That's true. I just find it funny a lot of people seem to think Hakeem has a magic wand that can simply turn stone into gold.
Tweet is accurate. It's a complete scam. The only players that should even bother working with Hakeem would be Kobe, Lebron and Nash. No one else has the footwork.
I think it's 2-fold, there's definitely a financial incentive element. That's how Olajuwon works, that's how great businessmen work, they charge for consultation. There's nothing wrong with his scam. It's all a scam, the $8 hotdog at Toyota Center is a scam. Scam, business, same ****. If there's a market for something there's a market for something, you cant blame anyone for gaming the system. He went to Toronto for the money, he nearly played Shaq on PPV for the money, he makes basketball decisions based on money - so what?
Dude is just upset - didnt the Knicks sign some sort of deal with Hakeem to use him exclusively for a bit for Amare? I am sure Hakeem tried but with Amare being hurt all the time couldnt put in all the work needed and not to his own fault probably asked for payment. Kobe and LeBron and others said how great it was to work with Hakeem and again even if Hakeem charged a crazier amount its up to the guys to pay that if they want to. I am sure Dwight, Kobe, LeBron didnt bat an eye to pay that amount. Frank Isola sounds like he paid Hakeem 100k to teach his son and is upset that his son was cut from the high school squad afterwards.
I actually agree with him. Hakeem had the best foot work for a big man we have ever seen. Guys like Kobe and Lebron can make those moves like Dream because they are more mobile. But for big men who cant move as well as Hakeem(Amare, Dwight, Bynum, etc.) working with someone like Kevin McHale would be much more beneficial. McHale will make Dwight a better player than Hakeem ever could, and this is coming from a life-long Rockets fan.
What Hakeem offers these guys is his insight on the court. One may not be able to emulate his instincts and reactions, but they can still understand why he does things in certain situations and emulate some of his moves and use what is applicable to their own game. Hakeem's moves can break down an opponent to create space all the way out to the 3pt line. Only idiots think that people who Hakeem teach will become Hakeem.
Yeah, I heard Hakeem does a lot of charity work in his native Nigeria. God bless that man, an NBA player who doesn't forget his roots.
Boohoo so don't attend the camp. Who cares what this guy thinks. By this standard, no one should seek out a special talent for consultation in any field.
Yao would disagree. Yao attributed tons of his growth as a player to Ewing's coaching here in Houston. It didn't work with Dwight for the same reason Hakeem's tutoring with Dwight didn't work. He didn't have the dedication to improve his game.
Look, McHale said the same thing about Asik, you can't develop a post game without a reliable hook or short jumper to keep the defender honest. Dwight doesn't have that, so nothing Hakeem or Ewing (or McHale or Dawson) show him will be effective in-game. I'm guessing it's the mental side of Dream's camp that is more useful. Josh Smith, Amare...these guys aren't going to start hitting fadeaway 15 footers after a couple days with Dream. In that respect, you could argue it's reputation is a "scam".
I get the point, but exposure to the *thought* of how Hakeem approached his moves may help a bit. He cant teach you to be him, but he can teach you how to think in terms of counter moves. Barry Sanders cant teach you how to cut on a dime and accelerate, but he can teach you how he thinks and if you're smart enough to incorporate that into your own mix, his teachings will help to a certain degree..... Hakeem was a freak of nature and you cant teach that...true.... But his classes are beneficial IF the pupil actually pays attention and puts the teachings into action....few do tho except for the Lebrons and Kobes.....but that's also why they are champions.....different breed of student. Most just do the moves during the class only and go right back to their own way of playing..... They'll need more than a week for the info to sink in
You cant compare the two... Dwight had like a week with Hakeem.... Yao had SEASONS with Ewing. If Dwight had that kind of time with Hakeem, the teachings would have sunk in.
There's some truth to what he is saying...like Barkley said, you cant teach the moves Dream was making. Or more accurately, you can't teach the way he moved... But a scam? Hakeem teaches them about patience, timing, decision making, and a lot of other things. You can't buy that kind of advice, from someone as qualified, anywhere else.
Nope, read the Grantland article about Lebron's time with Hakeem. He only spent four days learning Hakeem's post strategies and moves, then he went home and practiced them all offseason. You can be taught how to do something, but repetition is how you master what you've been taught.
Oh, I totally agree with that....but Dwight doesn't strike me as the sharpest pencil at times and probably needs more time/repetition for things to stick than a Lebron because Lebron seems HELLA dedicated to improving his game, which is what makes him a great among greats. Not saying Dwight cant be that, but he just strikes me as the type that needs in the moment tutelage and if left to working out on his own, will simply do what he knows best unless constantly reminded.....
I read that out of all Hakeen's student, only LeBron actually used what he learned from the Dream. The rest of them, including Howard and Kobe, just did what most of us did when we are preparing for an exam, cram through materials and throw them away after the exam.
NY beet writer probably only ever watched Hakeem when the Rockets destroyed the Knicks in 94. The narcissistic New York media would be too self-involved to pay attention at any other time. Also, the memory of Hakeem at the end overshadows exactly how raw he was when he first entered the league. He basically entered the league with the dream shak er, his fadeaway, and nothing else. He airballed his first free throw, would try to shoot over quadruple teams (or passed out of them to a defender) and couldn't shoot more than 5 feet from the basket. He airballed his first NBA free throw attempt. Hakeem developed all his skills himself. Every offseason he would come back with something new. Raw 1984 Akeem was amazingly athletic, but at times a basketball disaster. If this writer had ever watched Hakeem when he wasn't playing the Knicks, he'd know better.
