Why is Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon not the best NBA center of all time?

Question

before you answer, watch video clips of him on youtube first.

Answer 1

Hakeek was the most verasitle center of all time. If he played in the days of Russell and Wilt he would have domonated the same way he did when he schooled Shaq for so many years. In the 1993-94 season Olajuwon became the only player in NBA history to win the NBA's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season....thats no other PLAYER including all the great centers. The greatest center of his generation based on his performances in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. He outplayed centers such as Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and O'Neal, and other defensive stalwarts like Dennis Rodman or Malone. His most difficult battles were with his fellow Texas-based rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs where Olajuwon would normally outplay Robinson in the stat sheets

**Only player in NBA history to have won MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season (1994).
**One of the 4 players in NBA history to have ever recorded a quadruple-double.
**Olajuwon also won the rebounding and blocked shots titles in 1989-90, becoming the third player ever (after Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton) to lead the league in both categories during the same season.
**All-time leader in blocked shots. (note: the NBA did not keep statistics for blocked until the 1973-74 season)
**Olajuwon is also in the top ten in blocks, scoring, rebounding, and steals. He is the only player in NBA history placed in the top ten for all four categories.
**Olajuwon ranks all-time 7th in steals and is by far the highest ranked center. (note that that statistic was not recorded until the 1973-74 season)

Answer 2

Given the way the NBA has changed and developed, I can';t see how The Dream isn't considered the best. I know there are lots of people who think that Jabbar and Russell are better, but in todays game I don't think they would be near as good and neither could have Hakeem. As for Shaq, people need to get a grip, take a look at the finals when Shaq and Hakeem matched up, it was pathetic, Shaq was younger, faster, and stronger and couldn't keep up with Hakeem. I applaud your question and your recognition of the truly greatest center to ever play.

Answer 3

No way.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabar
2. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Shaq
4. BIll Russell
5. Hakeem Olajuwon/Patrick Ewing

Answer 4

I think that Hakeem (in fact his name was Akeem, but he changed it probably bacause it sounds better to average American) "The Dream" Olajuwon was probably center with the finest technique ever played in N.B.A., but he never became recognized as the best of all-time only due to the fact he is not born in the U.S.A.
Although today there are so many international stars like Dirk Nowitzky, Steve Nash, Peja Stojakovic and others are playing in the N.B.A. and doing the leading roles in their teams, in past, it was very difficult for non-american to get the attention of media or to get the rightful appraisal by the league, for instance to participate in All-Star weekend.
I remember that the greatest injustice was made to late Drazen Petrovic, who undoubtfully was the best European player ever. He came first to Portland Trailblazers where he has been on the bench most of the time. When he finally found new team NJ Nets, he became one of the brightest stars. But even then he wasn't on All-star...
There's no such good center today as Olajuwon was . Neither there was, but the only reason why he's not recognized as such, I say, is because he played in different times when it was unimaginable that the best is not coming from America.

Answer 5

He is the second best as far as I am concerned, but you must remember the sucess that Bill Russell had playing for the Celtics. Russell was a machine and has 10 rings( if im right). Besides Russell Hakeem is the greatest center of all time. Well ahead of the likes of Shaq

Answer 6

During that time period there were a bunch of really great centers and you can argue for anyone of them being the greatest center, but I'd have to go with Robinson over Olajuwon. Keep in mind you still have to put Shaq into the mix, David Robinson, Dikembe Mutombo, and Patrick Ewing. So it's really hard to define in that time frame who was the greatest. They all had moved that made your jaw drop and all can play defense.

Answer 7

because Russell, Chamberlain & Kareem has greater impact over Olajuwon during their respective careers. although some would say they would pick Hakeem over Russell because of his repertoire of moves. but everybody knows what Russ has done to the Celtics...11 rings in 13 yrs.... but don't you worry, Hakeem will always be among the top 10 on everybody's list of great centers in NBA history so cheer up!

Answer 8

he's close. I supply to Kareem although. youthful Kareem replaced into the main experienced/dominant huge guy of all-time on the two ends. i think Kareem is the final of all time and Hakeem is the 2d ultimate participant IN NBA background. flow over his track checklist, each season he replaced into interior the league, he replaced into the two a precise 5 or 10 offensive participant and the final or precise 3 protective participant each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days OF HIS occupation different than while he began to say no.

Answer 9

Nobody has mentioned "The Admiral" from San Antonio, David Robinson yet.

Hakeem is one of the top 6 centers of all time in my book.

Here, in no particular order

David Robinson
Hakeem Olajuwan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bill Russel
Wilt Chamberlian
Shaquille O'Neal

Answer 10

Ever heard of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul Jabbar?