ESPN’s sports analyst Jalen Rose felt Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon wasn’t far behind Michael Jordan among the best players in the NBA.

After Jordan came into the NBA in 1984, he quickly earned a reputation of being able to do the unimaginable. He had the nickname “Black Jesus” for doing great things on the court. While talking on the Get Up, Rose believed, while Jordan’s feats were truly unhuman, Olajuwon could also achieve similar things.

“We talk about Michael Jordan not being human, but for those that haven’t been paying attention to the NBA, Hakeem Olajuwon wasn’t human either,” he said. “He could play with his back to the basket. He had quick hands and quick feet.”

Michael Jordan had respect for Hakeem Olajuwon and

Both Jordan and Olajuwon were a part of the 1984 draft class. Both went on to be players around whom two great teams would be built. While Jordan initially won a three-peat and retired in 1993, Olajuwon led the Rockets to two consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. Jordan then came back and, quite incredibly, won another three-peat.

The way Jordan and the Bulls dominated the NBA during that time, there weren’t very few, if there were any, teams that could beat them. But Rockets was one of the teams that Jordan respected according to their former coach Rudy Tomjanovich. And the reason, according to him, was Hakeem Olajuwon.

Trending

Billionaire Michael Jordan’s $61 Million Arrival in Talladega Saw Unusual Absence of Wife Yvette Prieto

April 22, 2024 03:36 PM EDT

Anthony Davis Storms Out Of Press Conference While De’Angelo Russell Takes NBA Refs To Task Online

April 23, 2024 07:51 AM EDT

“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment

April 23, 2024 06:21 AM EDT

What Happened to Kenny Smith’s Legs? Unfolding the Sad Truth Behind TNT Host’s Dodgy Knees

April 22, 2024 08:05 PM EDT

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal Get Revenge on Kendrick Perkins as TNT Co-Hosts Relishes in Hilarious Live TV Battle

April 24, 2024 07:53 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“Jordan gave our team great respect,” he told The Athletic last month. “He didn’t feel that they could contain Hakeem. They just didn’t have the personnel to do it. And he said he thought we were the team that gave them the most trouble.”

Jordan and Olajuwon might not have been involved in any high-intensity clash, but it would certainly have been a great sight to watch to great players get at each other.

“It was a great rivalry. It was too bad that we didn’t get [to the Finals] when they got there,” Tomjanovich said. “We would have to go and play. We could all talk about it and stuff, but we’ll never know. It would’ve been a great series.”