Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon To Join Staff

Mar 22, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets former center Hakeem Olajuwon is honored at halftime against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The dream of Dwight Howard coming to Houston is now a reality. Now, The Dream himself will become a part of the Houston Rockets organization once again.

General Manager Daryl Morey announced that Hakeem Olajuwon will join the coaching staff as a mentor for centers.  This marks the first time that the Hall-of-Famer will officially be a part of the Rockets organization since he last played in Houston in 2001.

 Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported that Olajuwon’s title is still in talks:

‘Olajuwon’s duties and title are being discussed, and he will spend much of the year at his home in Jordan. But he will work with Rockets interior players, as he does with big men around the NBA each offseason, as a team employee. 

“We are going to bring him in as full-time as is possible,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Sunday. “It’s not done, but we have mutual interest to get it done, and we’ve had some early discussions. We want him to work with Dwight and Omer (Asik), and he wants to do that.”

Olajuwon has worked with Howard in the past, was a key part of the pitch, and his relationship with the superstar center was a factor in his decision to sign with the Rockets.

“He has improved so much,” Olajuwon said. “I like with the Houston Rockets he will get a chance to show his true potential. That’s exciting. The last two years, he has not really been given that opportunity to really, really express his game, his comfort level and confidence. Here he has a team that is willing to do that. They want him to do that.