Is Hakeem Olajuwon the Greatest Big Man Ever? Stephen A. Smith Reacts to Robert Horry's Comments
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2023
- ESPN's Stephan A Smith and NBA legend Robert Horry discusses the greatest big men in NBA history.
Horry, who played alongside basketball icons Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, and Tim Duncan, makes a bold statement about who he believes is the best. Horry passionately argues why Olajuwon deserves the top spot, citing his incredible body of work, defensive prowess, and overall impact on the game.
This video also features the fiery reaction of renowned sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, who shares his perspective on Horry's controversial rankings.
Delve into the analysis of Hakeem Olajuwon's career achievements, Shaq's dominance, and Duncan's defensive prowess as these NBA legends are compared side by side.
#Hakeemolajuwon #stephenasmith #sports360
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Even after MJ won 6 championships and has cemented himself as the GOAT, no one ever said Houston made a mistake in drafting Hakeem. That tell you how great Hakeem was. At the peak of his prime, I take Hakeem over any center.
Very true 👍👍
Houston made the best move for their franchise, no doubt. And I was born and raised in Chicago. A died in the wool Chicago sports fan and Jordan was God disguised as Michael Jordan. But Houston made the only pick they should have even considered. A no brainer. Hakeem basketball grew right in the cities backyard. Possibly the easiest HOF pick of all time in any sport. From a soccer goalie who never played hoops to one of greatest hoopsters this world has ever seen. All in 3 years. To this day I've never seen any player in any sport go from never played to Phi Slamma Jamma in such a small period of time.
I'm sayin' it right now: Houston made a mistake when they chose Hakeem. Great, great player but they could've had Jordan and 6 to 8 rings for their organization and instead got none.
No it wasn’t a mistake at the time, even the Bulls would have taken the big man. But if they did that draft today EVERYONE would take Jordan first.
@@kenneths.perlman1112 If Native Americans knew what was coming, they would have said hello to Columbus, then thrown his ass off the shore and trespassed him. Revisionist history is always the best
My favorite Center of All time. It was beautiful to watch him play.
Same here mate 👍
I concur totally
Nobody worked harder than Moses. Even Bird said that.
@@smokeyjoe795Moses woulda came off the bench on a team with Olajuwon.
And I love MM.
Agree! Hakeem’s game was a work of art
I would take Olajuwon as my first pick at center. The man of a thousand moves.😊
The dream shake👍👍
Shaq said most big men has 2-3 moves. But when he faced Hakeem he couldnt figure him out and got embarassed in the Finals
@@Truthorfib - ya and to me, Shaq is the most dominant big man I've seen play in the NBA by far. I would bet every big man feared facing Shaq. One exception is Olajuwon who swept Shaq in the finals. Olajuwon owned Shaq in that series and scored against him any time he wanted to.
Kareem by a mile every single time. The rest is debatable
I didn’t get to watch Kareem so I didn’t witness his greatness. Obviously the stats are there to back him up. Not sure what his competitions were like so that would be the only thing I would bring up. I don’t mean to diminish Kareem or Wilt or Russell. I grew up watching Shaq and Duncan and Hakeem.
The Dream was an absolute beast, and by far one of the most complete basketballers of all time
100%
Been saying it for years. Give me a big man pick and it’s Dream. When they asked MJ his starting 5, he has Dream as his center and goes on to explain why.
This ☝️☝️☝️
"Facts"
Dream is MY all time starting Center.
That’s over Wilt, Shaq and Kareem.
Dream was THAT FN great
I think his all time 5
Magic
Jordan
Scottie
Worthy
Hakeem
His reasoning is this teams speed(especially worthy) would destroy any other five
Wilt bodies Dream
Olajuwon is the greatest center of all time and its not even close in my opinion. top 3 player of all time too. come..at...me
The dream was something special.. thanks for witching 👍
He averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds a game. And won only 2 titles. Top 5 C for sure. If you want to say he is the 2nd best defensive center of all time than I will give you that.
No argument here. I had to check to see if I didn't type that.
Because of Hakeem, Rocket won 2 championships even until today. For people of Houston, Hakeem's the GOAT.
