Hakeem Expected to Realize Dream of Playing on U.S. Olympic Team
Hakeem Olajuwon, perennial all-star center of the Houston Rockets, will almost certainly represent the United States in the 1996 Olympics, according to today’s editions of the Houston Chronicle.
The Chronicle quoted unidentified NBA and international sources as saying an agreement with FIBA, international basketball’s governing body, is “98% done.”
Olajuwon would not comment, but he said recently he would jump at the chance.
“It would be a great honor,” he said. “Can you imagine, putting on the USA jersey, No. 34? That would be fantastic.”
The sources said the announcement, which could come as soon as June, would make Olajuwon a shoo-in as the starting center on the 12-man U.S. team competing in the Olympics in Atlanta.
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