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Hakeem Olajuwon revelation came during an interview with CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, which aired on November 9, 2026. Olajuwon explained that he never set out to become a personal trainer to NBA superstars. Instead, some of the biggest names in basketball approached him because they wanted to learn from his experience, footwork and understanding of the game.
His comments offer a fresh look at the influence of one of basketball’s most accomplished centres, whose techniques remain relevant even as the NBA continues to evolve.
According to the interview, Kobe Bryant was the first of the high-profile players to initiate contact. Olajuwon recalled receiving a call from the former Los Angeles Lakers star during the summer, with Bryant expressing interest in travelling to work on his basketball skills.
The request initially surprised him. Bryant was already an established superstar, widely respected for his scoring ability, competitive mentality and technical understanding of basketball. Olajuwon said he initially wondered why a player of Bryant’s calibre would need his assistance.
He recalled telling Bryant that he already had everything needed to succeed, given his achievements and reputation in the league. However, Bryant was interested in learning the moves that had made Olajuwon such a difficult opponent throughout his playing career.
Olajuwon said Bryant’s approach effectively opened the door for other elite players to seek his guidance. The experience also demonstrated that even accomplished professionals could benefit from learning new techniques and improving areas of their game.
The former Rockets centre subsequently worked with LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama, among other notable basketball figures. Punch Newspapers+1
One of the important points Olajuwon made during the interview was that his sessions with modern NBA stars were not necessarily about teaching them how to play basketball from the beginning. These were already exceptional athletes with years of professional experience. His contribution was helping them understand how to use their physical advantages more effectively and create opportunities to score.
Discussing his work with Wembanyama, the French basketball star who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, Olajuwon explained that the focus was on maximising the advantages that come with his height and technical ability.
Rather than simply encouraging the young centre to rely on his height, the Nigerian legend wanted him to understand how to turn that physical advantage into more effective offensive opportunities. Wembanyama’s combination of size, mobility and basketball skills gives him several ways to challenge defenders, but knowing when and how to use those qualities is equally important.
Olajuwon described the process as understanding how to leverage those advantages to the maximum. His comments highlight the importance of decision-making and positioning in a sport where physical attributes alone do not always determine a player’s effectiveness.
Wembanyama has already established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in professional basketball. Selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft, he quickly attracted attention for his unusual combination of height, shooting ability, ball handling and defensive presence.
His willingness to work with a former NBA great such as Olajuwon also reflects the importance of learning from experienced players. Although modern basketball places considerable emphasis on athleticism, shooting range and versatility, traditional skills such as footwork, positioning and finishing around the basket remain valuable.
Olajuwon’s experience with Giannis Antetokounmpo also provided an interesting example of how his mentoring approach changes depending on the player.
Antetokounmpo, who has Nigerian family roots, is known for his strength, speed, ability to attack the basket and powerful finishing around the rim. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has built much of his offensive success around his ability to penetrate defensive formations and use his physical presence to create scoring opportunities.
However, Olajuwon explained that their sessions focused on improving the Greek-Nigerian forward’s ability to finish, create space and dunk. He said he enjoyed working on those aspects of Antetokounmpo’s game.
The former Rockets star also made it clear that their discussions had moved beyond fundamental basketball lessons. Instead, the objective was to identify opportunities during games and help the players take advantage of even small openings in the defence.
He explained that when highly athletic players understand how to create space, they can quickly turn those opportunities into scoring chances.
That approach is particularly relevant to Antetokounmpo’s playing style. His ability to accelerate towards the basket, change direction and finish through defensive pressure has made him one of the most difficult players to contain in the modern NBA.
For Olajuwon, the finer details of movement and positioning can make a significant difference, even for players who already possess extraordinary athletic ability.
The relationship between Olajuwon and Antetokounmpo also carries an additional connection through their Nigerian heritage. Olajuwon was born in Lagos, while Antetokounmpo’s parents are Nigerian, although the basketball star was born in Athens, Greece.
Their shared background adds another dimension to a relationship built around basketball knowledge and professional development. It also highlights the growing international influence of Nigerian heritage in the NBA.
The presence of Wembanyama, Antetokounmpo, James and Bryant in Olajuwon’s account demonstrates the range of players who have recognised the value of his experience. Their playing styles, physical attributes and careers are different, but they share an interest in improving their understanding of the game.
Olajuwon’s influence is closely connected to his own extraordinary career. Born in Lagos on January 21, 1963, he developed his basketball career in the United States after leaving Nigeria to attend the University of Houston.
He became one of the most dominant centres in college basketball before the Houston Rockets selected him with the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.
That draft class is widely remembered because it also included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. Olajuwon eventually established himself as one of the defining players of his generation, earning recognition for his offensive creativity, defensive intelligence and ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
He spent the majority of his professional career with the Houston Rockets, representing the franchise from 1984 until 2001. He later joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2001–02 season before ending his NBA playing career.
His greatest achievements came during Houston’s championship-winning seasons in 1994 and 1995. Olajuwon led the Rockets to consecutive NBA titles, earning the Finals Most Valuable Player award on both occasions.
In 1994, he also won the NBA Most Valuable Player award and the Defensive Player of the Year honour, becoming one of the few players to combine those achievements in the same season.
His career statistics and honours further established his reputation as one of the greatest centres in basketball history. He made 12 NBA All-Star appearances, won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
He also won an Olympic gold medal with the United States men’s basketball team at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Punch Newspapers+1
One of the most recognisable aspects of Olajuwon’s playing career was his signature footwork, particularly the move popularly known as the Dream Shake. The technique involved a combination of pivots, body movements, changes of direction and deceptive footwork that made it difficult for defenders to anticipate his next move.
His ability to create space in crowded areas around the basket separated him from many other centres. Rather than depending exclusively on strength, he combined balance, timing, agility and technical precision to get past defenders.
Those qualities made him an attractive mentor for players who wanted to expand their offensive options. Bryant, for example, was known for his determination to master different aspects of basketball. His interest in Olajuwon’s techniques reflected his willingness to keep improving even after establishing himself as one of the best players in the league.
Bryant went on to win five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and became one of the most influential basketball players of his generation. He retired in 2016 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. His career ended tragically when he died in a helicopter crash in January 2020, aged 41.
LeBron James also benefited from Olajuwon’s knowledge. The four-time NBA champion had an outstanding career built around his combination of strength, court vision, playmaking and versatility. However, working with Olajuwon provided an opportunity to improve his skills around the basket.
James is now preparing for the 2026–27 NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. His decision to continue playing at the highest level after more than two decades in the league demonstrates the longevity and adaptability that have defined his career. NBA.com+1
Antetokounmpo has also entered a new chapter of his professional career after joining the Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2026. The move followed a successful period in Milwaukee, where he won an NBA championship in 2021 and established himself as one of the league’s leading players. NBA.com+1
For Olajuwon, however, the most important aspect of working with these players appears to be their willingness to learn. His comments suggest that professional success does not eliminate the need for improvement. Even players who have won championships, individual awards and international recognition can still identify areas where additional knowledge could make them better.
His mentoring relationships also reflect the importance of experience in professional sports. Younger players can develop through regular competition and modern coaching methods, but learning directly from someone who has mastered a particular skill offers a different kind of opportunity.
Olajuwon’s career gives him a unique understanding of the demands of playing as a centre. He competed against some of the strongest and most technically gifted players in NBA history, developing a style that combined physical power with exceptional movement and creativity.
His knowledge has remained relevant because basketball continues to reward players who can create advantages in different situations. Although the modern NBA features more three-point shooting, faster offensive systems and greater positional flexibility, the ability to finish around the basket remains an important part of the game.
The Nigerian legend’s latest comments also reinforce his place in the international basketball community. His journey from Lagos to becoming an NBA champion and Hall of Famer remains one of the most significant achievements by an African-born basketball player.
His influence extends beyond the trophies he won with Houston. Through his work with established superstars and emerging talents, Olajuwon has helped preserve and pass on technical aspects of basketball that might otherwise receive less attention in an increasingly perimeter-focused league.
The fact that players such as Bryant, James, Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama have sought his guidance speaks to the respect he commands across different generations of the sport.
Olajuwon did not set out to build a reputation as a mentor to basketball’s biggest stars. As he explained in his CNN interview, the players approached him because they recognised the value of his experience.
For the former Houston Rockets centre, their interest provided an opportunity to share the knowledge developed throughout his playing career. For the players themselves, it offered a chance to add another dimension to their already impressive basketball abilities.
His latest revelation is another reminder that the pursuit of excellence in professional sports does not necessarily end when a player reaches the top. Sometimes, the next improvement comes from learning from someone who has already mastered the craft.
