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A native of Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon came to America armed only with a dream and an extraordinary ability to learn the game of basketball. Blessed with soft hands, great balance, and flawless footwork gained from his days playing soccer and team handball as a boy, "Hakeem the Dream" played the better part of his career in his adopted home of Houston, Texas. He teamed with fellow Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler at the University of Houston where the Phi Slama Jama fraternity reigned supreme in college basketball. Olajuwon led the Cougars to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1982 to 1984, and was named the Most Outstanding Player in 1983. He led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and was named Finals MVP both years. Selected to twelve NBA All Star games, Olajuwon holds the NBA record for blocked shots (3,830) and is the only player to record more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals in a career. The 1994 NBA regular season Most Valuable Player recorded 26,946 points and 13,748 rebounds during his career.
This Steve Ueckert (photographer) 8x10 original TYPE 1 photo is dated January 3, 1982 and shows a 19 year old Akeem (as he was known at the time) Olajuwon holding the Sugar Bowl Classic Trophy with his college coach, Guy Lewis (Basketball HOF), and teammate Rob Williams (who was drafted in the first round of the 1982 NBA draft by the Nuggets and died at the age of 52 of congestive heart failure). Stamped by the Houston Chronicle.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA
Item: 12134
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