Chronicle says Hakeem is likely out for the remainder of the year.

Hakeem's year likely over
Respiratory problem puts Rockets center on sideline
By SCOTT KAISER
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

A nightmare season for "The Dream" only got worse Wednesday.

Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, who has missed 23 games this season, was informed by team doctors that he likely will be out for the remainder of the season because of recurring respiratory problems.

Olajuwon skipped Wednesday's practice to visit team doctors for a follow-up on his respiratory status after struggling through 16 minutes of action in Monday's 98-85 loss in Cleveland. He had missed a Feb. 28 game against the Los Angeles Clippers -- tonight's opponent -- because of a reactive airway disease that restricts the flow of air through his bronchial passages during strenuous exercise.

"As you can tell, he still has some problems when he's playing, so we've asked him to take some time off," said Dr. James Muntz, a team physician for the Rockets. "This is just a continuation of the same symptoms. He's still having trouble with exertion and exercise."

Olajuwon was told by Muntz he would be out two to three weeks. Only 15 games remain in the season.

"The organization, (owner) Mr. (Les) Alexander, (coach) Rudy (Tomjanovich), (trainer) Keith Jones ... everybody's interested in Hakeem in the long run and not so much this season or the next couple of weeks," Muntz said. "The important thing is his health and how he is off the court, and everybody's just going to make sure that he's going to be OK."

One thing Muntz made clear was that the disease is not life-threatening.

"A lot of people participate in sports with asthma or exercise (induced) asthma and do fairly well in general, so I don't think it's dangerous," Muntz said.

Tomjanovich, who expressed concern for Olajuwon after practice, was pleased that doctors ruled out anything serious.

"I feel relieved that he's in a safe situation because I don't want to see anything happen to him," Tomjanovich said.

Olajuwon, who earlier this season missed 22 games after having hernia surgery, played 26 minutes Sunday in Toronto before his setback Monday. In his last seven games, Olajuwon made just 17 of 48 shots and averaged 6.1 points per game.

"(The diagnosis) definitely isn't a surprise, because he's been struggling with this," Tomjanovich said. "He's had moments where he looked like he was recovering and making strides, and then in that last game at the first timeout ... he just couldn't catch his breath.

"At that point I started thinking, `Just for his welfare are we doing the right thing by having this guy out there?' Because he's been through so many different ailments. Hakeem has been such a trouper and warrior, but it just hit me as concern for him as a person.

"We're in a situation where we're not going for a championship, but if we were, I don't think I could with a clear conscience say, `Boy, this is the right thing to do.' "

The 37-year-old Olajuwon has already announced that the 2000-01 season would be his last, but Muntz wouldn't speculate on whether that would be jeopardized by this ailment.

"That's really hard to answer right now," Muntz said. "What we'd like to do is have him just take off and see if we can get him feeling better. He had some side effects from his previous medicine, so we want to try some things out and see how he does."

Olajuwon, who has suffered from anemia and in 1997 was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, stopped taking his prescribed medication because it caused nausea. Muntz will now consult with Dr. Scott Lloyd, a pulmonary specialist, before determining what steps to take next.

"(Olajuwon) is interested in seeing what else we can do to try to get him feeling better," Muntz said. "I think it will be better for us to have some time with him over the next few weeks to see how he responds (to any new medicine) without the stress of playing."

The one thing doctors still can't pinpoint is what specifically is causing Olajuwon's breathing problems.

"It could be from any number of things," Muntz said. "People can get an upper-respiratory infection and develop a reactive airway disease from that, or from environment, pollution and aspirin-type medications. It's not because he's at a certain age or point in his career.

"If he wasn't playing ball right now, he wouldn't even know he has this. If he was walking around and working for the bank or a news station, he wouldn't be short of breath, but if he's doing elite-level basketball, he becomes uncomfortable after running up and down the court two or three times."










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