Maybe the best not the greatest
You cannot tell me that he didn’t have the best footwork than of any big man that has ever played the game. His moves were a thing of beauty. When David Robinson won the MVP over him…The Dream made everyone look silly. Especially The Admiral when they met in the playoffs!
Yep, Dream took it personally 😀
correction not best footwork of any big man... of any player period... Kobe once said.. he didnt study Jordan or Magic footwok but Dream's foot work is what he studied.
He was traveling
@@Raiden324 cool story 🤣🤣🤣
Hakeem vs. The Admiral during the playoffs that year was the equivalent of watching America's top rated battleship going down section by section
Moses Malone was instrumental in helping develop Hakeem, who was raw athleticism arriving to University of Houston. Due to his soccer background in Nigeria, his footwork and coordination was very nimble. Moses was a beast in the post, but only had 1/20th of Dream’s athleticism. He used skill, aggression and wits to get his points in the paint.
THIS☝️☝️☝️☝️
Moses was quite athletic, and one of the fastest quick jumpers in the league
And Barkley also gives Moses so much credit for getting him in shape which was instrumental for Barkley’s career. Moses was truly special.
Moses was quick and powerful. Both he and Hakeem were quick leapers which is more important than how high a guy can jump. Moses could get off the ground two or three times in the blink of an eye.
Malone would throw it up to the backboard and just go get it.
Moses Malone 3X MVP
Hakeem Olajuwon 1X MVP
What is in a name, only a guy like Hakeem Olajuwon could bear such a name as the "dream" and live up to it.
Very true 👍 👌
He is #1 in my book, the skill set and footwork and every category he dominated in was unmatched
100%
Most complete NBA player ever
What's crazy is that he didn't even grow up playing the game.
@@samuelmunoz1464 hard to believe soccer was #1
I hate how no one mentions he won back to back without a all star. No superstar. No hall of famer. No duo or big three. . Also was regular season mvp. Finals mvp. Dpoy . And many more trophies in the first series. And did it while being the lowest seed.and having the shttest regular season record because his teammates were really inconsistent. Lead in every category like the joker did
Hakeem the Dream is the best center in history. Top 5 player of all time. The Dream could play in any Era and dominate.
I totally agree.
He the greatest 2 way player of all time he doesn’t get the respect he deserves 💯🐐
100% he doesn't get the respect 👍
Are u high?yes he does why do folks say dumb stuff on CZcams
@@anthonytaylor7928 who saying dumb shi? Nobody says hakeem never in the top 5 centers of all time when people talk about who the greatest center ever he the greatest center too me but that’s everybody else opinion 💯
Facts. Hakeem is better than LeBron,Shaq and Kareem
@@JuwanDunbar he in the conversation for sure 💯💯
Dream had the sweetest footwork of any big man I've ever seen.
100% the Dream shake 🤌
He had the footwork of a Brazilian soccer player. Big men in general can't move like that
He had the best footwork of any player, guard, forward or big man… the best footwork ever.
Then you never saw Kevin Mchale play . He had more moves and was tougher to guard
@@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl McHale was impossible to guard in the post; but he wasn’t Hakeem.
Grew up in Houston during the early/mid 90s. Hakeem the dream was my favorite player. I can still remember the old battles with the Super Sonics.
Growing up a Knicks fan. I hated Hakeem for beating my Knicks! But then as the years go on I grew up to admire Hakeem
Yep, 90s basketball was so good... so many great big mem... Olajumon vs Kemp was always fun to watch 👍
That's understandable Daniel - at least you can appreciate him now 👍
OLAJUWON TURNED BIG DAVID THE ADMIRAL ROBINSONS👄 LIPS POWDER 🍩DONUT WHITE IN THE PLAYOFFS ...POWDER LIKE THE 🎥MOVIE🎥 POWDER
P O W D E R MOVIE
czcams.com/video/Z5ds1-B2AuU/video.html
Hakeem won two rings without playing the Super Sonics in the playoffs. To me, the greatest center discussion is between Hakeem and Jabbar. All the others don’t matter.
One more huge thing that ppl forget is that Hakeem won his NBA title in 93-94 season without any оther Hall of Fame member in his team. Two more players did that in the history of NBA but none of the famous big men. All other big men had strong teams behind to support them. That's why Olajuwon is the best center ever, IMO.
