How Hakeem changed everything

The Dream.

In an NBA season that featured the most international players in league history—and in the NBA finals that kick off tonight and feature Luka Doncic, the most electrifying international player in the league today — the career of Hakeem Olajuwon seems more relevant than ever.

At the start of this season, 125 international players were on NBA rosters. That’s nearly 30% of all players. In 1984, Olajuwon was the first international player ever chosen in the NBA draft (and the 1st overall pick, ahead of Michael Jordan — and Sam Bowie). 

As far as trailblazers go, they don’t get any better than Olajuwon. Over 18 NBA seasons, he appeared in 12 All Star games, was the first international player chosen as the league MVP and was dominant on both ends of the court.

In 2022, The Athletic named him the 11^th best overall player and the best international player in NBA history.

To get an insider’s perspective on Olajuwon’s impact on and off the court, I interviewed sportswriter Mirin Fader, whose book “Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon,” will be published by Hachette on Oct. 15.

Fader, who is a senior writer for The Ringer, previously wrote a biography of Giannis Antetokounmpo. (The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)

Steve: Unlike many of today’s international players in the NBA, Olajuwon played first at a U.S. college (Houston). Did that experience ease the transition for him when he started playing in the NBA?

Mirin: It helped tremendously as far as his on-the-court transition. At that point, he had yet to develop into the offensive player he'd later become, known for his iconic Dream Shake, and as a rookie was mostly seen as an elite defensive player.

His shot-blocking, his timing, his rebounding, were off the charts, but he had yet to develop a jump shot or any kind of offensive repertoire. He was only just beginning to learn a basic power step to the hoop.

The Rockets were thrilled to be able to draft him, but thought, if he becomes anything more than a defensive star, that would be great. And they were right: he became much more.

But I find this question really interesting as far as off-the-court transition, which is something I explore more deeply in my book. Many at the time incorrectly assumed he experienced culture shock when arriving to the U.S. to play in college, but he didn't. Except for a few minor (regional) differences, there wasn't much difference.

He was used to coming from a big city in Lagos. It was a cosmopolitan, vibrant place. The misunderstandings people had about him in terms of race and class are something I wanted to make sure to explore, because even when he did arrive in the NBA, those misunderstandings only continued, even as he had spent over three years in the U.S. before that point already. 

That being said, it wasn't easy. There tends to be a Dream-like portrayal of him, given his nickname, and the way his story has been mythologized over time, but, given that he was the first international superstar, there was a great deal of racism and Islamophobia that he faced that is rarely discussed. I wanted this book to help readers better understand not just Olajuwon's story, but the world he came from. The world he helped create.

Steve: Being the first international player chosen in the NBA draft, what challenges did he face during his rookie season? Were his teammates welcoming? How about the rest of the league and fans?

Mirin: He was so determined, so passionate on the floor. His timing of when to block a shot was uncanny. He had a natural feel for the game that allowed him to get quick fastbreak buckets. But he didn't yet have the tools, the skillset, he has now. He worked day after day with a lesser-known figure, Carroll Dawson, the former G.M., essentially learning on the fly how to be a dominant offensive player in his first season.

He only started playing when he was going on 17 years old, so he was very much still a beginner, as dominant as he was in his early years. That's unheard of in today's game, except for say, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid, two other stars of African descent who also began to play later. His teammates were really welcoming because he had known many of them for the last few years while a college player. They all played together at Fonde Rec Center [in Houston] in competitive pickup games.

Everyone knew Olajuwon was going to be a great player, but everyone also knew he needed time. And patience. He had a short fuse, and his temper often got the best of him. That's a part of Olajuwon's story people don't remember, but I wanted to make sure to include those struggles because, ultimately, it made him into the graceful, patient yet unstoppable player he became. Fans loved him, especially Houston's, because they had what the rest of the league didn’t: Twin Towers, as they were called, Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson (7'4''). 

Steve: How did Olajuwon’s style of play change the game?

Mirin: His style changed the game in profound ways that I don't think he receives enough credit for. That's why I pursued the project in a sense: I feel like we always talk about the international superstars of today's game and how much they dominate, but we rarely ever talk about the pioneer. The one who started it all. The first-ever international superstar.

“Dream” was “positionless basketball” before there even was such a term. For a big man to move like him, to RUN like him, and to get steals like him (to remain in the Top 10 all time, for someone of his size, is miraculous). He showed that big men didn't just have to be dominant defensively or offensively. You could be both. And you could be creative. There has never been a big man who had the kind of creativity, the kind of 'shake' that he brought to the game. It was almost like ballet. And that's why you see this current generation of players seek his services in terms of mentorship and on-court workouts. They realize his style of play is timeless, and that's why even the best guards and forwards come to him. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant. That in itself showed Olajuwon's impact and the way he changed how the game is played.

One of my favorite chapters to report on was how he changed the game so much even referees didn't know how to ref him. The moves were so quick, they weren't sure if he was traveling! I love that. 

Steve: Did Olajuwon do much to welcome other international players once he was in the league?

Mirin: Absolutely. He was an ambassador for hoops all around the world, which is why he is beloved not just throughout African countries but in Amman, Jordan. Birmingham, England. He participated in many activities with the NBA overseas.

I tried to tell two stories: Olajuwon's ascension in the NBA, and the NBA's ascension overseas, and how the two are intertwined. Given that back story, Olajuwon was very welcoming of other international players in the league.  Some of my favorite interviews were Vlade Divac, Žan Tabak, and Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo was deeply inspired by Olajuwon, who served as a mentor to him and many of the African players that came next. Vlade talked about the way Hakeem set the example for international players in general, and Tabek, who was teammates with Olajuwon, talked about how there never really was an international role model before Hakeem. Hakeem helped him with not just his English and adapting to the NBA, but with just adjusting to America. 

Steve: What similarities do you see between Olajuwon and Doncic?

Mirin: One thing I see in Doncic when he plays is not just incredible competitiveness and drive but joy. And that's one thing Olajuwon played with that I wish was talked about more. He got so much joy from wiping the floor with people. They just couldn't guard him, and he knew it.