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Post by CandyKANE on Oct 1, 2002 14:19:44 GMT -5
This comes from cnnsi.com
TORONTO (AP) -- Hakeem Olajuwon's NBA career appears to be over.
Olajuwon has a serious back injury, and the Toronto Raptors are awaiting a decision on whether he will retire. Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said Monday he doesn't foresee Olajuwon playing this season.
Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said he expects a decision from Olajuwon soon.
"We're going to know in a couple of days," Wilkens said.
The 39-year-old center is in Houston, where he spent 17 years playing for the Rockets before joining the Raptors before last season. He has been excused from training camp by Toronto.
"He can either try and play or decide it's too much," Grunwald said. "We don't expect him to play this season or in the foreseeable future."
Olajuwon, who led the Rockets to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million contract offer to stay in Houston. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto.
"It was a gamble and I think we lost on it," Grunwald said. "It didn't turn out the way we had hoped."
Olajuwon averaged 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 61 games last season.
Grunwald denied the Raptors were negotiating a buyout to his contract. Olajuwon is due $12 million over the next two seasons.
"We had hoped he would be here for a couple of more years, but it doesn't look like that's going to be the case," Grunwald said. "It could have worked great, but it didn't. We have to move on now."
Olajuwon was selected as one of the NBA's 50 greatest players and was on the 1996 gold medal-winning Olympic basketball team. He is a 12-time NBA All-Star.
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Post by 2REAL on Oct 3, 2002 22:38:24 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]It was sort of sad 2 see Patrick Ewing retire but considering the downfall he was in I guess his decision was a good one. Hakeem needs 2 do the same thing. He is in no position 2 win another nba championship and if he stays any longer he will be forever known as a has been. These legends will always be missed and remembered on the highest regard but it is time 2 hang up the sneakers.[/glow]
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Post by CandyKANE on Oct 4, 2002 6:12:47 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]It was sort of sad 2 see Patrick Ewing retire but considering the downfall he was in I guess his decision was a good one. Hakeem needs 2 do the same thing. He is in no position 2 win another nba championship and if he stays any longer he will be forever known as a has been. These legends will always be missed and remembered on the highest regard but it is time 2 hang up the sneakers.[/glow] Exactly, well said.  |
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Post by Genetic_Freak on Oct 7, 2002 16:18:30 GMT -5
Being a Utah Jazz fan, I have spent many years cursing The Dream's life.. lol.. But he has nothing left to prove.. He was one of the best ever at his position, and he is a Hall of Famer..
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Post by CandyKANE on Oct 8, 2002 4:58:28 GMT -5
So why don't Stockton & Malone pack it in too! ;D No offense GF but I HATE THOSE TWO!  |
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Post by CandyKANE on Oct 9, 2002 13:30:56 GMT -5
From ESPN
Rather than undergo back surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, Hakeem Olajuwon of the Raptors plans to announce his retirement on Nov. 2 when Toronto visits the Houston Rockets, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Retirement can be painful in its own way. But back surgery would require Olajuwon, who won two NBA titles in his 17 seasons with Houston before joining the Raptors last season, to be incapacitated for 9 to 11 months, according to the Post's report.
"Hakeem's a warrior, and I think his love for basketball is almost overpowering," his agent, Dan Fagan, said last week. "However, he's a realist, and if his back injury is what's been described to us, and we believe it is, the possibility of a retirement due to his injury is something we are going to discuss."
Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said last week that he didn't expect Olajuwon to play this season. Olajuwon is in Houston and has been excused from the Raptors' training camp.
Olajuwon is thought to be among the greatest centers of all time, just outside the famed circle of Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Olajuwon is a 12-time All-Star, a 20-points-plus per-game scorer and an all-defensive first- or second-team selection nine times.
He also led the league in blocked shots in 1990, '91 and '93.
Olajuwon made only 37 starts last season for the Raptors, averaging 22.3 minutes, 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. Late in the season, when the Raptors were pushing for a playoff spot, Olajuwon was pulled from the starting lineup.
Olajuwon, who has two years remaining on his contract, went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million contract offer to stay in Houston. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Post by CandyKANE on Oct 25, 2002 11:07:15 GMT -5
credit: espn.com
HOUSTON (AP) -- Hakeem Olajuwon will announce his retirement Nov. 9 in Houston, where he started his stellar 18-year career in the NBA, his agent told a TV station Thursday night.
The Rockets said they knew only that Olajuwon would attend a ceremony honoring him that night in Houston before a game against Golden State. The Toronto Raptors, with whom Olajuwon played last season, are at Indiana on Nov. 9.
The 39-year-old center played 17 years with the Houston Rockets, leading them to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In college, he led Houston to the NCAA title game in 1983 and 1984.
The Raptors excused him from training camp because of serious back problems. Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said earlier in the month he doesn't expect Olajuwon to play this season or in the future.
"We've determined he's just not going to be able to play anymore," agent Dan Fegan told KRIV-TV in Houston. "So it's not finalized, but he's going to make that retirement announcement official Nov. 9."
A call by The Associated Press to Fegan's office was not answered Thursday.
Fegan told the TV station that Olajuwon is grateful the Rockets are accommodating his wishes to retire in Houston.
"I think it's fantastic. It's a great win for Hakeem and the Rockets," Fegan said. "There's a great love on Hakeem's part and the Rockets' part. This is the right way to finish his career." The Nigerian-born 7-footer was the first pick in the 1984 draft, and he became one of the league's dominant big men. He's the Rockets' career leader in points (26,511), rebounds (13,382) and steals (2,088), and he's the NBA's career leader in blocks (3,830).
Olajuwon played in 12 All-Star games, was named MVP in 1994 and was named one of the league's 50 greatest players in 1996. That year he also won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.
He went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million offer from the Rockets. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto. In his only season with the Raptors, he played in 61 games and averaged career lows in points (7.1) and rebounds (6.0).
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