On This Day (Jan. 21)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on January 21.

Hakeem Olajuwon’s Birthday

On this day in 1963, Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria. A 12-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, one-time MVP, and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and 3.1 BPG in 1,238 career games.

Since the NBA began tracking steals and blocks in 1973-74, Olajuwon is the only player to reach career totals of 2,000 steals and 2,000 blocks. Olajuwon is also the only player to record at least 200 steals and 200 blocks in a season (1988-89).

Olajuwon is the only player to rank in the top 15 on the NBA’s all-time lists for points (12th), rebounds (14th), steals (10th), and blocks (first).

Since the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award was first handed out in 1982-83, Olajuwon is the only player to be named MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season (1993-94). He and Kawhi Leonard are the only players to win the Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP Awards multiple times.

Olajuwon is one of only four players in NBA history to officially record a quadruple-double:

• Nate Thurmond (Oct. 18, 1974)

• Alvin Robertson (Feb. 18, 1986)

• Hakeem Olajuwon (March 29, 1990)

• David Robinson (Feb. 17, 1994)