Page 41 - LionKing

Hakeem Olajuwon
A trailblazer in the sport, Hakeem Olajuwon
was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He is one of the only two Africans to become a Hall of Famer. The Nigerian legend, popularly referred to as Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, was the first pick in the 1984 NBA draft; opening the door for future generations of African basket- ball players.
Before his retirement in 2002, he was a 12-time All- Star and six-time All-NBA First Team selection. He possessed a remarkable combination of speed, finesse, intelligence, and athleticism.
In the 1993-94 campaign, the Nigerian basketball legend who reportedly had a 7ft2 wingspan, took home the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP awards and was the Defensive Player of the Year. Years before being discovered by the NBA, he was a goalkeeper. Olajuwon’s quick feet (which he attributed to football) and defensive smarts guid- ed him to a spot on the top-10 all-time steals list. This feat was previously unthinkable for a centre player.
Dikembe Mutombo
This 7ft2 Congolese basketballer won four NBA defensive player of the year awards in his career which spanned from 1991– 2009. He was also an eight-time All-Star and was elected into three All-NBA and six All-Defensive Teams. In January 2007, he became the second most prolific shot-blocker in NBA history.
Mutombo also achieved a certain level of on-court notoriety. After a successful block, he was known for taunting his opponents by wav- ing his index finger, like a parent reproaching a disobedient child. In 2015, after his retirement, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, making him the 2nd African player to achieve this.
This outstanding pool of talent is not limited to the males as there are women equally domi- nating the basketball scene.
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