THIS ☝️☝️☝️☝️
Teach Them Texas!!!
so what?... no hall of famers, but he did have A VERY GOOD TEAM that year, a lot of those guys were brand names even if not in the hall now
Drexeler was a Hall of Famer 2005 won a championship with the Dream
@@terencedenson8705😂😂😂
One other element Hakeem had in spades was clutch performance. When it was time, he always came through. Solid all-around, especially when it mattered.
100% 👍👍
Its just so aesthetically pleasing to watch someone as enormous as that move in such a graceful way, not a single movement wasted, always in control. Glorious.
100%
Spot on 👍
I was in 4th grade when they beat Ewing and the Knicks and in 5th grade when they swept Shaq and the Magic. I remember wearing my 34 jersey to school, shaving my head, and wearing my big old sport goggles like he wore. I didn't grow up in Houston, but he was always my hero because he was the quiet big man like myself at that age. I stopped growing at 6'3" at age 12 though. To this day I and so many other people still consider him a role model both on and off the court. I've still got my red and yellow jersey too.
Love this 🧹 story Patrick 😄 same here I stop @ 6'3 at a young age and model my game on him and C-Web 👍
What happened when he ran into Robert Parrish and the Celtics front line? Russell and Wilt are probably the blocked shot all time leaders.
@@marksolum1794 that was before I was even old enough to watch the game. I'm not trying to make any objective claim that Olajuwon was the greatest at any particular position or aspect of the game. I'm just saying he was and is my favorite player.
You had the right to do that because he's one of the best nba players of all time.
I heard Kenny Smith in an interview once say he could shoot 3's as well as any of the guards at the Rockets in training drills.
Most well rounded centre to ever play the game.
If he shot 3's in games........ unstoppable
Why does no one ever mention that Hakeem is also one of the top 10 all time steals leaders...as a center!! That is completely unheard of for that position. Along with all the other things that he is known for, it makes for a very strong case of Olajuwon being the best big ever.
Very true 👍
Over rated
He overated
@@user-qo6eq8bq9fhuh?
I have to agree. As a 41 year old man & a 30+ year fan of my NY Knicks. I love Patrick Ewing but the Dream was just too tough for us in the 94 Finals. Hakeem was just so versatile & talented. He was incredible w that dream shake.
Like me, you remember the rockets knicks series.. Hakeem was unstoppable 👍
Great Finals
are you from new york ?
The difference in that series was Stark no-showed in game seven. I grew up watching the Rockets and my concern was with Stark that series.
@Michael-dt9lo Starks was always hot & cold. 1 of my favorite all-time Knicks but yes at times ol John was a liability.
Dude's always been in my top 5 from the start. The guy had no flaws as a player, just special and elite on both ends.
100%
Hakeem is my favorite player as a die-hard Warriors fan for over 30 years. The only noticeable weakness about Hakeem was that he was not a great passer. He missed a lot open cutting passes. I noticed that Shaq and Jokic are much better passers in his position for the last 30 years.
Without a doubt the greatest center in NBA history
The Dream was every centers nightmare!!!!! He will always be the greatest hands down.
Greatest skilled big man of all time
Would have to agree with you Quinarol. Thanks for watching 👍
That would be Wilt.
Not sleeping on Wilt either 👍
I think Jokic is moving up that list fast. Averaging nearly a triple double and winning the title and finals MVP and back to back MVP trophies. He definitely should of won his 3rd straight MVP award. Hakeem was great and Wilt was great though He played in such a different era. Jokic is like a Bird/Magic center.
@@mrsinister8943 we are ppl of the moment. The reason for me could be era bias. Bigs of past wasn't asked to do what they do in today's game. Just a Different games. He had a peak or prime of 14yrs str8. So if Nikola has a run comparison to that like that. The comp im not worried about that he has to go up against. It's him or Embiid. No other true 5's in the league. So after that, then I can say he is. As for Wilt, Kareem, Shaq they didn't have his the foot work like Hakeem
Hakeem is top 3 GOAT period. He would be the greatest in todays NBA TOO.
100%
I agree I have Bird MJ and Dream as my top three
After Wilt and Kareem, The Dream was as good as it gets
And he was fun to watch, which is very rare for a big man
His post game was pretty much unmatched and his defense was the best
100%
The dream shake 🤌
Kareem couldn't hold him when they played in the 80s. Kareem was getting old though, but Hakeem did manage to beat the showtime Lakers 1 year in the playoffs.
