he is the julius erving of all centers. a gentleman on and off the court. humble and confident, supremely talented but very low key, thats the dream for you. no other superstars today can hold a candle against the dream. tim duncan may come close but he is so lucky he entered the nba in the dreams waning years. the dream will destroy anyone, anybody in todays nba.
0:42 may be the greatest post move ever executed by a true big man. He was the best center of his era (prime) and that era had some good centers. Not to mention a very good person with great sportsmanship. He didn't dunk on someone or shake them and then talk shit on the way back down. He was spectacular, plain and simple.
He had every tool in the book and Not only that He was the Best at them tools. He might be the best center ever to play basketball to bad he may never get the credit he deserves like Magic or bird or jordan. HE was as good as it gets. Dream Shake!!!
@israbiu Really? After Shaq? You better go watch the '95 finals (cuz you OBVIOUSLY never did), then come back and apologize to The Dream. The Rockets SWEPT your boy Shaq, and Olajuwon bested Shaq again & again. Nothing tells it like one-on-one. And '95 & '04 were the only times Shaq played a great team in the finals, & he lost both. Those Pacers, Nets & Sixers teams were WEAK. First expansion hurt the West (& the Bulls dynasty was born), then the East fell & the West got stronger (drafts, FA).
@Ldale11 shaq was a rookie in '95, and how can a team that has made it to the finals be classified as WEAK, hakeem has 2 rings, shaq has 4, hakeem has 2 finals mvp, shaq has 3, hakeem has 12 all-star appearances, shaq has 15, hakeem is 2 time defensive player of the year, shaq is 2 time scoring champion, I would take hakeem over shaq in a game of defense, but offensively and all around big man, shaq is the best of all time, but I do give credit to hakeem for making shaq a better player
@Ldale11 my bad he wasn't a rookie in '95, but it was only his 3rd or 4th year in the league, he wasn't in his prime yet, and hakeem was already in the league for over 10 years
Hakeem, destroyed david "the admiral" robinson in the 95 playoffs, and Patrick ewing in the 94 finals! most blocked shots! hakeem played like michael jordan in a center's body!
@coachiceman23 While Olajuwon definitely won those battles, ti was Ewing who set the finals blocks records in 94 (most in a game and in a series). Howard & Duncan, respectively, have broken those records since.
Wilt played with those who could barely play the game, Jabbar had nothing but one move, Shaq had nothing but power (including his free-throwing weakness), but Olajuwan had skills. He is the Michael Jordan of centers. Currently, Howard and P. Gasol are the best centers in the game, along with Duncan and Garnett as the best forwards.
@dankaren95 Ignorant remarks show how young and clueless you are about the history of the game. Wilt played with/against HOFers that could very well play today. You have no clue about Russell, Baylor, Hayes, Robertson, West, Jones Bradley and so many more. And if Kareem had "only one move" htf did he score more than Jordan, Kobe, Magic, Bird, Malone, Maravich etc.? Jabbar was a monster w/ the sky hook, up & under, power moves w/ dunks, turn around jumper, jump hook & very good from the line.
@Ldale11 Not a matter of ignorance, but a matter of opinions. You are entilted to yours. If don't know that, then perhaps you are the one who's ignorant.
Such technique skills and flexibility of body for a 2.15 m man never seen before and we ll hardly see again. Best center ever. The man was a blocks - points machine. He could jump high as well but his other advantages cover his skills as an athlete. Todays centers freaks of nature like howard etc should pay him and take lessons from him..
Argue over Kobe vs. Lebron, Kidd vs. Nash, Magic vs. Larry. There's no argument over which draft class was the best. '84 had Hakeem, MJ, Stockton, and Charles Barkley among others. Man, that's when basketball started to get good....
Traveling, goaltending, more goaltending, more traveling, over the back, more traveling, more goaltending, over the back again, even more traveling...
As A Life Time H-Towner, I've Followed Hakeem, Since He Was Akeem At The U of H. In A City That Has Experienced Numerous Heartbreaks Over The Years From It's Sports' Teams, And Continues Too, ie, Texans. I Am Forever Grateful For The 2 NBA Championships, '94 & '95, That He Brought To Us.
My top 4 favorite Hakeem moves are: the "Bamboozled" at 0:04, the spinning dunk on Ewing at 0:41, the dance move on Shaq at 1:31, and the complete fakeout of Robinson at 0:17 (with a different angle at 1:06). Notice how helpless and confused Robinson (who is amongst the best defenders of all time) looked on that move... he was faked out twice... the move was so nasty Avery Johnson immediately called a timeout lol
My friends and I call the move he does at 2:54 "The Vancouver"... The first time I ever remember seeing him do that move was when Clyde made his debut as a Rocket on the road against the Grizzlies... ever since then that's what we've called it... Hakeem would set it up so well, he'd do it after doing 3 or 4 fadeaways from the baseline, the defensive player had no choice but to assume he'd be doing a fadeaway so he'd go for the fake, and when he did, Hakeem would simply dribble and do a layup.
