June 10, 2005, 2:18AM
Olajuwon offers up some advice
By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES
SAN ANTONIO - Hakeem Olajuwon returned to the NBA Finals to get a close look at what he started.
There was a Spurs roster with Manu Ginobili from Argentina, Tony Parker from France, Rasho Nesterovic and Beno Udrih from Slovenia. In the other locker room was Darko Milicic from Serbia-Montenegro.
"It is the world's game now," said Olajuwon, who recently returned to the United States after completing another two semesters of Arabic language study at the University of Jordan.
He was attending his first NBA game since November 2002, when his number 34 was retired at Compaq Center.
"If you have the talent, you can come to the NBA and play at the highest level," he said. "It doesn't matter what you are from. The world is open."
It wasn't that way 24 years ago, Olajuwon arrived in Houston from Lagos, Nigeria, and became a pioneer.
"I never imagined that it would grow like this, that the international influence would be so great," he said. "I think it is wonderful for the NBA and wonderful just for the game of basketball."
Olajuwon drove in from Houston with his friend, Bejan Esmali, and they attended the Spurs' shootaround Thursday morning, when he spent some time giving Tim Duncan some pointers.
"Hakeem was reluctant to go there," said Esmali. "He didn't want to act like he was big time and trying to take the show from the Spurs. But he got to the court, and the players were all over him. Tim reached out and told Hakeem he wanted to talk. It touched Hakeem."
Olajuwon offered tips from one great big man to another.
"I was honored that Tim Duncan wanted to hear what I had to say. He is a great player, so fundamentally sound. I just offered him a few things that could maybe open up his game to a different level."
And the series?
"The home court means a lot," he said. "And the Spurs are a team that doesn't make mistakes."
I find it funny when they say the "NBA" is full of foreigners, when in reality the only team that has foreigners playing an intrical part in the championship run are the Spurs. What other team had the international roster that we have? Ofcourse there are some other teams that have bothered to look overseas for players, but not in the way the Spurs have.
I think Dallas and Sacto had more foreign players playing integral parts in their team's success than SA in the past years. They started the influx and the Spurs went with it later.
"I was honored that Tim Duncan wanted to hear what I had to say. He is a great player, so fundamentally sound. I just offered him a few things that could maybe open up his game to a different level."
That's interesting.
"reached out and told Hakeem he wanted to talk" that so not like Tim that WE know.
I guess Tim respects Hakeem quite a bit but then again they do seem to be the same type of superstar, quite and unassuming.
I wonder what the conversation went like.
Hakeem is a cool dude, and despite him dispatching the Spurs in 95, I still respect him as a basketball player. He is probably my favourite non-spur of all time (Magic #1).
Hakeem should be mentioned as a top 5 center all time and is wholly ignored.
He is considered Top 5 in every conversation.
Detroit spends tons of money on international scouting led by Tony Ronzone.
the dream shake was unstoppable
Can't anybody find a pic of Tim and Hakeem?
Where are the paparazzi when you really want them?
Hakeem , David and Tim would be sweeter..
I thought it was kind of crappy for some at the game to boo Hakeem when he came out on the floor last night. Clyde Drexler got a wonderful reception, but Dream got a mixture of boos and cheering and it wasn't nearly as loud for Dream as it was for Clyde. I understand the whole 1995 thing, but Drexler got the Spurs in 1995 and in 1990 (and beat the crap out of Willie Anderson along the way).
Dream was one of the very best ever. He deserves nothing but praise for his basketball exploits.
If Tim was smart, he should've soaked up anything Hakeem had to offer. It's not often you have a non-Spur legend come by.
Hakeem had the best footwork of any center, ever, (with the possible mention of Kevin McHale who had to have footwork since he had no physical ability).
It would be awesome if Hakeem coached Timmy on his pivot moves. Tim is not above listening to and learning from the best ever.
Hakeem is ing sick!!!!
I hope Amare never talks to Hakeem. He's alrady a handfull.
This pic was on Spurs.com
Question:
Is Hakeem in the HOF?
he should be.
This pic was on Spurs.com
Question:
Is Hakeem in the HOF?
I did not watch Olajuwon a lot, I know he was a great player, but i'd like to know if his game was similar to TD's game?
Hakeem was more of a point guard than a power forward.
I remeber two Dream Shakes very well, one was on David Robinson and the other was Shaquille O'neal. He had them way up in the air with his fake, it made laugh out loud.
It's about time Tim developed that turnaround baseliner (like Rasheed). Tim would then truly be UNstoppable. I can only imagine what DRob could have been had he developed a decent hook shot.
His game envolved more muscle than TD. That said, he wasn't Shaq, a pure muscle monster. He had sweeet post moves, a good post, hook shots, great footwork, but didn't have TD's range (he could hit jumpshots, but not as well as Timmy). He evolved into a more complex player around 1992, before that he didn't try jumpers or fadeaways. His rebounding numbers aren't as good as Timmy (TD averages one rebound more than Hakeem in their compared careers so far). His defence was awesome, he averaged something like 3 blocks per game, and was selected Defensive Player of the Year (93, 94), and to the All Defensive Team (five times).
In my opinion, one of the greatest big men of all time.
I was actually surprised he got as many cheers as he got. His demolition of the Spurs in 1995 was one of the low points in the franchise. He killed David Robinson and San Antonio. At the time he was more unpopluar than Santa Ana.
I guess Spurs fans forgive and forget, but that would be like Bob Stoops getting cheers in Austin.
Oh well.
why, the guy was a hated rival.I thought it was kind of crappy for some at the game to boo Hakeem when he came out on the floor last night
I think its kinda crappy how people in this forum are always on their in high horses telling people how they should act
Hakeem.
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