@@Jikjuka Kareem was 37 when they played in the WCF but was still putting up 23.4ppg
@@safeandeffectiveloland Akeem had just started learning basketball 7 years prior. Let's not act like Kareem didn't still have experience on his side at the time.
People will say Wilt and Russell, because of the numbers. Others will say Kareem or Shaq for prolonged greatness. But, the total package was Dream. He didn't have the greatest offensive numbers, but he had the best and most varied offensive game. He had great footwork to match with post moves and shooting range, added with his athleticism and agility. He was a clutch offensive player, whose greatest asset, may have been his overall defense. His defense would be unstoppable in just about any era of the NBA.
Let's put it this way, been a Sixers fan for over 40 years but I have an Olajuwon jersey because I respected and enjoyed watching him that much.
Respect 👊
@@sports360media always remember, he didn't start playing basketball until he was 17. By the time he was a college junior he was the first player drafted, a natural talent.
Just watched this again, someone should by Steven A. a map, Phi Slamma Jamma was at the University of Houston. Someone should also teach this narrator how to pronounce Horry's name correctly.
Hakeem Olajuwon is one of my favorite NBA players of all time and one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He is a definite top ten NBA player of all time.
I agree with everything you said Clarissa, thanks for watching 👍
@@sports360media You're welcome
👍👍
He is flawless on both offense and defense... And he dominated the golden age of the position. For me this is not even a question, he is the best center that ever played the game. You can argue about the collective achievements and all that, still, I think his talent is indisputable, what other center is more complete, skilled and talented than Olajuwon?
Clearly and Absolutely. No discussion needed.
The Dream was a hero for us growing up in the Houston area. The man was elite!
Awesome to watch👍👍
Always
Agree. The top center in the top era of the position. The most skilled big man of all time. The most complete player. Duncan was the big fundamental but didn’t have Olajuwon’s athletic ability. Shaq was the most physically imposing force at that time but didn’t have close to the skill level of either of the other two. It’s Hakeem in a walk, and I say that as a still-suffering Patrick Ewing fan.
You saw the Dream vs Ewing in the finals and can still appreciate him👍👍
Olajuwon is my favorite player of all time... That big with that footwork... And ppl go to him for mentoring (kobe and Carmelo) for starters...
The Dream Shake on the baseline was money. Dude could shoot, handle the ball, and defend. Made Shaq look like a fool in the Finals vs Orlando.
🧹🧹🧹🧹
Shaq was runner up MVP, and he was in beast mode. I remember the toughest test for Shaq was MJj and Pippens bulls, everyone thought it would be Robinson/Rodman vs shaq and Penny. Then Hakeem went god mode and destroyed all those guys.
In Toronto we never got a healthy Hakeem.
But there was this stretch and WOW he was incredible for about a week or 2. Won us games scored played amazing D and inspired our team to believe we could do something
But the injuries....what a shame
Hakeem was an amazing player like a Giannis mixed with Duncan
Yeah, it was a shame it didn't work out in Toronto 👍
We know. TVs existed back then.
@@Mr196710 yeah ok but nobody talks about it so I did
As a long time Houstonian we do not talk about Hakeem playing for the raptors lol. It's like seeing your ex wife with another man
@@jlobiafra like for us with VC in New Jersey lol
Hakeem was arguably the most complete player to ever play in the NBA.
Robert Horry was a beast too. Loved his aggressive style of play.
Thanks for watching, yeah always enjoyed watching Big shot Rob👍
Robert horry is right, he always loved playing with Hakeem. He was so special to rob.
Olajuwon has the greatest stat of any player the nba has ever seen.
HE STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL IN COLLEGE. Game over. Think of your goat right now...
Wilt, Jordan, Kareem, Bird, Magic, LeBron, Bill Russell, etc.
They all had MAD SKILLS before going to college.
OLAJUWON was terrible at basketball when he was 16 years old, as he just started learning to play. It wasn't until he got TO COLLEGE that he actually received actual basketball training.
