Personal Life

Hakeem was third child of Salim and Abike Olajuwon and belongs to a Muslim family. He went to college at Muslim Teachers college at Nigeria, where he played soccer and handball. He moved to America to play basketball at the University of Houston. Hakeem was a physics education major from University of Houston. He also speaks fluent French. On August 8th 1996, he got married to, wife, Dalia Asafi. They were blessed with two daughters Rahmah and Aisha.

He also had an affair with a girl; whom he met in college and has a daughter with her as well, named Abisola. Along with Peter Knobler, he wrote his autobiography in 1996 “Living the Dream”. He was known as “The dream” during his career in NBA, as he used to move so effortlessly that “it looked like a dream”. He has net worth of over $ 200 Million. When he played in the NBA, he was paid more than $ 107,000,000 Million in salary.

Career

Hakeem Olajuwon began his athletic as a soccer goalkeeper and handball player, which ultimately helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his overpowering strength and size in basketball, he quickly became a dominating player at the University of Houston. He played three seasons at Houston and helped push the Cougars into the Final Four each year.

During his 18-year basketball career Hakeem Olajuwon became known as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was considered a physical marvel starting in his days at the University of Houston, his aesthetic and productive play -- highlighted by his Houston Rockets' back-to-back NBA titles -- earned him a place among the game's best.

Hakeem began his professional career with Houston Rockets and stayed with them for 17 years out of 18. He was the first in the draft for Huston Rocket to be picked together with John Stockton, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan. He was one of the best centre players in the history of NBA. He was famous for playing defense as well as offence. He teamed up with Ralph Sampson and were called Twin tower as both near to 7 feet tall, led to Rockets in NBA finals 1986.