The DPYA will be known as “The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.”
Hakeem’s 18-year career is now being honored in a new way. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award has been rebranded in his name.
Hakeem Olajuwon: I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate the league’s best defensive player each year. Great basketball teams are defined by their ability to defend, with every great team connected by an elite defensive anchor.
I ran into Hakeem back in the 1990s at a fitness gym in Sugarland, Texas. I noticed that he was full of good vibes. But I didn’t say hi or introduce myself. I’ve always felt that famous people deserve space and privacy in public places.
Congratulations, Hakeem!
