Akeem Olajuwon is a retired professional basketball player from Nigeria, widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in the history of the NBA. He played the majority of his career with the Houston Rockets, where he won two consecutive championships in 1994 and 1995. Known for his exceptional footwork and defensive skills, Olajuwon was a 12-time NBA All-Star and earned the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1994. Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria. He initially played soccer before transitioning to basketball. After playing college basketball at the University of Houston, he was selected as the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. In addition to his success in the NBA, Olajuwon also represented the Nigeria national basketball team in international competitions.