Rumors

Even when the right players go high, they don’t always provide those teams with the relationship to winning that they hoped for. Take the top pick. The last No. 1 pick to win an NBA championship with the team that drafted him is Kyrie Irving, who went No. 1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. He is one of just six No. 1 picks since 1980 to do that: Irving, LeBron James (2004, Cleveland Cavaliers), Tim Duncan (1997, San Antonio Spurs), David Robinson (1987, Spurs), Hakeem Olajuwon (1984, Houston Rockets) and James Worthy (1982, Los Angeles Lakers).

New York Times

Brian Geltzeiler: The following players have won a league MVP, the scoring title, a championship, and finals MVP in the same season Michael Jordan Kareem Abdul Jabbar Shaquille O’Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Shai Gilgeous Alexander is on the verge of joining this list

x.com

NBA: More history for SGA ?? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history with 15 or more 30+ point games in a single postseason!

bsky.app

Tom Haberstroh: Jalen WIlliams just did something -- score 40+ in a Finals game -- that the following players have never done: Larry Bird Hakeem Olajuwon Karl Malone Kawhi Leonard Dirk Nowitzki

Twitter

Keerthika Uthayakumar: SGA is the fourth player in NBA history to score 30+ points in 15+ games over a playoff run, joining Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon & Kobe Bryant.

bsky.app

Jorge Sierra: Hakeem Olajuwon and Steve Nash are now the only Africa-born players with more playoff points than Pascal Siakam, who passed Serge Ibaka last night. Hell of a career.

Twitter

Netflix: Shaq reveals his top 10 greatest NBA players of all time 👀 Watch one of the all-time greats make his next play on Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal premieres June 4.

Twitter

Promoting a documentary series streaming on Netflix, Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal went into revealing his all-time Top 10 list. Sharing his opinion on the best-ever NBA players, 53-year-old Shaq initially listed himself in tenth place, but quickly moved on to present his ten favorites. The turned-basketball analyst reserved first place for Michael Jordan. In addition, he did not name his partner in the brand new Netflix series, Allen Iverson. Shaq’s all-time Top 10: 1. Michael Jordan 2. Kobe Bryant 3. LeBron James 4. Magic Johnson 5. Bill Russell 6. Wilt Chamberlain 7. Larry Bird 8. Hakeem Olajuwon 9. Tim Duncan 10. Julius Erving

EuroHoops.net

Josh Lewenberg: Players to win MVP and an NBA championship in the same season: Steph, LeBron (x2), Duncan, Shaq, Jordan (x4), Hakeem, Magic, Bird (x2), Moses Malone, Kareem (x2), Willis Reed, Wilt, Bill Russell (x4), Bob Cousy Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 4 wins away from joining that group.

x.com

Jorge Sierra: Most counting stats on NBA championship teams. Hakeem Olajuwon at No. 3 and No. 9 even though he won his titles in a low-pace, low-scoring era.

Twitter

Hakeem Olajuwon was the fourth of five No. 1 overall pick in Houston Rockets' history during the summer of 1984. Olajuwon now has a chance to deliver Houston its sixth-ever No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery on Monday night. Olajuwon, the 12-time All-Star, two-time champion, one-time MVP, and the greatest player in Houston history, will represent the Rockets on Monday at the draft lottery in Chicago. Houston enters lottery night currently slated to hold the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, having acquired a lottery pick from the Phoenix Suns due to the previous shrewd trades by general manager Rafael Stone.

Houston Chronicle

• Brooklyn Nets: Jordi Fernandez, Head Coach • Charlotte Hornets: Charles Lee, Head Coach • Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, Player • Dallas Mavericks: Rolando Blackman, Mavericks Ambassador • Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets Legend • New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Player • Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, Player • Portland Trail Blazers: Toumani Camara, Player • Sacramento Kings: Keon Ellis, Player • San Antonio Spurs: Mitch Johnson, Head Coach • Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri, Vice Chairman and President • Utah Jazz: Ashley Smith, Co-owner • Washington Wizards: Bub Carrington, Player

RealGM

The Bulls ultimately fell to the Knicks in a brutal playoff series. For Kukoc, New York presented the most physically punishing challenge. “The Knicks were ALWAYS the toughest for me,” he said. “We used to joke that the fouls that didn’t draw any blood, wasn’t a foul [laughs]… I needed a year or two to get used to that kind of basketball.” Had they reached the Finals, Kukoc is adamant that Chicago would’ve taken down the Houston Rockets—despite Hakeem Olajuwon’s brilliance. “We beat them that year every game we played,” Kukoc noted. “To me, [Hakeem] is the BEST center of all time… He shows you all these moves. He shows pretty much EVERY fundamental of basketball imaginable.”

ScoopB.com

StatMuse: The only players in NBA history with: 20+ PTS 10+ REB 5+ AST 2+ STL 2+ BLK in a Game 7. pic.x.com/Um5zUkojeC

Twitter