The League: Lebron Working On His Post Game With Hakeem Olajuwon
Count LeBron James(notes) as the latest notch in Hakeem Olajuwon’s attempt to tutor each member off the All-NBA team.
Olajuwon’s tutoring gig with Dwight Howard(notes) didn’t result in any startling difference in Howard’s offensive game last season. Dwight did establish a career high in points per game, and he did look more comfortable trying more complicated low-post maneuvers, but you could also chalk that up to a 25-year-old inching closer to his prime. Though Hakeem thinks it may have had to do with Orlando’s offense. The Houston Rockets Hall of Famer also has worked with Kobe Bryant(notes), though we haven’t seen many Dream Shakes emanating from the future Hall of Famer from Los Angeles. Chalk that up to Kobe knowing every move, ever.
This isn’t to say that Olajuwon isn’t making a difference. And LeBron, smartly, wants a piece.
From the Associated Press:
He’s also trying to deliver on his vow to be even better whenever the Heat resume play, saying he’s been in Houston at times this offseason to learn post play from one of the game’s all-time greats, former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon.
“I look at what he was able to do throughout his career,” James said. “Unbelievable talent. Multiple champion. Just to see how he was able to dominate in the low post, for me as an individual, I just try to look at some of the things I feel I need to get better at and hit home at it. Our team becomes better if I continue to get better and that’s what it’s about.”
Next step, Hakeem? There are two-dozen NBA teams out there without All-NBA talent in their lineup that wouldn’t mind if you could teach their starting center how to dribble and chew gum at the same time.