0:18 I saw Kobe do that move about two nights after he had left Houston working with Hakeem and he bewildered the defender. I wonder how many people recognized that was a Hakeem move.
haven't you seen any old Hakeem games in his athletic prime? he was way faster than any other center to ever play
he would change direction in a post move and cover like 6 feet of ground in a single step. he would move in inches from the basket then step back in an instant and make a jumpshot close to the free throw line
@YouGotJEWD that doesnt matter. i can say whatever i want on a comment. and i like how you still spell faggot wrong. maybe you shouldnt have bothered replying to my comment because it ended in u getting shat on. btw mchale had better post moves
the spin move against ewing in the nba finals of 94 was a crime in humanity. unfair. injustice. freak of nature. no 7 footer should move like that. simply put, the greatest in his era not named michael jordan.
As a player in the NBA, when you get to a point where your so good, you don't even get double or triple teamed anymore, because the opposition doesn't see any point of risking sending another man to guard you when they know your gonna score anyway, that's when you have achieved a level beyond any other. Hakeem "The Dream" was one of those few. I miss the 90's centers.
the year david robinson won defensive mvp.. hakeem made him look like a clown. hakeem is by far my favorite player. i remember watching him play back in the day with my brother and my dad when i was a kid and dream shaking the kids in the neighborhood.. and if you hit a baseline three u were stockton.. miss them days
The Dream isn't a true 7 footer. He is a legit 6'10". The owner of the Rockets said, before drafting him that he wanted a 7 footer so the GM told him he was and the rest is history.
people can learn a thing or two about blocking shots from olajuwon. he kept the ball in play which is the most important thing. everyone smacks it out of bounds.
Next to Jabbar's sky hook, his turnaround fadeaway (before his decline in later years) was the most un-defendable and piercingly effective offensive shot ever IMHO. In his prime it was absolutely sick. Next to MJ, he was my favorite player, so for an eight year run I really liked watching the finals. I almost didn't mind MJ playing baseball once I realized it meant two rings for Hakeem. Great, great player...
when i was younger and playin ball in school everybody wanted to be like Mike,I played the 4 spot and Tried and tried to model my game and my moves like Hakeems.I was able to get the Dream shake down pretty good,It seems like not alot of Bigs have post up games in the NBA anymore Oh well.
@DiebytheSword327 Hakeem face and beat all of the top centers of his time. Guys like Ewing,Robinson, Shaq, Kareem and others. Wilk went against Russell and a bunch of midgets. By the way Russell beat him more than he lost to him. Hakeem
Olajuwon is the most skilled and agile center ever to play the game. He had the most incredible footwork for any basketball player to ever play. Mainly because he played lots soccer. But this guy is EASILY one of the top 10 players EVER. If you dont believe me than go check his stats. And he also won 2 titles.
For the record The had to play his entire career with bad legs. He had to wear a sling on his leg far a couple of years. He also had to take blood thinners for his blood clots on his legs. He was also 6"10. Get the facts straight. His career was done with Health issues. Think about that. All that on bad legs.
For a player with bad legs he could sure get up...look at how high he got up on alley oops, blocks, and jumpers. Best post moves of any big man ever with next best Kevin Mchale IMO. Maybe not as dominant as Kareem or Wilt but not far off while he was healthy. Awesome center.
@DUNKDAEXCESS I agree with you 100%. That's what i always tell people. The Centers of today just wanna be big, strong and fast and very, very little fundamentals. Hakeem, Kevin Mechale, Ewing, Barkley and many other big men from back in the day would make today's Dwight Howard, Greg Oden, Kendrick Perkins and others LITERALLY shit their pants off.
@DUNKDAEXCESS No, i think it is because the game itself has changed. When you have Television Networks, like ESPN for one, idolizing The Dunks, Crossovers and high flying Powerful Centers, it sends the wrong message to future basketball players growing up. They think all they have to do is hit the Gym and be powerful and strong and forget the Fundamentals. That's why you'll never see a Centers like Hakeem anymore and that explains the decline in the game's popularity.
@kanguesso Yeah, and I think it's because at the center position it's more practical to have a center who can get rebounds, block shots and defend against centers like Yao and Shaq. But a center with a large amount of skill in the post isn't needed as much. That's more of the PF/SF line of work. Anyway I sure it's hard to find a center that has both skill and tremendous rebounding/defensive ability.
@DUNKDAEXCESS Remember that Hakeem didn't have much of an offensive skill set in his first 3 or 4 years in the NBA either. These kinds of things take time. Olajuwon was a little quicker, but Howard is way stronger.
@FrostuMcPenos It's true that we can't say how Howard's game will shape out, but Olajuwon had much more skill than Howard does now, even as a rookie. Howard can be contained on offense, but Olajuwon could use his versatility to score anywhere. Also, remember that Olajuwon had much tougher competition at the center position.
@DUNKDAEXCESS I agree that Olajuwon had toucher competition, but I don't think he was more skilled as a rookie, nor do I agree that Olajuwon was more versatile than Howard. Olajuwon was as raw as they came and didn't have much of an outside shot as a rookie, nor did he have much of an offensive repertoire. He learned really fast though, and by his 5th or 6th season, he was a pretty complete post player, but his jump shot came in like his 8th season, and then he was unstoppable.
