Houston Rockets: Top 15 Greatest All-Time (1-5)
By Bryson Jones
May 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Former Houston Rockets
Hakeem Olajuwonacknowledges the crowd during Los Angeles Clippers timeout in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Los Angeles Clippers won 117 to 101. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
1. Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon
Was there ever a doubt of who was coming in number one? In some circles, he’s the greatest center of all-time and to current players the go-to guy for post moves.
Hakeem Olajuwon, H-Town’s own sports darling even from the days he starred at the University of Houston as part of the Phi-Slama Jamma front line, helped lead the Rockets to their first-ever championship and also helped the team win two championships in back-to-back season.
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I do not have to put the numbers up to verify his greatness, but just for the heck of it I will. In 17 seasons with the Rockets, Olajuwon averaged 22.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game. He’s also one of the only players to be top 10 in scoring, steals, blocks, rebounds and shooting percentage.
He is the innovator of what we all know as the “Dream Shake,” which is a series of low-post fakes to the basket that are so quick it’s damn near impossible for a defender to stop it.
Perhaps his greatest moment using what has become his career-defining, signature move was during Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals where Olajuwon took a defenseless San Antonio Spurs center to school, becoming the swan song for Olajuwon’s eventual Finals’ MVP nod after sweeping the Orlando Magic in that final round.
Take a look at it here:
It doesn’t stop there. He also has the highest points per game average in NBA Finals history. In my opinion, he is no doubt the greatest Rocket of all-time.
And there you have it Rockets’ fans, the Top 15 Greatest of All-Time. I hope you enjoyed the ride down memory lane.
Click HERE for the 11th-15th greatest Rockets. Click HERE for the 61th-10th greatest Rockets.
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