Yet somehow he becomes a legend in basketball. The man could have easily played any sport he wanted to, it's just that simple. He was a phenom, but because he's Muslim and an introvert, he gets looked over all the time. Arguably the most disrespected player ever.
@@user-he3ek4sy3i Agree, and the fact that he played in Houston, a city the media doesn’t pay much attention to. Especially compared to Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York.
Horry was good , but bro ... recognize...
Horry doesn’t belong anywhere near this conversation
Got to see many of his games live at the Summit including playoff games and Game 2 of the 1994 NBA finals. What a player...my favorite of all time.
He's my favorite center of all time a true LEGEND
After I Watched him Win 2 Ring's in a Row in THE SEMI-JORDAN Less era,
He Complete in My Opinion, not Taking away anything from the other Great Centres.
But he was so Efficiently Skilled & Humble Simultaneously 👌👌👌👌
👍👍 thanks for watching!
Jordan still loses to Olajuwon if Jordan didn't leave to play baseball.
@@hectorlopez1069 I agree. The Rockets were a bad matchup for the Bulls in that era, specifically because they had no answer for Hakeem. IIRC, they played six times during the Bulls run from ‘90-‘93, and Houston won five of them.
They didn’t play the Sonics otherwise Kareem would’ve been ringless today
Most complete footwork of all big men ever, a motherload of post moves, counter moves, counter-counter moves, defense ... No doubt is the greatest, his prime his shorter that's why people tend to forget about him
👍👍
His prime wasn’t short?
@@gregorywillis8400 I mean how long has he been in a team able to compete with the bests during his prime, basically once Drexler joined in
@@assanesy2142 They won the year before Drexler, Drexler wasn’t great at all by that time,
@@gregorywillis8400 they won with him too , in a 95 season when the real bulls were back in business. Clyde were just start declining but still got a lot in his bag matter of fact how he's been precious on that playoff run.
I agree 💯
Best center i've ever seen play and i'm watching regularly since the later 80s
Hakeem was so great no one brings up the fact that the Houston Rockets drafted him before MJ and no one puts an asterisk on his two rings just because MJ wasn't there.
Agreed bilogskii22, Thanks for watching 👍
And made it to the play offs in the 80s
Edit Jordan and Chicago lost to the Orlando team Houston swept. Was there
@@PETERODZZ Hey, he went to the finals in 86.
Definitely, one of the top 5 Centers of all time. He had the footwork of a point Guard. Amazing to watch.
Agree 100%
and he was smart too.
Po my guards don’t have footwork like that. More sg
Wilt. Then everyone else
100% agree. I grew in Houston and saw the Dream play many times for years.
I grew up in Houston in the 90s. Dream was my first sports hero. Everybody I knew growing up tried to do the Dream Shake. I didn’t realize back then just how great he was.
One thing that made him so great is that he regularly made insanely difficult shots, so when the level of competition jumped up against guys like Ewing and Robinson, his numbers didn’t fall off because he was used to making tough shots, but their numbers would dip because they were being forced to make those difficult shots they weren’t used to.
He was a guard in a center’s body. And the things you see bigger guys doing in the NBA now, guys like Joel Embiid, Hakeem started that. He took outside shots, had incredible footwork, and was really the first center to play more of that style of offense.
The world missed out on a Bulls vs Rockets Finals! Would’ve been epic!
Must watch TV👍👍
Tragic......just tragic. I'm a long time Rockets fan.
100%
I got into basketball in 1970, when the Knicks won their first championship. Since that time, The two best centers I've ever seen were Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon. I didn't see Wilt at his best and I missed Russell, so I can only go by who I've seen the most. They were the most dominant centers of their respective eras, both unstoppable.
Stuart, you have seen some greats in your time watching 👍👍
how u miss shaq in that most dominant part lol
@@ziginaigra I didn't miss Shaq. Olajuwon took him to school in the NBA finals. The Rockets swept the Magic off the floor.
@@stuartfishman1044 they play 28 times shaq avg more points rebounds blocks and assist lol
@@stuartfishman1044 Olajuwon avg 19 ppg and 9 rebounds vs shaq in 28 games,total domination:)
I’m from Houston. I watched The Dream from Day 1 at UH on. He is definitely the Greatest center ever to play. I watched him live probably 50 times and probably watched 90% of his games on TV in Houston. He was special. Saw him do everything you can imagine basketball wise. There was no stopping him.
He was always my favorite. I got stuck with Walmart Shoes and I got some Olajuwons and felt kinda good for a minute.
There is a strong argument for Hakeem when you look at what he could do defensively along with what he could do being able to give you 30 plus points
Yep, 100% mate 👍👍
My thought of it is that Hakeem can guard any of the greatest centers in NBA history even at their peak. But none of them, i believe, are quick enough or athletic enough to guard him.
THIS ☝️☝️☝️
Yeah right!! He couldn't even guard Kareem when he was an old man so how can you say he could guard him in his prime
When I think of my personal starting 5, I always have this debate whether Kobe or MJ as SG, KG or Duncan as my PF, Steph or AI as my PG. But I have never doubted that my Big Man would be Dream
Dream is my starting 5👍
Kobe or Mike BWAHHHHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! good joke. It's not even close. It's Mike. Period.
Oh wait you just said Steph or AI. 🙄One wasn't even s point guard and the other can't hold a candle to Magic. Everything you say is invalid from here on out
@@erichvonmanstein6876 that's why it is MY personal starting 5. Reader.
@@erichvonmanstein6876 "One wasn't even s point guard and the other can't hold a candle to Magic."
...or Stockton.
He's underrated and underappreciated and he's #3 behind Wilt & Kareem imo. He finished top 10 in 5 Major categories when he retired.
Excellent my pick would have been same
Personally my favorite NBA center of all time is Hakeem Olajuwon.
For me he's the most skilled center overall, offensively and defensively. He played the game with skill and not brute force.
Although i would have loved to see Wilt Chamberlain during his prime, and compare him with the rest of the centers
100% H.J 👍👍👍
And people don't even mention that he has the Houston Rockets record in steals! And that is big man!
Wilt was nowhere as skilled as hakeem... Even shaq was more skilled than wilt. He was just an athletic freak in a league of plumbers.
@@catalogueboys2538 Wilt is the most skilled big man ever. Anyone who thinks like you is just plain ignorant.
Best center EVER. Best footwork, best post moves in the paint, best defender. Leading centers in steals lol. No legitimate # 2 guy. MVP, DPOY. Stop leaving this man out the convo.
100% thanks for watching 👍
Even Jordan couldn't do that
the dream was incredible,I would still put Wilt first, great athletes at center the dream,wilt,russ,the admiral,I would put the Dream second to Wilt he had so many tools, Kareem doesn't enter in the conversation no fire in his belly, an onlooker under and around the basket later in his career
In 1990 I bought a male African Lion cub. I named him Akeem. Later changed to Hakeem. Same heart!!!
Untouchable...🏆
Dream is definitely so underrated! He is the best center ever and the best defender ever! He should definitely be in the top 10 on all these tv discussions
He played against Kareem considered the greatest Center he needed to take away a couple titles away from him to be best center.
100% BH-qh3re
@@blackwulf8793 if you match the two up in their primes. You know Kareem couldn't check him. No center could. But you know that Dream is the best defender ever. The center that retired 7th all time....not in rebounds...not in blocks ( which he is #1).....but in steals!!! How does a center get that high in steals? Because of his small forward quickness that Kareem definitely didn't deal with
@@B-H76Hakeem couldn't check Kareem either, when he was playing the 5 when Sampson was injured during a regular season game. At age 38, he dropped 46 on Hakeem's head, and that was well out of his prime. The main reason they ousted my Lakeshow out of the 1986 WCF, is because he had Ralph Sampson at his disposal, who was the main defender vs Kareem at the 5, while Hakeem was at the 4.
He Definitely is the Smoothest
Big Man!
100%
The dream shake is iconic
Yes! I think Hakeem was the greatest among the three mentioned. I have him on the Mt. Rushmore of centers with Jabbar, Chamberlain, and Shaq. Russell is the most accomplished, but due in large to his era and surrounding team players. He was limited on offense.
4 🐐
He overated
Hakeem is definitely one of the best to do it. He's my favorite!
