Hakeem Quotes

When you get to that level, it's not a matter of talent anymore - because all the players are so talented - it's about preparation, about playing smart and making good decisions. - Hakeem Olajuwon

When I watch NBA games now on TV, what I see the most are opportunities for the big men that they are not taking advantage of. That's what I told Tim Duncan when I saw him this year at the Finals in San Antonio. When you go into the lane and they take away the jump hook, just reverse pivot. The baseline is there. - Hakeem Olajuwon

When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa. - Hakeem Olajuwon

We took a lot of criticism for drafting Hakeem when we already had Ralph. But we were excited about the Twin Towers concept. We were pretty sure it could work, and once it did, everybody around the league tried to copy it. - Carroll Dawson

The things Hakeem does, you can't just watch a tape and pick up the move. This was the first time he taught it, and it's hard to teach someone else something you did so naturally. The problem was, if you do something minutely off -- even the way you spin or the way your arm might come out -- he'd have to say, 'No, that's not the move. The move is this.' And you have to do it precisely. - Emeka Okafor

My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players. - Hakeem Olajuwon

I've now been in this country for thirteen years, since I was seventeen. So this is my second home. - Hakeem Olajuwon

I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Shaq always wanted me to show him steps over and over. - Hakeem Olajuwon

I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention. - Hakeem Olajuwon

I always keep a ball in the car. You never know. - Hakeem Olajuwon