Hakeem Olajuwon Quotes (13 Quotes)

I always keep a ball in the car. You never know.

Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of my fundamental principles that were instilled in me in my home, from my childhood, are still with me.

All I know is I'm saying this, and somebody's going to read it and say I'm a male chauvinist. That's not the case. It is just different with men and boys with women. It's like raising your kids. Boys are more stubborn. As good, as strong as a mother is, sometimes it takes the father to step in. Oh boy, I can see it now 'Hakeem is a male chauvinist.' That is not the case.

When you get to that level, it's not a matter of talent anymore - because all the players are so talented - it's about preparation, about playing smart and making good decisions.

My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players.

When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa.

Basketball is in my blood. It is my obligation to try.

All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man - at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower, or are you a leader?

When I watch NBA games now on TV, what I see the most are opportunities for the big men that they are not taking advantage of. That's what I told Tim Duncan when I saw him this year at the Finals in San Antonio. When you go into the lane and they take away the jump hook, just reverse pivot. The baseline is there.

I've now been in this country for thirteen years, since I was seventeen. So this is my second home.

I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention.

I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Shaq always wanted me to show him steps over and over.

My life is very simple. I like simplicity and for my time to be my own, so that I have the freedom to devote the majority of it to Islam.