citizenship.
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