At least two more. 89-90, he was absolutely robbed as it was given to Rodman. Not even close. The previous year, he was second to Eaton and that was not close at all either. Now, we find out that in the year Jordan won, his home stats were ridiculously padded. Dream finished third behind Jordan and Eaton, but come on. This article is looooong, but well worth reading. https://sports.yahoo.com/a-closer-l...ron-james-been-chasing-a-ghost-140452567.html
No question he was the best. He cover up all the blown assignments. Did it all while being double teamed if not triple teamed while getting fouled without it being called much, carrying the offendive load and defensive anchor.
dream with the lakers or celtics would've gotten all the deserved accolades. i blame the tillmen for drafting him to the rox.
The 1990 one was criminal, and I loved Rodman back then. Rodman stopped his man…Dream stopped the opposing team.
Haven't read it yet but Dream was the best defender I've ever seen. He'd be even better in today's game imo
He could basically guard anyone on the court. I'm not sure the game will ever see a player with his all around skill set ever again.
Well, the peace of mind is that Dream is a consensus top-two defensive player of all time and really the GOAT to many due to his defense happening in the modern era after the three-point line, ABA merger, etc. They named the DPOY Award after him as well.
Except for 1991 when he only started in 50 games, you can make the argument that he should have won it every year for the decade spanning roughly 1987 to 1997. Of course nobody ever gets an award that many times due to voter fatigue, but he absolutely should have won more than twice.
It was nice when defense was a prerequisite to play center first and foremost.....you know protecting the basket.......hint hint ....Segun.....
His name is on all of them now. NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy) Award Winners | Basketball-Reference.com
I can't stand how he is not on more top 5 players of all time lists. All we have in this raggedy state is horses and Kentucky basketball and my son still watches Dream highlights when it's bed time. I put him easily as the best center ever and #2 all time.
The 1980’s NBA was WWE sports entertainment. Early 80’s NBA games were still being broadcast on tape delay. There was a lot of funny business goin on in basketball back then. NFL and MLB were the dominant sports up until the 80’s. The NFL still is. However the NBA wasn’t seen as too prestigious. But in the housing projects of America, basketball playground courts proliferated, and the youth built their dreams and imagination on those courts. The Bird vs Magic gimmick then later the Bird vs Jordan gimmick put butts on the seats. And what better way than to fabricate stats and create superheroes. Jordan benefited from the Jordan rules, and that is fact. So much that the league helped build the Jordan mystique and nearly 40 years since he was drafted, he still helps sell the NBA validity - he’s the Babe Ruth of the NBA. Hakeem never had the green light to be highlighted by the NBA, at least before his title runs. It’s ludicrous that the NBA tried for years to disparage Hakeem, until the NBA revelation that the NBA’s financial future was in the international markets. The all of a sudden, the NBA were Johnny come lately onto the Hakeem bandwagon.