@DUNKDAEXCESS Athletically, Howard is more impressive than Olajuwan was. As hard as that may be to conceive, it's true. Imagine if Howard develops a jump hook and an 18 foot jump shot, dear lord. You never do know about these things, but if Howard gets better like he has in his first few seasons, he could be a very scary dude.
@Bossrah I agree, but i'm saying that Howard could potentially develop it (not that he will). He may be on Hakeem's level someday, then again, he may not.
@FrostuMcPenos Well, we'll see if Howard starts moving and shooting like Hakeem in the post or in a face up but I really doubt that's going to happen. If you just look at Howard's game you can tell that he's not as skilled as most other great centers. Look at Hakeem's shooting percentage and ppg for all of his seasons and compare them to Howard's and you'll see what I mean.
@DUNKDAEXCESS Oh I hear you bro. I don't think he's as coordinated as Hakeem either. I was just thinking that; with some coaching and hard work, he could make up for it with strength and speed.
Without a doubt Hakeem had the most outrageous talent far above any center in the league. Insane crazy mad skills at his height. What he did should be considered game changing.
Hakeem was the most talented center of all-time, and I'm not even a fan of his. I'm a Shaq fan. But without hesitation I'd rank Hakeem above Shaq, Wilt, Russell, and Kareem. What Hakeem did on the court was out of this world. I can't believe that Hakeem, Jordan, Barkley, Stockton, and Drexler all came from the same draft class.
this is how the center position is supposed to be played.its a shame to see what the position has turned into today. the way dwight howard plays center disgusts me.
Kareem had the best Career as a Center, but Hakeem had the best peak yrs as a Center (his peak being 1992-97). Meaning from start of career to end Kareem is greatest but the greatest action and play I have seen from a Center would be Hakeem 1992-97.
Get this, my dad is Nigerian also, AND went to U of H the same time Hakeem went there. He shared the same dorm building (not room) as Hakeem or whatever, and I was kinda upset he never even took the chance to be friends with Hakeem.
If there's anybody that I terribly miss besides Michael Jordan, it would have to be Mr. Olajuwon. Even though there have not been very many quadruple doubles performed in NBA history but I know "the dream" was one of them that did so. Even Kenny Smith said he was the best center he's ever seen and you cannot argue with him on that.
You give me the '84 draft and I'll beat any team you can put on the court.
Dream, Jordan, Barkley, Stockton, Alvin Robertson, Kevin Willis, Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins, Jerome Kersey, etc.
That team would have the best wing player ever (Jordan), the best post defender ever (Dream), the best on-the-ball defender ever (Robertson), the all-time assists leader (Stockton) and one of the best rebounders ever (Barkley).
You're good, my friend. Only team that could rival that one would be the original Dream Team. And even that team featured Jordan, Barkley and Stockton. So not sure how that would work.
I agree with your 1984 Class assessment. And that shows how great the NBA was from 1988-2000 (when those guys you mentioned were at their peak). I do disgree with you saying Robertson is the best on-ball defender ever---I can name many that are better. But other than that yeah this may be the best draft class ever.
@peZt93 I won't even commect on your first team, because that team wouldn't be fair. As for your 2nd team, I don't think I could get a stronger 5, excluding your 1st team choices. I'd maybe put a prime Duncan in for Malone, but that's it.
@smovaj This has to be the greatest summation of Hakeem's skills that I've ever seen. I think I'll use this line when debating the greatest centers ever.
Ben Wallace doesn't have Russel's passing skills and mental approach. Russel does not equal Wallace. I get what you're saying, but remember that just because the overall makeup of the NBA was not even close to wha
The Dream is my dream Center.
ry27sm 2 weeks ago
@ry27sm thank you
troyiscute123 1 week ago
2nd song
troyiscute123 1 month ago
@troyiscute123 the game - dreams
sainttucuman 1 week ago
@sainttucuman thank you
troyiscute123 1 week ago
he is the julius erving of all centers. a gentleman on and off the court. humble and confident, supremely talented but very low key, thats the dream for you. no other superstars today can hold a candle against the dream. tim duncan may come close but he is so lucky he entered the nba in the dreams waning years. the dream will destroy anyone, anybody in todays nba.
TheNimasreb 2 months ago
awesome video
PimpNutz37 4 months ago
David Robinson still has nightmares from his encounters with Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon.
sd0676 5 months ago
this guy has a GREAT fade-away
57gameboy 5 months ago
Other than michael jordan i take this guy over anybody in the history of the league to start my team with
esem17 6 months ago 2
Gotta say I love this guy. Hakeem Olajuwon = G.O.A.T.
ubercoolboy 6 months ago
Chris Bosh needs to go see him after Lebron's finished training with em'
Str8KuShhFaced 6 months ago
Best footwork of any center ever
Issaquan5 7 months ago
0:42 may be the greatest post move ever executed by a true big man. He was the best center of his era (prime) and that era had some good centers. Not to mention a very good person with great sportsmanship. He didn't dunk on someone or shake them and then talk shit on the way back down. He was spectacular, plain and simple.
CLewey44 7 months ago
The Dream greatest basketball player of all time.
hailhopes 7 months ago
Youtube took the best highlight video for basketball and ruined it!
Herv3 8 months ago
he looks like dwight howard at 1:44
freestyledavidV 8 months ago
Hakeem at #1 because there were several great big men in the game and he dominated all of them.
Dream spanked The Mailman, The Admiral, Ewing, and Shaq. All in their primes. Unlike Jordan who struggled until the Celtic Lakers and Piston got old.
grinningchicken 8 months ago 2
grinningchicken ....My sentiments exactly.
FuShengAlex 7 months ago
@grinningchicken preach brother! Tell does kids about the greatest player who ever played
hailhopes 7 months ago
it's a blessing to have a bigman like that on your team
RickyMoss 8 months ago
You can straight tell that Hakeem taught Kobe all he knows about those spin moves/fakes/fadeaways !!! Props to Kobe though.
JMEND2A 8 months ago
He had every tool in the book and Not only that He was the Best at them tools. He might be the best center ever to play basketball to bad he may never get the credit he deserves like Magic or bird or jordan. HE was as good as it gets. Dream Shake!!!
LiveFreeOrRIP 8 months ago
michael is better than chris walker
jacobkgutman 8 months ago
the dream is the goat center
thegoldenhero 9 months ago
@thegoldenhero u really dont know too much?
hailhopes 7 months ago
@hailhopes
out of all the centers he is the most skilled imo...hakeem or kareem are the goat centers
thegoldenhero 7 months ago
hakeem is the best center of all time, after shaq,
israbiu 9 months ago
@israbiu Really? After Shaq? You better go watch the '95 finals (cuz you OBVIOUSLY never did), then come back and apologize to The Dream. The Rockets SWEPT your boy Shaq, and Olajuwon bested Shaq again & again. Nothing tells it like one-on-one. And '95 & '04 were the only times Shaq played a great team in the finals, & he lost both. Those Pacers, Nets & Sixers teams were WEAK. First expansion hurt the West (& the Bulls dynasty was born), then the East fell & the West got stronger (drafts, FA).
Ldale11 7 months ago
@Ldale11 shaq was a rookie in '95, and how can a team that has made it to the finals be classified as WEAK, hakeem has 2 rings, shaq has 4, hakeem has 2 finals mvp, shaq has 3, hakeem has 12 all-star appearances, shaq has 15, hakeem is 2 time defensive player of the year, shaq is 2 time scoring champion, I would take hakeem over shaq in a game of defense, but offensively and all around big man, shaq is the best of all time, but I do give credit to hakeem for making shaq a better player
israbiu 7 months ago
@israbiu longevity was in shaq favor, he was the most dominant for the longest period of time but still not the greatest. Kareem? Wilt? Russell?
Lebron1823 6 months ago
@Ldale11 my bad he wasn't a rookie in '95, but it was only his 3rd or 4th year in the league, he wasn't in his prime yet, and hakeem was already in the league for over 10 years
israbiu 7 months ago
hakeem is the best ...
OlajuwonvsEwing 10 months ago
Hakeem, destroyed david "the admiral" robinson in the 95 playoffs, and Patrick ewing in the 94 finals! most blocked shots! hakeem played like michael jordan in a center's body!
coachiceman23 10 months ago
@coachiceman23 While Olajuwon definitely won those battles, ti was Ewing who set the finals blocks records in 94 (most in a game and in a series). Howard & Duncan, respectively, have broken those records since.
Ldale11 7 months ago
humble man and that's why he's the best
boywaimea 10 months ago
Wilt played with those who could barely play the game, Jabbar had nothing but one move, Shaq had nothing but power (including his free-throwing weakness), but Olajuwan had skills. He is the Michael Jordan of centers. Currently, Howard and P. Gasol are the best centers in the game, along with Duncan and Garnett as the best forwards.
dankaren95 10 months ago
@dankaren95 Ignorant remarks show how young and clueless you are about the history of the game. Wilt played with/against HOFers that could very well play today. You have no clue about Russell, Baylor, Hayes, Robertson, West, Jones Bradley and so many more. And if Kareem had "only one move" htf did he score more than Jordan, Kobe, Magic, Bird, Malone, Maravich etc.? Jabbar was a monster w/ the sky hook, up & under, power moves w/ dunks, turn around jumper, jump hook & very good from the line.
Ldale11 7 months ago
@Ldale11 Not a matter of ignorance, but a matter of opinions. You are entilted to yours. If don't know that, then perhaps you are the one who's ignorant.
dankaren95 7 months ago
The footwork, the range, the quickness, and gracefulness, there will never be another like Hakeem.
MrMercurySwitch 10 months ago
Silly music was way too slow for the epic stuff Hakeem was doing... What were you thinking?????
