Hakeem Olajuwon

About

NBA center who was named Finals MVP after leading the Houston Rockets to NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star, 6-time All-NBA First Team selection, and the 1994 NBA MVP. He was inducted to both the Basketball and FIBA Halls of Fame.

Before Fame

He didn't play basketball until he was 15 years old.

Trivia

He was especially known for his defense, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice, leading the NBA in blocks 3 times, and retiring with 3,830 career blocks.

Family Life

He married Dalia Asafi in 1996 as per an arranged marriage. They have three daughters named Abi, Aisha, and Rahmah. Abi played college basketball at Oklahoma and spent two years in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky and Tulsa Shock.

Associated With

From 1995 to 1998, he was joined on the Houston Rockets by fellow Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler.