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NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest draft pick in Houston Rockets history: Hakeem Olajuwon

In terms of all-around versatility at the center position, there may not have been a better player than Hakeem Olajuwon, who ranks inside the top-10 all-time in categories such as blocks, rebounds, steals and field goal percentage. (He was top-10 in points as well until LeBron kicked him out)

He was a player capable of guarding all five positions before this era of versatility. When he happened to guard the opposing team’s big man, he rarely bit for any type of fake and was an elite rim protector, leading the league in blocks per game three times while averaging 3.1 a night for his career.

The same poise he showed on the defensive end couldn’t be said for those who had to guard him. Olajuwon is widely credited with the best post-arsenal in NBA history, with a number of fakes and a counter or two for each one of them.

Hakeem led the Houston Rockets to two championships in 1994 and 1995, and an argument could be made that it was the greatest two year stretch by any player ever. Not only was he a two-time Finals MVP, but he took home the regular season MVP trophy and the Defensive Player of the year award home on top of the ring in 1994.

In leading Houston to those titles, his path was littered with some of the other greatest big-men in history, including David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Ewing. It was The Dream who rose above them all, taking full advantage of an NBA without Michael Jordan for the first time since 1984.

Olajuwon is rarely if ever mentioned among the greatest at his position, but maybe it’s time that changes. After all, he was statistically dominant with both individual and championship hardware to boot who was elite on both ends of the court. What more could anyone want from a Hall-of-Fame seven-footer?

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