Story by Andrei de Guzman
July 31, 2024
In 1996, Hakeem Olajuwon was blessed with an opportunity to play under the bright lights of the world’s biggest sporting event. In an unprecedented move, FIBA granted him eligibility to play for the United States three years after obtaining citizenship. With the Summer Games in Atlanta approaching, he couldn’t be more honored to ultimately accept the invitation of the nation’s basketball program to represent the Stars and Stripes and win a gold medal that would complete his illustrious legacy.
While he was beaming with pride about achieving his dream of playing in the Olympics, The Dream openly admitted that his intention to join and participate with the Americans didn’t initially sit well in his native soil.
“When I became a U.S. citizen, there were some people in Nigeria who criticized me,” Olajuwon said. “But I’ve been here over 10 years, my home is in Houston and a lot of family is in the United States. It was just natural. I’m still a Nigerian, and I’m proud of it, but I’m a U.S. citizen.”
Hakeem took his shot
Olajuwon was born and raised in Nigeria, but he found a home and success when he moved to America. During his youth, Hakeem played for Nigeria. Before his U.S. arrival, The Dream seized his first taste of international competition by suiting for the country’s junior team in the All-Africa Games back in 1980. But at that time, he wasn’t a basketball phenomenon as a young and skinny 17-year-old kid.
No one envisioned Hakeem would eventually become an all-time great at that point. But after he migrated to the U.S., his meteoric rise started unfolding for the Houston Cougars. And after he blossomed into an NBA superstar with the Houston Rockets, Olajuwon was still willing to continue representing Nigeria. Unfortunately, no pleas came from his motherland, convincing him to settle and consider playing for America instead.
Hakeem understood the confusion among his countrymen. Although respectful of his heritage as a Nigerian, he couldn’t miss a chance to be a part of the Dream Team III.
“This adds another special gift to my career,” Olajuwon said. “When I was a kid, I dream of playing in the Olympics. This is like a crown on my career. You couldn’t write a script any better than this.”
Two in one
Hakeem formed a triple tower frontline alongside Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson, anchoring Team USA’s formidable identity.
Olajuwon played seven games across the men’s basketball tourney, averaging 5.0 points, 3.1 boards, and 1.1 assists for 12.4 minutes of play. He and the rest of Team USA went on to defend the crown by winning the gold medal in a dominating fashion.
He might’ve played for the Americans at one point, but Hakeem will always maintain that love, loyalty, and acknowledgment for his Nigerian roots—an aspect that has kept him celebrated as the nation’s greatest athlete until today.
