I need to address 2 specific talking points about HAKEEM OLAJUWON...

[superunknown23]

Im generally more impressed KAJ was able to put down 27 & 7 at the age of 38 that series

Hakeem was hustling the Raptors at that age

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

Its crazy how little I know about Moses man

dude was 25 & 14 nightly and brought a title to Philly

You check that dude numbers and you will be amazed. Dude really had the league on lock from the center spot in the late 70's and early 80's


You gotta give him props too for being the best player on that 83 Philly team that folks say is one of the best ever

Like people don't know he was a THREE time league MVP. Dude was even putting in work in his late 30's out there on the court looking like everybody uncle

 

[Barry Sanders]

Hakeem was hustling the Raptors at that age

them canadian taxes tho

 

[Edub]

they faced the celtics in 86 finals

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1986_finals_HOU-BOS.html

the rockets also gave the lakers that work in the wcf in 86

and hakeem out played kareem

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1986_WCF_HOU-LAL.html

Yea they had a good run in 86...BUT NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN UNTIL 94'/95' basically...that's nearly a decade that they went missing...I liken them to the Orlando Magic squad with Dwight that got drug by Kobe and the lake show("just happy to be here")just a team there for the sake of competition...a formality. (Not to mention, Kareem was nearing the end in 86' he retired around a year and a half later, and Hakeem was in 2nd year basically). But a finals run is a finals run, I overlooked it. But the Lakers would have challenged the Celtics way more then those rockets did in the series. Vlade Divac, David Robinson and Karl Malone won more (at least it seems) during those years until around 93 94 95 when Hakeem played like he was fed up

 

[Edub]

And exactly why was he a non factor in comparison to those teams?

except for 86' where they lost in the finals the rockets were an early exit up until the chip runs...I'm sure they had some good playoff moments during that time...but Hakeem was a great player but not thought of on the level as Jordan Magic Bird Isaiah or Kareem... He reached martyr status during the 90's runs...bussin shaq's young azz etc. he was a talent highlight for the league...but superstar status didn't come until a decade later

 

[Dirty D]

The '86 Rockets were undone by Sampson's injuries and other key players' drug problems. None of which Hakeem could control. Here's a very detailed history that Grantland did on that subject:

http://grantland.com/features/an-oral-history-hakeem-olajuwon-ralph-sampson-1980s-houston-rockets/

By the time Olajuwon won consecutive titles in Houston, Sampson was long gone — he played his last meaningful game long before he turned 30. His premature demise opened the door for the Lakers to win two more titles, sabotaged the first decade of Hakeem’s brilliant career, and established Sampson as one of basketball’s ultimate “What if?” talents. Imagine today’s Oklahoma City Thunder never fulfilling their potential, getting sidetracked by injuries and drugs, wiping their roster clean, then winning championships with an aged Kevin Durant nearly a decade later. That’s how it played out for the “Twin Towers.”

 

[Bomberman]

At the end of the day, Hakeem was still one of the most unstoppable forces in NBA history at his prime. If there was a 7 game series to win, can't go wrong with Hakeem at center.

Cats today still pay top dollar for Dream Shake lessons.

 

[Taadow]

PREACH.

He broke out the Dream Shake in 92'. Niqqas would make you think he had that in his arsenal from Day 1. Plus...he was a HOT HEAD earlier in his career and would take himself out of game being angry and shyt. Took him years to get to the point of success he reached.

Honestly - I thought the bold was gonna be in the first post.

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

At the end of the day, Hakeem was still one of the most unstoppable forces in NBA history at his prime. If there was a 7 game series to win, can't go wrong with Hakeem at center.

Cats today still pay top dollar for Dream Shake lessons.

there are just other Centers i'd trust more

 

[Rekkapryde]

PREACH.

He broke out the Dream Shake in 92'. Niqqas would make you think he had that in his arsenal from Day 1. Plus...he was a HOT HEAD earlier in his career and would take himself out of game being angry and shyt. Took him years to get to the point of success he reached.

YOU A GOTDAMN LIE!!!!

Spoiler

:kermitnunya:

 

[NYC Rebel]

Honestly - I thought the bold was gonna be in the first post.

I'm just glad that doc confirmed the things I actually saw.

 

[Taadow]

Horrible thread. You can't talk about watching games back then and hype up Thorpe, Maxwell, and Kenny Smith as some kind of great scorers and like a large part of the reason they were getting numbers wasn't due to the attention Hakeem drew. Not to mention even when his offensive game was still unpolished he was still putting up 22 and getting 3.5 blocks and higher and 2 steals a game. Even before the Dream Shake years he was considered an absolute beast.

No - this is a great thread, and i'll tell you why.

Prime Hakeem is Prime LeBron.

Dominant physically, unquestionably all-world talents...but they have to have teammates that play to their strengths.
This Cavs team is akin to Hakeem's Clutch City Clique (Triple C's! I just thought of that). They play good D, they get re's,
and they got 3-4 guys who can shoot and could get hot any given night.

One edge you can give Hakeem is you can see he absolutely worked to get better progressively throughout his career.

 

[Archangel]

I understand the point OP has desperately tried to make but historically, in the modern day NBA, who are you taking above Hakeem at the C position? I'll give you Shaq but who else? Hakeem is a top 10 player all time point, blank period.

 

[I.V.]

No - this is a great thread, and i'll tell you why.

Prime Hakeem is Prime LeBron.

Dominant physically, unquestionably all-world talents...but they have to have teammates that play to their strengths.
This Cavs team is akin to Hakeem's Clutch City Clique (Triple C's! I just thought of that). They play good D, they get re's,
and they got 3-4 guys who can shoot and could get hot any given night.

One edge you can give Hakeem is you can see he absolutely worked to get better progressively throughout his career.

Disagree.

Lebron has succeeded with weak rosters without stars... and shared the spotlight with star players.

(that triple C shyt tho... nice. )

 

[Goatpoacher]

I understand the point OP has desperately tried to make but historically, in the modern day NBA, who are you taking above Hakeem at the C position? I'll give you Shaq but who else? Hakeem is a top 10 player all time point, blank period.

Kareem and Shaq at least.

Also, there are alot of coli posters that believe Hakeem >>> Duncan. Duncan is not respected enough on this site.