100% Roy 👍👍
I remember watching The Dream cooking Patrick Ewing in the finals at my mother's repass. After the service we all went back to my aunt's house and the game was on in the back room. Dream crossed Pat up spun and dunked it and I heard a roar go up from the back room. I went back there and the game was basically almost over at that point but when I saw the highlights and box scores I knew Dream was that dude.
👍👍👍
He was also very durable in terms of stamina. He was fast and could outshoot most centers even in his early days besides specialists like bill laimbeer
He hit em with the lateral movement
He was loyal played for one team unheard in these times great player
He did end up playing for the raptors for 1 season, but we all have forgotten that👍
He was willing to give Houston 2 more years, but they basically dumped him to Toronto for a draft pick, to swing the deal to get Yao when he came out of China. It's still not cool for a team to dump off a legend, much like NY with Ewing.
I saw Dream play for the University of Houston when he was with Five Slama Jama and was good but when grew offensively in the NBA he is by far the greater than Shaq, who was all power, Duncan, who had the Admiral lets not forget but Dream is number 1 big man of his era and he had the grace and touch of Wilt Chamberlain who is the best big man ever. So yes Dream stands alone like Robert Horry said.
👍👍 thanks for watching Darwin D
in 03 Robinson was broke down. HE was averageing single digits. That's not a help. Only 3 players on that spurs team scored in double digits the whole year. Robinson wasn't one.
in 03 Robinson was broke down. HE was averageing single digits. That's not a help. Only 3 players on that spurs team scored in double digits the whole year. Robinson wasn't one.
YES!
I got Shaq for the simple fact he was so dominant during his prime. Dream #3 behind Timmy as well. Top 3 without question.
Agree Shaq was dominant and really so hard to pick against either them👍
The Dreams foot work never mind for a big man. Was unmatched.
100% so many different moves👍
@@sports360mediaWhich would you prefer, a guy with many moves or a guy with one unstoppable move?
The dream was awesome. And a quiet big man with skills.
100% 👍👍
1 of my favorite players I never seen play matterfact he is he’s mad humble
100%
Best center I ever saw.
Have to go with Wilt as the greatest Center of all time..But I loved watching Dream play, he's certainly one of the greatest too.
You make too much sense BenDallas, thanks for watching mate👍
Wilt played against PLUMBERS, CARPENTERS, & FIREMEN. He played against BUMS. Hakeem is BETTER.
Wilt is nowhere near Olajuwon in skill or anything else for that matter.
@@armandodelossantos736 Are you serious? you CANT be
@@user-jd9zm4jf3t you show me Wilt hitting a 17ft spinning fall away or swatting Jordan's 3p buzzer beater to end a game, and then we can talk. No way, Olajuwon would only have 2 rings in a league with only 8 teams and nobody as good as Jordan, Bird, or Magic.
Oh, here is something else. In my opinion a metric for the truly great players is that their stats get even better in the playoffs. I think Hakeem had the greatest improvement in this area of any big man (though Shaq was a beast in those three championships with the Lakers).
Agree with you 100%👍👍
I grew up in Houston and saw him at U of H and the Rockets and he was awesome and a pleasure in person!!
Lucky 👍👍
The level of TD, Shaq and Dream is so high that u can't pick One. There is no bad pick with these guys. The are the greatest. Period
THIS ☝️ ☝️ ☝️ ☝️
Hakeem was a nightmare, teams had to prepare for him defensively but then prepare again on offense, leader in blocks but also the amount of shots this guy changed and made miss just crazy.
Yep, people forget about changed shots👍👍
Give me elite two-way legends on the same team - Hakeem, Duncan, MJ, Kobe plus the best shooter in the game Curry and I don't care who they play against.
@@onlydbrasko
He was also like a walking, running tornado (it's too much to breakdown, maybe I'll do it later, lol). He, covered the entire court from the 3 point arc, right down/in to the baseline and sidelines, both behind and perpendicular to the basket. It was incredible. No one was safe anywhere on the court. Not rebounders; ball handlers; shooters; passers; pick & roll participants; in bound passers or recipients; bigs; smalls; no one!! It/he was Crazy!!
Dream shake is one heck of a move with millions of possible finish! Shaq might be the most dominant but he had a weakness and lacks leadership during his first finals stints. Hakeem is effin great.
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The dream shake was a well disguised travel.Even without it He would have still been the most dominant center...except in 86.
