I Have a Dream

This is just one man's opinion. When you start to separate and try to identify the “greatest” players in NBA history, you need something to even qualify for the debate. Championships. You can't truly be considered the greatest without a ring. So sorry Chuck, Pat, Reg, Karl, John and Nique, but you'll have to excuse yourselves from this topic. And GP, that ring you piggybacked with the Heat doesn't count. You gotta go, too. With that said, my personal fan era in about 1986 to present. Anything before that I can't really speak on. This is the NBA's golden age. Some of the best players to EVER put on sneakers are from this time period. But who is the best? Most would say MJ, with good reason. Being from Houston I will readily admit that I'm a little biased. But it's not just rampant homerism. Hakeem Olajuwon IS the greatest player of all times. And I can prove it. The facts are the facts. To me what makes someone the greatest in a team sport is their ability to individually lead their team to a title. Now the time period for this debate is about 1985 to 2000.

In that time only 6 teams won titles. We can even include the 1984 Sixers that won it all. Now the best players on those teams are all Hall of Famers: Magic in LA, Bird in Boston, MJ is Chicago, Isaiah in Detroit, and we'll even include Tim Duncan in San Antonio. I think that these players are all among the best ever. They were all the undisputed leaders of their teams, both in play and in influence. My argument for Hakeem as the best of the best is very simple; none of these other players were able to win with as little support as Hakeem. Looking at the rosters of all of these teams, every one else had an elite level, Hall of Fame caliber “sidekick”. Obviously Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem and Worthy, Bird was part of arguably the greatest frontcourt in history with McHale and Chief, Isaiah played alongside Joe D., Doc had Moses, even Timmy played with David Robinson to create the most successful “Twin Towers” combo in the league. Who was The Dream's best teammate? Otis Thorpe? Kenny Smith? Vernon Maxwell? No disrespect to these guys, but I don't think anyone is going to mistake Kenny Smith for Joe Dumars. And sure Houston won a title in 19956 with Dream and Clyde Drexler, but Drexler was clearly entering into the twilight of his career when they were paired together. Clyde's best years were in Portland with Terry Porter and the Blazers. All I know is that whoever you want to say was the best player Dream played with, I'm sure he wasn't a perennial All-Star, 50 greatest, future Hall of Famer like everyone else had. Those Rocket teams had good guys, but never had the ONE great guy. Not to mention that Dream accomplished something no other player has.

That is he was NBA MVP, Finals MVP, NBA Champion and Defensive Player of the Year all in the same season. Not even Jordan the great ever did that. So, if all the evidence is so apparent, why is Hakeem not seen as the greatest of all time? Why do fans and media universally embrace Jordan? I have a couple theories about that. Hakeem was a foreign born player that spoke with a thick accent and he is Muslim. Not exactly traits that the American buying public can wrap their arms around. In this country we don't love and support anyone the way we support our own. Also, big guys are never loved like small guys in basketball. Centers are freakishly tall and long, and most “normal” sized people just cannot relate to that. It is just assumed that because a guy is over 7 feet tall the game is easier for him. We've all heard that guy that says, “Man, if I was that tall I'd be dominating the game.”

Guards are closer to regular size, and it's only natural to root for the little underdog guy. Jordan became the face of the NBA as much for his face as his game. He's a handsome, articulate, media friendly personality. He's an easy choice to endorse a product, especially over a giant freak the barely speaks English. This is in no way meant to disparage Jordan or any of the other players I spoke of. As a true NBA fan I appreciate the contributions Jordan, Bird, Magic and all the rest have made to the success of the league. I just think it's time to give the proper respect where it's due. He carried himself with dignity and grace both on and off the floor. Growing up in Houston I can honestly say the Hakeem was not only a dream of a player, but also the true definition of a leader and a man. He is long overdue for the props he deserves, and I even if I'm the only one, I'll continue to scream it to anyone who will listen until I have no more breath in my lungs.