1993 Olajuwon interview on almost being traded

Yes Dream was a boss.

 

The difference of course being that Hakeem's pride and integrity was vastly underestimated while Harden lacks those things almost entirely.

Hakeem the person is arguably even better than Hakeem the player....and he's one of the best to ever play.

The two couldn't be more different.

 

I can see Harden lacking integrity, but Pride? This man ego/pride is as big as they come. He rather his reputation takes a hit during the pandemic saga rather then come to a compromise with big ego Tilman.

 

A proud player doesn't seek out to ride coattails, that's what Harden is doing right now. He has his own team, one where they have always done exactly what he's wanted, he screwed it up, so now he wants to go anywhere he can be a Robin type to another star. That's not something a proud player does.

He's also just not terribly intelligent, a lot of the places he says he'd go would be worse than his current situation if they traded what it would take to get him. Of course, we knew he was dumb when he demanded the Rockets destroy their team by trading for Westbrook, so it's nothing new.

 

"I was obligated," he said. "I was under contract. You have to fulfill the contract. That's part of basic beliefs. When you go out on the floor, you aren't just representing the Rockets. You're representing yourself, your country, your continent. You're representing a lot of other people. If you can't do your best, don't even talk. You take care of business on the outside. But on the floor, that's where you come to play."

 

I wonder how that flight would’ve gone if it was Tilman and Hakeem instead?

 

Hakeem wouldn't get up when Tillman asked to cross the seats to get to the bathroom.