* The Hall of Famer says the centre he established in Houston has brought him greater fulfilment than his achievements on the court.
Former NBA champion and basketball legend, Hakeem Olajuwon, has described the Islamic Dawah Centre he established in Houston, United States, as the greatest accomplishment of his life.
Olajuwon, who opened the centre in 2002, said its impact on the Muslim community and society at large means more to him than all his achievements on the basketball court.
He made the remarks during an exclusive interview with CNN correspondent, Larry Madowo, for the network’s African Voices programme. An excerpt from the interview, in which he spoke about his faith and the Islamic centre, has been circulating on social media.
Asked why the centre meant so much to him, despite his remarkable achievements in basketball, the 63-year-old said its impact was greater than winning championships and receiving individual honours.
“This is bigger than any of my championships. This is bigger than all the accomplishments in basketball. In life,” he said.
He added that serving Allah and contributing to the community through the centre gave him a sense of fulfilment that his sporting achievements could not match.
From Muslim upbringing to renewed commitment to Islam
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 21, 1963, Olajuwon was raised in a Muslim family and attended Muslim Teachers College in Lagos before moving to the United States in 1980 to pursue his basketball career.
Muslim News gathered that, although Olajuwon was born and raised Muslim, his commitment to practising Islam deepened during his professional basketball career.
He reportedly became more devoted to studying the Qur’an and regularly attending the mosque in Houston around 1988. He also performed Hajj in 1991.
On March 9, 1991, he officially changed the spelling of his first name from Akeem to Hakeem, explaining that the latter was the correct Arabic spelling.
A centre built on faith and community service
The Islamic Dawah Centre, located in downtown Houston, is one of Olajuwon’s most significant contributions to the Muslim community.
He purchased the historic building in 1994, with the centre eventually opening in 2002. It provides a space for Islamic worship, education, community engagement and interfaith dialogue.
The facility has continued to expand its educational activities, including the opening of its Library of Islamic Knowledge in April 2016.
Through the centre, Olajuwon has sought to share the teachings of Islam and create opportunities for people to learn about the faith.
‘Islam is not just a religion. It’s a lifestyle’
During the interview, Madowo asked whether the discipline and values associated with his faith had contributed to his success both on and off the basketball court.
Olajuwon answered in the affirmative, stressing that Islam influences every aspect of his life.
“Yes, definitely. Everything that I do, it drives it,” he said.
He further explained that Islam goes beyond religious observances, describing it as a complete way of life.
“Islam is not just a religion. It’s a lifestyle,” he added.
His comments reflect the central role of faith in his personal and professional life, as well as his belief that success should be measured beyond material achievements and public recognition.
Why he displays his trophies at the centre
Another interesting moment in the interview came when Madowo showed Olajuwon some of his basketball trophies displayed at the Islamic Dawah Centre.
Among them were honours from his historic championship-winning years with the Houston Rockets, including his 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player award and the NBA Finals MVP awards he won in 1994 and 1995.
Asked why he preferred displaying the trophies at the centre rather than keeping them at home, Olajuwon explained that the arrangement allowed more people to see them.
He said he considered it better to share those achievements with visitors to the centre, alongside the opportunity to share his faith and life experiences.
The decision reflects his desire to make the centre more than a place of worship by using it to connect with people and encourage conversations about Islam.
From Lagos to NBA greatness
Standing at seven feet (2.13 metres) tall, Olajuwon played as a centre and became one of the most dominant players in NBA history.
He moved to the United States in 1980 to play college basketball for the University of Houston and was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft.
He went on to lead the Rockets to consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in both years. He also won the regular-season NBA Most Valuable Player award in 1994.
Olajuwon was selected for the NBA All-Star team 12 times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. He also won an Olympic gold medal with the United States men’s basketball team at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Despite the remarkable achievements that established him as one of basketball’s greatest players, Olajuwon’s reflections during the CNN interview show that he considers his contribution through the Islamic Dawah Centre a more meaningful legacy.
For the Nigerian-born legend, the centre represents an opportunity to serve Allah, strengthen the Muslim community and share the message of Islam with the wider society.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Global Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Discover more from Muslim News Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.