Clay4legacy 11 months ago
Such technique skills and flexibility of body for a 2.15 m man never seen before and we ll hardly see again. Best center ever. The man was a blocks - points machine. He could jump high as well but his other advantages cover his skills as an athlete. Todays centers freaks of nature like howard etc should pay him and take lessons from him..
machinakos 11 months ago
これがドリームシェイクか・・・・・
tanihide3 11 months ago
he had a nice looking jumpshot
TheRody12 1 year ago
Greatest center ever played the game !
molonlave2010 1 year ago
1.35 was a travel... but Hakeem was def. a beast
RickyMoss 1 year ago
Argue over Kobe vs. Lebron, Kidd vs. Nash, Magic vs. Larry. There's no argument over which draft class was the best. '84 had Hakeem, MJ, Stockton, and Charles Barkley among others. Man, that's when basketball started to get good....
tpstrat14 1 year ago
Traveling, goaltending, more goaltending, more traveling, over the back, more traveling, more goaltending, over the back again, even more traveling...
ChrispyAZ 1 year ago
@ChrispyAZ sounds like a spurs fan to me. Just admit the Dream was the best at whatever he did
hailhopes 7 months ago
My Favorite Center of All Time..
RacerNight86 1 year ago
Mchale had skillz but not like Hakeem or even Duncan.Jordan got that fade away from Hakeem. Jordan wasn't doing that til the end of his career.
sonag327 1 year ago
@sonag327 Yes sir
RacerNight86 1 year ago
Anyone that does not have Olajuwon as the best center ever is under rating him.
Herv3 1 year ago 19
@Herv3 Word
RacerNight86 1 year ago
i really miss being confident in my houston rockets to win games. hopefully we can get better quick
guitarsANDcars39 1 year ago
As A Life Time H-Towner, I've Followed Hakeem, Since He Was Akeem At The U of H. In A City That Has Experienced Numerous Heartbreaks Over The Years From It's Sports' Teams, And Continues Too, ie, Texans. I Am Forever Grateful For The 2 NBA Championships, '94 & '95, That He Brought To Us.
kirkindog 1 year ago 3
greatest CENTER EVERRR
RayAllenn 1 year ago
0:27 goaltend? on the way down
Diviniteee 1 year ago
@Diviniteee yeah that one was totally a goal-tend
YouGotJEWD 1 year ago
@Diviniteee i thought so too
Jrell15 1 year ago
no center has the skillset that olajuwon had, i mean he had the skills of a point guard and took them to the center position..
bqureshi21 1 year ago
My top 4 favorite Hakeem moves are: the "Bamboozled" at 0:04, the spinning dunk on Ewing at 0:41, the dance move on Shaq at 1:31, and the complete fakeout of Robinson at 0:17 (with a different angle at 1:06). Notice how helpless and confused Robinson (who is amongst the best defenders of all time) looked on that move... he was faked out twice... the move was so nasty Avery Johnson immediately called a timeout lol
manuelromney 1 year ago 9
My friends and I call the move he does at 2:54 "The Vancouver"... The first time I ever remember seeing him do that move was when Clyde made his debut as a Rocket on the road against the Grizzlies... ever since then that's what we've called it... Hakeem would set it up so well, he'd do it after doing 3 or 4 fadeaways from the baseline, the defensive player had no choice but to assume he'd be doing a fadeaway so he'd go for the fake, and when he did, Hakeem would simply dribble and do a layup.
manuelromney 1 year ago 5
0:18 I saw Kobe do that move about two nights after he had left Houston working with Hakeem and he bewildered the defender. I wonder how many people recognized that was a Hakeem move.
freelancepimp 1 year ago
haven't you seen any old Hakeem games in his athletic prime? he was way faster than any other center to ever play
he would change direction in a post move and cover like 6 feet of ground in a single step. he would move in inches from the basket then step back in an instant and make a jumpshot close to the free throw line
SolidSnakeRules 1 year ago
hakeem was amazing but mchale had better post moves
NIAHOW 1 year ago
@NIAHOW STFU about mchale's post moves you faggit.
YouGotJEWD 1 year ago
@YouGotJEWD kid get some knowlege of basketball. Mchale had the dirtiest post moves. read the book of basketball you FAGGOT
NIAHOW 1 year ago
@NIAHOW This video is clearly about Hakeem Olajuwon, not about kevin mchale. You fat fuckin faggit
YouGotJEWD 1 year ago
@YouGotJEWD that doesnt matter. i can say whatever i want on a comment. and i like how you still spell faggot wrong. maybe you shouldnt have bothered replying to my comment because it ended in u getting shat on. btw mchale had better post moves
NIAHOW 1 year ago
@YouGotJEWD agree
TheQpp123 1 year ago
C Hakeem Olajuwon
PF Tim Duncan
SF Julius Earving
SG Micheal Jordan
PG Magic Johnson
ponchization 1 year ago
the spin move against ewing in the nba finals of 94 was a crime in humanity. unfair. injustice. freak of nature. no 7 footer should move like that. simply put, the greatest in his era not named michael jordan.
bedan4peat 1 year ago 2
01:16 ftw
ooorkanooo 1 year ago
Nice music over this viddd. Hottt.
CiennaRivera 1 year ago
that move at :43. it was unfair. ewing had no chance
baller4621 1 year ago
As a player in the NBA, when you get to a point where your so good, you don't even get double or triple teamed anymore, because the opposition doesn't see any point of risking sending another man to guard you when they know your gonna score anyway, that's when you have achieved a level beyond any other. Hakeem "The Dream" was one of those few. I miss the 90's centers.
DkMonster12 1 year ago 16
Hakeem is the Fred Astaire of centers.
jesuitico 1 year ago
@jesuitico amen to that he is also in my mind the most overlooked one of all time.
baltimoremike2005 1 year ago
@jesuitico perfect!!!
guimagole 1 year ago
him and kareem i would take them over any center in the nba then a prime shaq or wilt
danrodrigu 1 year ago
great video
dodgemopar2020 1 year ago
the year david robinson won defensive mvp.. hakeem made him look like a clown. hakeem is by far my favorite player. i remember watching him play back in the day with my brother and my dad when i was a kid and dream shaking the kids in the neighborhood.. and if you hit a baseline three u were stockton.. miss them days
hurricanelogan 1 year ago 2
probably da most skillful centre ever
SW11SFINEST 1 year ago
If Olajuwon works at his game he could be as good as Andrea Bargnani
mattrospecs 1 year ago
@mattrospecs Dude Hakeem already retired! Plus he's in the Hall Of Fame,with 2 rings,so he doesn't need to improve.
westsidenasfan 1 year ago
@mattrospecs LOL!!! WTF
Bossrah 1 year ago
The Dream isn't a true 7 footer. He is a legit 6'10". The owner of the Rockets said, before drafting him that he wanted a 7 footer so the GM told him he was and the rest is history.
kingofapison 1 year ago
people can learn a thing or two about blocking shots from olajuwon. he kept the ball in play which is the most important thing. everyone smacks it out of bounds.
cjtownjc 1 year ago
hakeem is top 5 players in nba history ever no doubt there has never been a center like him n there never will be EVER
TheRagefc 1 year ago
Now he would kill all centers in NBA.
RaferAlstonAkaLAZIO 1 year ago
@RaferAlstonAkaLAZIO straight massacre.
baltimoremike2005 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Next to Jabbar's sky hook, his turnaround fadeaway (before his decline in later years) was the most un-defendable and piercingly effective offensive shot ever IMHO. In his prime it was absolutely sick. Next to MJ, he was my favorite player, so for an eight year run I really liked watching the finals. I almost didn't mind MJ playing baseball once I realized it meant two rings for Hakeem. Great, great player...
JAB5625 1 year ago
Hakeem's footwork is hax. He's 7'0 tall and his footwork is that mad? It's so unfair XDXDXD
jfrd28 1 year ago
Hakeem olajuwon was a fucking monster and incredible skills and footwork for a 7 footer. Maybe the greatest center ever.
aaali1234 1 year ago
when i was younger and playin ball in school everybody wanted to be like Mike,I played the 4 spot and Tried and tried to model my game and my moves like Hakeems.I was able to get the Dream shake down pretty good,It seems like not alot of Bigs have post up games in the NBA anymore Oh well.
scittball 1 year ago
Hakeem was the best center to ever play in the NBA. And the most complete center on both sides of the court.
tri2beatme 1 year ago
@tri2beatme two words:
WILT CHAMBERLAIN.
DiebytheSword327 1 year ago
@DiebytheSword327 Hakeem face and beat all of the top centers of his time. Guys like Ewing,Robinson, Shaq, Kareem and others. Wilk went against Russell and a bunch of midgets. By the way Russell beat him more than he lost to him. Hakeem
is the best hands down.
tri2beatme 1 year ago
Hakim the dream
googs313 1 year ago
Greatest Center. Without a doubt. No other center can match his skill set.....just too much for ANY other center in ANY era to handle.....
MrMikeysmile 1 year ago
This guy had some mean fake & shake skils for a center.
90EMC 1 year ago
Olajuwon is the most skilled and agile center ever to play the game. He had the most incredible footwork for any basketball player to ever play. Mainly because he played lots soccer. But this guy is EASILY one of the top 10 players EVER. If you dont believe me than go check his stats. And he also won 2 titles.
aaali1234 1 year ago
HOORAY 4 NAIJA!!!!!!
wing408 1 year ago
For the record The had to play his entire career with bad legs. He had to wear a sling on his leg far a couple of years. He also had to take blood thinners for his blood clots on his legs. He was also 6"10. Get the facts straight. His career was done with Health issues. Think about that. All that on bad legs.
moneyaat 1 year ago 3
For a player with bad legs he could sure get up...look at how high he got up on alley oops, blocks, and jumpers. Best post moves of any big man ever with next best Kevin Mchale IMO. Maybe not as dominant as Kareem or Wilt but not far off while he was healthy. Awesome center.
hooperqi 1 year ago
naw man you forgot timmy d
ponchization 1 year ago
moneyaat .....great info, this isn't talked about a lot......I know he had real issues with bloodclot buildup in his legs in the 97-98 season.
FuShengAlex 1 year ago
Hakeem makes Howard look like a six year old dribbling the basketball for the first time. Howard is a beast but he doesn't have much skill.
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago 44
@DUNKDAEXCESS
dwight howard?...you mean supergirl?
TheFlex21 1 year ago
@TheFlex21
Haha yeah
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS I agree with you 100%. That's what i always tell people. The Centers of today just wanna be big, strong and fast and very, very little fundamentals. Hakeem, Kevin Mechale, Ewing, Barkley and many other big men from back in the day would make today's Dwight Howard, Greg Oden, Kendrick Perkins and others LITERALLY shit their pants off.
kanguesso 1 year ago
@kanguesso I wonder why today's center's are picked for their athleticism instead of skill. Could it be because of the new foul rules?
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS No, i think it is because the game itself has changed. When you have Television Networks, like ESPN for one, idolizing The Dunks, Crossovers and high flying Powerful Centers, it sends the wrong message to future basketball players growing up. They think all they have to do is hit the Gym and be powerful and strong and forget the Fundamentals. That's why you'll never see a Centers like Hakeem anymore and that explains the decline in the game's popularity.
kanguesso 1 year ago
@kanguesso Yeah, and I think it's because at the center position it's more practical to have a center who can get rebounds, block shots and defend against centers like Yao and Shaq. But a center with a large amount of skill in the post isn't needed as much. That's more of the PF/SF line of work. Anyway I sure it's hard to find a center that has both skill and tremendous rebounding/defensive ability.
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS Remember that Hakeem didn't have much of an offensive skill set in his first 3 or 4 years in the NBA either. These kinds of things take time. Olajuwon was a little quicker, but Howard is way stronger.
FrostuMcPenos 1 year ago
@FrostuMcPenos It's true that we can't say how Howard's game will shape out, but Olajuwon had much more skill than Howard does now, even as a rookie. Howard can be contained on offense, but Olajuwon could use his versatility to score anywhere. Also, remember that Olajuwon had much tougher competition at the center position.
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS I agree that Olajuwon had toucher competition, but I don't think he was more skilled as a rookie, nor do I agree that Olajuwon was more versatile than Howard. Olajuwon was as raw as they came and didn't have much of an outside shot as a rookie, nor did he have much of an offensive repertoire. He learned really fast though, and by his 5th or 6th season, he was a pretty complete post player, but his jump shot came in like his 8th season, and then he was unstoppable.
FrostuMcPenos 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS Athletically, Howard is more impressive than Olajuwan was. As hard as that may be to conceive, it's true. Imagine if Howard develops a jump hook and an 18 foot jump shot, dear lord. You never do know about these things, but if Howard gets better like he has in his first few seasons, he could be a very scary dude.
FrostuMcPenos 1 year ago
@FrostuMcPenos Skill is the name of the Game and Hward lacks it.. He will never be on Hakeem's level
Bossrah 1 year ago
@Bossrah I agree, but i'm saying that Howard could potentially develop it (not that he will). He may be on Hakeem's level someday, then again, he may not.
FrostuMcPenos 1 year ago
@FrostuMcPenos hakeem had a jumshot howard doesn't
TheRody12 1 year ago
@FrostuMcPenos Well, we'll see if Howard starts moving and shooting like Hakeem in the post or in a face up but I really doubt that's going to happen. If you just look at Howard's game you can tell that he's not as skilled as most other great centers. Look at Hakeem's shooting percentage and ppg for all of his seasons and compare them to Howard's and you'll see what I mean.
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
@DUNKDAEXCESS Oh I hear you bro. I don't think he's as coordinated as Hakeem either. I was just thinking that; with some coaching and hard work, he could make up for it with strength and speed.
FrostuMcPenos 1 year ago
@FrostuMcPenos Yeah, and Howard is still one of the greatest centers ever. But Hakeem's just on another level.
DUNKDAEXCESS 1 year ago
badass.
ljb265 1 year ago
Best I have ever seen.
moneyaat 2 years ago
Without a doubt Hakeem had the most outrageous talent far above any center in the league. Insane crazy mad skills at his height. What he did should be considered game changing.
ricluv 2 years ago 35
@ricluv no doubt kid! Hakeem is the illest center ever!
stolenlegacy19 1 year ago
Hakeem was the most talented center of all-time, and I'm not even a fan of his. I'm a Shaq fan. But without hesitation I'd rank Hakeem above Shaq, Wilt, Russell, and Kareem. What Hakeem did on the court was out of this world. I can't believe that Hakeem, Jordan, Barkley, Stockton, and Drexler all came from the same draft class.
twright778 2 years ago 3
@twright778
Hakeem is probably the most talented center ever but I wouldn't rank him above any of those 4
321King123 2 years ago
great great video! love the jayz "my first song" remix!
clouz22 2 years ago
Hakeem shoulda won Robinson and Barkley's MVPs, he had absolutely nobody on his team and still won 2 rings, albeit due to Jordan hiatus.
He's the kinda versatile inside-outside player that KG had potential to become, but never became.
posteriordepression1 2 years ago
@posteriordepression1 is clyde drexler a nobody?
frostbyte454 1 year ago
@frostbyte454
Clyde was 34-35 when he was with houston.
Too old and worn down by then.
posteriordepression1 1 year ago
@frostbyte454 Man, Clyde Drexler was a beast when he was with Portland. In my top five SG's.
90EMC 1 year ago
one word used to describe all opponents in this video: ABUSED
jmordan 2 years ago 3
He owned Robinson!
johnnorvaisas 2 years ago
dude was sick! he shook every center in the league in his prime.
xYouthAttackx 2 years ago
the dream shake=best post move eva
dyrdek3234 2 years ago
The Dream = The Best
JaveDMode 2 years ago
I love Dream. I keep forgetting about watching his vids. He has the mentality of a guard and center but it's in one body.
