Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon had one of the strangest roads to the NBA and will be remembered as one of the greatest overseas players the league has ever seen. With a unique blend of size, speed, and finesse, Hakeem was able to dominate centers in the post.
So let's take a look at the most expensive Hakeem Olajuwon basketball cards that have ever been sold.
Who is Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria and didn't pick up a basketball until late in his life. His favorite sport growing up was soccer, one of the reasons he developed the incredible footwork that would allow him to dominate in the low post for his career.
From 1984 to 2002, Hakeem played at the center position in the NBA. His most notable time was when he played for the Houston Rockets, where he could pick up back-to-back championships (while Michael Jordan was “retired”). He also had a brief stint as a member of the Toronto Raptors, but he was well past his prime at that point. Hakeem was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 and is considered one of the greatest centers in the history of basketball.
Hakeem was known to put up monster statlines. He is one of only four players in NBA history to achieve a quadruple-double. In the 1989 and 1990 seasons, he led the league in rebounding and led the league in blocks in the 1990, 1991, and 1993 seasons.
He became the first non-American-born player to be an NBA All-Star, the first to win an NBA MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year. In 1993-94, he also became the first player to win the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same year. He is also one of only three players to win Defensive Player of the Year and the MVP in the same season.
All told, Hakeem has one of the most impressive statistical resumes in the world. The sheer audacity of collecting the number of awards he did is amazing. Being the only player in NBA history to collect the three biggest season awards puts him in legendary status, and makes him a unique one of one unicorn unlike anything the league had ever seen.
The Most Expensive Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball Cards in the World
Table of Contents Show
1986 Fleer Akeem Olajuwon Base PSA 10
$25,000.00
“I'm not changing the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it”.
1986 Fleer Sticker Hakeem Olajuwon ROOKIE RC #9 PSA 10 GEM MINT
$17,655.00
The fleer sticker Akeem Olajuwon card still has the pre-name change Akeem. The GEM Mint 10 fetched a pretty high price, and the image differs from the other Fleer cards on this list.
In this card, Hakeem is blocking a shot of one of the most magnetic superstars in the history of the NBA, Magic Johnson. One of many of Hakeem's blocks—he did finish his career as the NBA's leader in all-time blocks if you didn't know—it makes a great card photo.
1986 Fleer Hakeem Olajuwon Base PSA 10
$17,000.00
There's no indication of which number this Hakeem card was. Considering it was sold just six days after the most expensive Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball Card of the same set above, I will assume it was another PSA 10. It might not be, but if the man who bought it later auctioned it off six days later only to lose $8,000, that would be one of the worst deals I've ever heard.
1998 ULTRA MASTERPIECE #68P HAKEEM OLAJUWON – ROCKETS HOF POP 1 – PSA 8
$15,000.00
2020-21 National Treasures Hakeem Olajuwon Game Worn LOGO MAN Auto 1/1
$14,645.00
The national treasures 2020-21 collection sought to capitalize on the rise of sports cards in the popular fan space. Featuring cards featuring legendary players, this Hakeem logo-man is the first to make this list that usually features many logoman-type cards. Just look at Kevin Durant's most expensive basketball cards for an example.
Hakeem had many signature shots, and his fall-away jumper that is pictured was a deadly one. He could go into his bag for it anytime he'd like, and he was tall and agile enough to get it off over anyone.
1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems PMG Red Hakeem Olajuwon /100 #59 PSA 5
$12,900.00
The Red Metal Universes usually sit on top of many lists from players of this era. They're extremely popular and noteworthy collectibles. Rival Michael Jordan's—who allowed Hakeem to collect back-to-back titles when he announced his first retirement—most expensive basketball card is his own Red Metal Universe.
If there's one thing I've learned from writing these card lists, it's that a PSA MINT value of 5 is not good. The fact this card still reached a price of $12,900 is incredible in its own right.
