Top NBA Players from Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler