It’s loopy to assume that not many NBA followers speak about Hakeem Olajuwon these days.
He had one of many best seasons in NBA historical past, even changing into the one participant in NBA historical past to win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals MVP and Defensive Participant of the Yr awards in the identical season.
Nonetheless, regardless of his infamous abilities, there was a quick time when Sam Cassell wasn’t that impressed by him.
Speaking to Draymond Inexperienced for his podcast, he admitted that he was unfazed by Hakeem when he was first drafted by the Houston Rockets, as he was out of form throughout coaching camp.
The Rockets did not win a single sport within the preseason, and when Cassell requested Olajuwon about that, he was unbothered.
Then, hastily, he flipped the change throughout opening evening, going from a 0-8 preseason to a 21-0 begin to the common season (through The Quantity).
“This the baddest dude in the game of basketball”
There, Cassell knew he was enjoying with the baddest dude within the league.
Olajuwon made essentially the most of Michael Jordan’s transient hiatus, dominating the NBA to win a few championships.
He was as dominant as a shot-blocker and a rebounder as he was easy as a scorer.
His footwork continues to be the blueprint not just for massive males but additionally for gamers as an entire, and never many gamers have been as dominant within the submit as he was.
Hopefully, someday he’ll get the popularity he so clearly deserves, as he has a case for being one of many three finest massive males this sport has ever seen, possibly even the second-best behind solely Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
