1994 NBA Finals. After celebrating the championship with his teammates on the court and in the locker room I snuck into the locker room hallway. Hakeem was alone for a few brief moments, and I offered him my coca cola. He gave me his jersey after I told him he was the greatest. Thanks Hakeem! I woke up <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lc0izCGKxP8&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lc0izCGKxP8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I became a fan of the Rockets during Hakeem's MVP season. I found out about Hakeem while he was the best player in the NBA. I lived in Chicago for a short time in the late 80s and grew up thinking Jordan was the best player in the league... boy was I embarrassed when I found out I was wrong. I'd still pick Hakeem over Jordan knowing the history. Hakeem was a bad ma'ama-jamma.
The first time I saw Hakeem was in a preseason game in October of 1993, the Rockets played here in Mexico City, and they played against the Knicks, and that matchup was a preview of the NBA Finals of that year.
Hakeem making Ewing look like a fool with the Dream Shake (much respect to Pat though). First NBA games I ever watched was the 94 finals series (yes, growing up I did not watch Jordan, Johnson, Bird) Kinda started late at 9 years old, but Hakeem got me hooked on basketball then.
Watching him play at UH, I just thought the guy was cat quick and really strong. He was really raw back then. He was a good defensive player from the start. Became a great one after he quit fouling so much. Offensively, I never saw that incredible footwork coming. Hakeem worked his ass of on his offensive game year after year.