Huggins293 2 years ago
this is how the center position is supposed to be played.its a shame to see what the position has turned into today. the way dwight howard plays center disgusts me.
SirDub23 2 years ago
@SirDub23 Actually i'm pretty okay with how Dwight's playing,he atleast got some post moves
westsidenasfan 2 years ago
@westsidenasfan But if Hakeem was in his '94 form would woop his ass any chance he'd get.
westsidenasfan 1 year ago
Kareem had the best Career as a Center, but Hakeem had the best peak yrs as a Center (his peak being 1992-97). Meaning from start of career to end Kareem is greatest but the greatest action and play I have seen from a Center would be Hakeem 1992-97.
JZ2001JC 2 years ago
im sure the olajuwon fans will jump me for saying this but the spin on ewing @ 0:48 in slow motion you can clearly tell it was a travel
snapplelemon 2 years ago
lol ever move every player in the nba makes from the triple threat position is a travel.
smovaj 2 years ago
maguc
jordan
bird
malone
hakeem
airjordan910 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
PG - Kobe Bryant
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - Carmello Anthony
PF - Lebron James
C - Dwight Howard
That's my line up.
ALLFYE 2 years ago
Get this, my dad is Nigerian also, AND went to U of H the same time Hakeem went there. He shared the same dorm building (not room) as Hakeem or whatever, and I was kinda upset he never even took the chance to be friends with Hakeem.
501sabu501 2 years ago
If there's anybody that I terribly miss besides Michael Jordan, it would have to be Mr. Olajuwon. Even though there have not been very many quadruple doubles performed in NBA history but I know "the dream" was one of them that did so. Even Kenny Smith said he was the best center he's ever seen and you cannot argue with him on that.
kbw1970 2 years ago 3
You give me the '84 draft and I'll beat any team you can put on the court.
Dream, Jordan, Barkley, Stockton, Alvin Robertson, Kevin Willis, Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins, Jerome Kersey, etc.
That team would have the best wing player ever (Jordan), the best post defender ever (Dream), the best on-the-ball defender ever (Robertson), the all-time assists leader (Stockton) and one of the best rebounders ever (Barkley).
Sierra688 2 years ago 5
You're good, my friend. Only team that could rival that one would be the original Dream Team. And even that team featured Jordan, Barkley and Stockton. So not sure how that would work.
mt883 2 years ago
I know, I was being somewhat hyperbolic in my assessment. Even so, it is amazing the talent in that one draft. The '85 draft wasn't too bad, either.
Sierra688 2 years ago
I agree with your 1984 Class assessment. And that shows how great the NBA was from 1988-2000 (when those guys you mentioned were at their peak). I do disgree with you saying Robertson is the best on-ball defender ever---I can name many that are better. But other than that yeah this may be the best draft class ever.
JZ2001JC 2 years ago
peZt93 2 years ago
PG-'87 Magic Johnson
SG-'93 Michael Jordan in his prime
SF-'64 Oscar Robertson
PF-'97 Karl Malone
C-'71 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
MetaversalSouljah 2 years ago
@peZt93 I won't even commect on your first team, because that team wouldn't be fair. As for your 2nd team, I don't think I could get a stronger 5, excluding your 1st team choices. I'd maybe put a prime Duncan in for Malone, but that's it.
vsmith3rd 2 years ago
he reminds me of a better faster quicker yao ming
MrSmokethebud20 2 years ago
Thats because he is Yao Mings mentor. He taught Yao
smovaj 2 years ago
Best Center ever, you cant name anyone who can gaurd him or anyone he cant gaurd.
smovaj 2 years ago 5
@smovaj This has to be the greatest summation of Hakeem's skills that I've ever seen. I think I'll use this line when debating the greatest centers ever.
vsmith3rd 2 years ago
the dream
is the only big man center in the history
of the game with offensive moves like that
best foot work for a bigman..
tharealest62qb 2 years ago 5
what a luxury it is to play with such a smart, dominant and skilled center such as the dream. don't see many of those these days...
misuihc 2 years ago 2
not many?? i don't see just one
18Herbert10 2 years ago 3
0:28 goaltending for sure haha
brydon11 2 years ago 3
I love, love, love Shaq and I am afraid he will be underated some day, and may already be so.
But the list goes as so
1- Bill Russell
2- Kareem
3- Wilt
4- Hakeem
5- Shaq
....
Its no knock to be better than the likes of Moses Malone et al.
honestgabe88 2 years ago
the truth is
the dream can school all of them 1on1.
tharealest62qb 2 years ago 4
Shaq would dominate him on offense also though as soon as he got the ball.I'd say they're equal.
I really don't see how Bill Russel gets so much love,Ben Wallace would have done the exact things he did if he lived and played during that era.IMO
nevtr 2 years ago
Ben Wallace doesn't have Russel's passing skills and mental approach. Russel does not equal Wallace. I get what you're saying, but remember that just because the overall makeup of the NBA was not even close to wha