Hakeem Olajuwon played in the NBA for 18 seasons, building a legendary career that included 12 All-Star selections and one MVP award. These accolades helped "The Dream" establish himself as one of the greatest big men in league history, a beloved icon in Houston, as well as an undisputed Hall of Famer.
However, long before all the awards and recognition, young Olajuwon faced a different reality. Growing up in Nigeria, he stood out, but not in a way he liked. According to the book " Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon ," the legendary big man was much taller than his peers. This difference made him an outsider and a target for teasing and jokes—something that was undoubtedly hard for Hakeem to handle.
"The kids were merciless, calling him 'dongo,' a slur that he said means 'freak.' He felt he had to defend himself and would constantly get in fights. He was known as a bit of a troublemaker, but he was just trying to hold his own. Sometimes when he was alone, he'd plant himself under the shade of a tree and cry. 'Why am I such a freak?' he'd think. 'Why can't I be like anybody else?'" an excerpt from the book describes.
The tall kid from Lagos
"The Dream" was born on January 21, 1963, in the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria's largest and Africa's biggest urban center . Born to Salim and Abike Olajuwon, who were 6'3" and 6'0", respectively, it was expected that their son would also grow tall. However, no one could have predicted just how much he would surpass those expectations. As noted in the book, by 1979, Hakeem had already reached a height of 6'8", making him "taller than anyone else in his school" and also taller "than even most adults."
This was hard for others to ignore. Whenever the teenager was out and about, "strangers stopped and gawked " at him. One of Olajuwon's former teammates, Peter Nelson, remembered that well.
"When he is walking on the street, it's like a show. 'Hey, who is this man up there walking down the street?' It was surprising," said Nelson, who now serves as the country's director for the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Facing embarrassment and shame
"The Dream" shared that he felt "uncomfortable" with all the attention he was inadvertently attracting. Unfortunately for him, things got even tougher at school, which is not surprising, given how harsh kids can be. Hakeem faced constant remarks about his height, leaving him feeling "embarrassed" and "ashamed."
The 1994 MVP remembered that even a simple task like lining up for prayers before class became a source of "dread" for him. First, "everyone noticed a steady line of heads," and then came his, which was "two, three heads above everyone else."
The future NBA star developed a strategy to blend in and avoid drawing attention to himself. According to "Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon," he would "slink to his seat, not standing up until class ended."
This approach clearly wasn't sustainable, and Olajuwon found himself in a tough spot. Skipping school was not an option; everyone would notice if he, the tallest of all, wasn't there. Plus, his parents—whom he later credited for instilling a strong work ethic and discipline in him—would never have allowed it. Later on, "The Dream" admitted that he felt "so out of place" during that difficult period.
Related: Former NBA coach claims Moses Malone shaped Hakeem Olajuwon into the great center: "That's something Malone doesn't get credit for"
How Hakeem found his confidence
As a child, the Houston Rockets icon was quite shy. While this is a common trait at that age, it made it difficult for him to handle his challenges. Ultimately, two people played a crucial role in changing Hakeem's situation.
First, there was his dad, Salim. One day at home, he saw his son slouching in the doorway, once again trying to hide his height. This prompted an important pep talk from Olajuwon Sr., who reminded the young boy that he was "unique" and "born to be a leader." Instead of feeling "ashamed," he should be "proud of his gifts."
The second important figure was Ganiyu Otenigbade, a basketball coach from Lagos State. After trying various sports, Hakeem joined Otenigbade's team at age 15 for his first basketball experience. Unsurprisingly, those first steps on the court were awkward, likely making him feel that his height was once again a burden. However, coach Otenigbade encouraged the beginner with the words, "You have the right to be tall," and then taught him how to leverage that height to enhance his game.
The making of a resilient basketball icon
In the end, a few important aspects of Olajuwon's journey stand out. First, it shows how much derogatory comments about appearance can impact individuals, especially young people. It's heartbreaking to see this, and it must be noted that bullies, in their attempts to bring others down, will never truly grow themselves.
However, this leads to the second point: surrounding oneself with the right people can help deal with that hate and mockery. "The Dream" was fortunate to have just that, and he certainly made the most of the support.
Transforming what was once a challenge into a strength, the resilient number 34 indeed learned to use his height to his advantage, which later showed on both ends of the court.
On offense, the seven-footer possessed a smooth shooting touch and arguably had the best footwork in NBA history, highlighted by his famous move, the "Dream Shake." On defense, his physical advantages, paired with his other talents, led him to earn three blocks leader titles and two DPOY awards.
Now, at 61 years old, Olajuwon deserves recognition not just for his athletic accomplishments but also for his inspiring journey of overcoming challenges.
Related: "If we would have had the first pick, we would have taken Hakeem" - Ex-Bulls assistant admits they would have passed on Michael Jordan
Local News
