Sam Cassell has always been a big advocate for his former teammate, Hakeem Olajuwon, whom he calls “the baddest dude in basketball” both offensively and defensively. Cassell, who played alongside Olajuwon during the Houston Rockets’ back-to-back championship runs in 1994 and 1995, has witnessed firsthand the dominance that made Olajuwon a legendary figure in the NBA.
“In the 90s, you know, guys used training camp to get in shape. And the first day of training camp, he was out of shape. When preseason came, man, I was like, wow, like, he ain’t that good.”
“Like, I first couple of preseason games, we was terrible. I asked him one day, I said, Train, like, what’s going on, man? After the fourth game, we like 0 and 4, getting blown out by 20 points every preseason game. He said, he said, son, they don’t send you stat sheets to New York. What are you talking about, man?”
“He said, Sam, the popcorn ain’t popping yet. Stat sheet’s not real yet. Now, we 0-8 in preseason. We had eight preseason games back in the day. Opening night, man, his man had like 38, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 7 assists.”
“I asked him after the game, I said, Dream, where was that in preseason? Discounts. 0-8 in preseason, but 21-0 start of the season. That’s fuck your mind… The baddest dude in the game of basketball.”
“This the baddest dude in the game of basketball”
—Sam Cassell tells @Money23green what it was like to play with Hakeem Olajuwon pic.twitter.com/Aev6GPe2IN
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) August 17, 2024
Cassell recently appeared on “The Draymond Green Show,” where he shared stories from his time with Olajuwon. He recounted how, after Michael Jordan retired in 1993, the NBA was searching for its next great player. Cassell firmly believes that Olajuwon took on that mantle, leading the Houston Rockets to consecutive NBA titles and solidifying his place as the best player in the league during that period.
Cassell was particularly struck by Olajuwon’s ability to impact every facet of the game. He recalled a game against the Golden State Warriors at the start of the 1993-94 season where Olajuwon posted a staggering stat line: 38 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 7 assists, and 3 steals.
During the 1990s, the NBA was filled with elite centers, including David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and Shaquille O’Neal. Despite the stiff competition, Olajuwon stood out as the most well-rounded player. He wasn’t just an offensive powerhouse; he was also a defensive anchor, leading the league in blocks and finishing his career as the NBA’s all-time leader in total blocks.
Olajuwon’s greatness was evident not just in the regular season but in the postseason as well, where he led the Rockets to championships in 1994 and 1995. Cassell believes that Olajuwon’s dominance was unmatched, even comparing him favorably to Shaquille O’Neal, whom Olajuwon outplayed in the 1995 NBA Finals.
For Cassell, playing alongside Hakeem Olajuwon was a privilege, and he remains convinced that Hakeem was the best player in the league during that era. His combination of skill, leadership, and defensive prowess made him a force to be reckoned with, and in Cassell’s eyes, there was no one better.
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