I’m ‘The Dream’ who briefly replaced MJ and once consumed 100 McNuggets – now I make $100m in real estate
Hakeem Olajuwon could well be basketball’s greatest-ever big man. Standing at 7ft tall, the powerful center dominated the NBA for more than 15 years with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon, a two-time NBA Champion, is regarded as one of the greatest ‘big men’ in historyGetty He entered the league as the No.1 pick of the 1984 draft, which is now iconic for the talent it brought in, and included the great Michael Jordan, who went third overall. In the years that followed, Olajuwon was dominant both offensively and defensively, winning back-to-back championships a decade later with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. He was named Finals MVP in both of those years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those two triumphs were sandwiched between the two three-peats that MJ achieved with the Chicago Bulls. After winning three-straight titles, ‘His Airness’ stunned the sporting world with his decision to retire from the NBA in 1993 and pursue a career in baseball instead, dedicating his effort to his late father, who had envisioned him playing the sport. With Jordan gone, Olajuwon stepped in to fill the huge void left in the NBA. The Nigerian-American star gained a reputation as a clutch performer – and as one of the top centers in history – outplaying the likes of Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and other defensive stalwarts such as Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. An unusually skilled offensive player for a big man, Olajuwon also perfected a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark ‘Dream Shake’. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of ‘big man’ footwork to this day. Arguably the notable ‘Dream Shake’ happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals, when the Rockets came up against the San Antonio Spurs. Nicknamed ‘The Dream’, Olajuwon dominated with the Rockets for nearly two decadesGetty He also filled the NBA void that MJ left during his first retirementGetty Images Sport Classic - Getty With great rival Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup. Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with the Houston star and remained planted. Olajuwon then spun counterclockwise and faked a jump shot. His opponent, who was voted the 1995 MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot. With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup. The move became instantly iconic. At the height of his powers, it wasn’t just on the court that ‘The Dream’ was making waves. Two-time champion and Finals MVP Olajuwon is one of greatest players everGetty The advertising boom in the late 1980s saw numerous NBA stars appear in television commercials, and Olajuwon landed himself a deal with McDonald’s. During one shoot, the NBA star discovered his love for chicken nuggets – and reportedly ate 100 McNuggets in one day. According to UPROXX, Olajuwon was filming a McDonald’s commercial wherein the premise required him to slam dunk Chicken McNuggets into his mouth. For unknown reasons, it took a while to get the commercial exactly right, leading to a taping that took five hours and over 100 takes. Most people would dunk the McNugget into their mouth and then spit it out. Not Olajuwon, though, who is said to have consumed every single McNugget he popped in. If the commercial took over 100 takes, that’s more than 100 McNuggets in his belly. A producer apparently asked Olajuwon if he would prefer they replaced the chicken with something inedible, to keep his intake down. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals He declined, saying, “I like these things. Let’s keep doing it.” On top of being a legendary basketball player, it seems Olajuwon was also a remorseless McNugget eating machine. And since stepping away from the NBA, he has taken his talents in another direction. Instead of dominating the court, he’s now rocking the real estate world. Olajuwon has made millions by investing his NBA salary into real estateGetty He dipped his toes into investing while still a player, setting aside some of his $110million in salary to put into property. By 2006, just four years after he retired, Olajuwon’s investments had grown to be worth more than $100m alone. And now, two decades on, his net worth is said to be $300m, making him the seventh richest NBA player in history. He has mastered a strategy of buyi
Hakeem Olajuwon could well be basketball’s greatest-ever big man.
Standing at 7ft tall, the powerful center dominated the NBA for more than 15 years with the Houston Rockets.
He entered the league as the No.1 pick of the 1984 draft, which is now iconic for the talent it brought in, and included the great Michael Jordan, who went third overall.
In the years that followed, Olajuwon was dominant both offensively and defensively, winning back-to-back championships a decade later with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995.
He was named Finals MVP in both of those years.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, those two triumphs were sandwiched between the two three-peats that MJ achieved with the Chicago Bulls.
After winning three-straight titles, ‘His Airness’ stunned the sporting world with his decision to retire from the NBA in 1993 and pursue a career in baseball instead, dedicating his effort to his late father, who had envisioned him playing the sport.
With Jordan gone, Olajuwon stepped in to fill the huge void left in the NBA.
The Nigerian-American star gained a reputation as a clutch performer – and as one of the top centers in history – outplaying the likes of Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dikembe Mutombo, and other defensive stalwarts such as Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone.
An unusually skilled offensive player for a big man, Olajuwon also perfected a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark ‘Dream Shake’.
Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of ‘big man’ footwork to this day.
Arguably the notable ‘Dream Shake’ happened in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals, when the Rockets came up against the San Antonio Spurs.
With great rival Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon performed a cross-over, drove to the basket and faked a layup.
Robinson, an excellent defender, kept up with the Houston star and remained planted. Olajuwon then spun counterclockwise and faked a jump shot.
His opponent, who was voted the 1995 MVP, fell for the fake and jumped to block the shot.
With Robinson in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move and made an easy layup.
The move became instantly iconic.
At the height of his powers, it wasn’t just on the court that ‘The Dream’ was making waves.
The advertising boom in the late 1980s saw numerous NBA stars appear in television commercials, and Olajuwon landed himself a deal with McDonald’s.
During one shoot, the NBA star discovered his love for chicken nuggets – and reportedly ate 100 McNuggets in one day.
According to UPROXX, Olajuwon was filming a McDonald’s commercial wherein the premise required him to slam dunk Chicken McNuggets into his mouth.
For unknown reasons, it took a while to get the commercial exactly right, leading to a taping that took five hours and over 100 takes.
Most people would dunk the McNugget into their mouth and then spit it out.
Not Olajuwon, though, who is said to have consumed every single McNugget he popped in.
If the commercial took over 100 takes, that’s more than 100 McNuggets in his belly.
A producer apparently asked Olajuwon if he would prefer they replaced the chicken with something inedible, to keep his intake down.
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He declined, saying, “I like these things. Let’s keep doing it.”
On top of being a legendary basketball player, it seems Olajuwon was also a remorseless McNugget eating machine.
And since stepping away from the NBA, he has taken his talents in another direction.
Instead of dominating the court, he’s now rocking the real estate world.
He dipped his toes into investing while still a player, setting aside some of his $110million in salary to put into property.
By 2006, just four years after he retired, Olajuwon’s investments had grown to be worth more than $100m alone.
And now, two decades on, his net worth is said to be $300m, making him the seventh richest NBA player in history.
He has mastered a strategy of buying properties ripe for further development in his adopted hometown of Houston, like parcels of land near the light-rail line, in the Texas Medical Center and close to the Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park.
Olajuwan always pays cash for his investments, and only buys properties with funds he actually controls, meaning he takes on no debt.
“I try to see its potential; what it could be used for,” he told the New York Times in a profile back in 2006.
“I like real estate because, you know, it’s real.”
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With the NBA hurtling towards playoff season next month, there’s plenty riding on the remaining games.
Reigning champions the Boston Celtics are chasing back-to-back titles, and will be the first team to do this since 2018 if they’re successful.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Luka Dončić’s Lakers are looking to win LA’s first championship since 2020.
To watch the rest of this NBA season, sign up for an NBA League pass using the links below. NBA League pass allows subscribers to watch games live and on demand.
- Buy NBA League Pass – £79.99 for the season, £16.99 a month
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For more information read our article on how to watch the NBA.