Dream is a treat to watch, even today. God bless youtube.
It finally took Shaq to admit that the dream kick his ass in that 1995 finals.
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Maybe…. a case can be made and I’m sure he is for alot of fans, for me it’s Kareem but The Dream was definitely an all time great big.
100% definitely in the conversation
I watched NBA basketball from 1986-2008. Hakeem Olijuwan was the most skilled basketball player i have ever seen at the center position. He is also the third greatest player, outside of Jordan-Bird, i have ever witnessed.
You watched all 3 in their peak - I like your rankings 👍
I have the exact same top three with Bird number one in my opinion
He's right there among the best.
I agree. Imagine if The Dream had a prime Kobe or Pippen by his side. We're probably talking at least 5 chips and Chicago doesn't go 6-0 in the finals. Even when the bulls were kicking ass they always struggled to beat The Rockets when The Dream was on the floor. Great video
Cheers HR, you're support is always appreciated 👍👍
Dream gets 1 championship from Jordan in those two seasons, but not back to back.
What if,woulda,coulda, shoulda that's a neverending conversation
the way he schooled Shaq and the abismal talent and technique difference between these two shows how great Hakeem was.
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Shaq was a rookie lol prime hakeem wouldnt know what to do with a prime shaq lets cut the bullshit
@@danteprice1874 Shaq ate. you cannot say Shaq was a better Ball player. he was big but that is it. he never carried a team to the champ. always ridding the bus. Kobe buss Wade buss. etc. Hakeem single handled Shaq TWICE. back to back swept.
Shaq my Dawg but not quite the skill set and don't mention the free thr.......well you know
@@danteprice1874 That wasn't Shaq's rookie season. That was Shaq's 3rd season. Shaq hit his prime very early. You are correct though, the majority of Shaq's prime he played in a league where all the good centers had already retired or were over the hill.
Best hands & feet for a 7 footer.
Played handball & soccer b4 b-ball, chased little balls bouncing off the wall to only wack back against the wall with ur hand, then also learned how to move with agility with his feet on the pitch. Then sprouted up 7 feet and became a perfect hybrid mobile point center.
My favorite center of all time
A lot of those Centers simply over-powered the competition or had one or 2 signature moves. Hakeem was undersized for a Center and the shots he made were high level of difficulty - fade-away baseline jumpers, baby hooks, pull-up jumpers, drives, multiple fakes inside the paint. Not only was he a top rebounder and shot blocker, but as Jordan said, elite in steals, and was a good FT shooter. He was also much more graceful and creative than any Center in history. He also played in the best era for Centers - had to play against Kareem, Robinson, Shaq, Ewing, Divac.
THIS 👍👍👍👍
thanks for watching 👍
Never heard a 7- foot guy get called undersized
@@dante040 Hakeem is not 7 feet
Dream also had to play against Moses, Parish, Eaton, Mourning, Tree Rollins, Laimbeer, Mutumbo.
@@Charon58 hakeem is 7 feet
Of course he had the unstoppable low post moves and footwork, but his best attribute was actually his defense. His defense was absolutely incredible. He's the all time leader in blocked shots and he's TENTH all time in steals - as a CENTER.
If blocks were counted when Wilt played he would have 6000 more than the dream.
The 92 Olympic basketball team was named after him. The Dream Team!
100% agree w Horry
Love the Dream! He’s in my starting 5
Same with me Carlos👍
Not to mention The Dream is the all time leader in Blocks and if you look at the list, it looks like it’s gonna be a very long time before anyone dethrones him.
100% thanks for watching 👍
I LOVE Olajuwon, but don't forget that the NBA didn't start recording blocks until the '73-74 season.
@@kevinhouse4376 Also keep in mind the NBA didn’t start calling goal tending until 1967 so I’m sure there were goal tending blocks that weren’t legal before than so it a good thing they aren’t counted. So considering all that I believe Hakeem’s all time record still is as legit as they come.
I adore Olajuwon
Always loved his handle, "Dream". So spot-on, smooth as silk, exciting to watch. He was absolutely top drawer.
So true 👍
If we are looking purely at basketball skill and gameplay than Olajuwon is imo not only best center of all time but he shares second place with Bird for me as best ever.Hard to choose between two of them.
Two legends👍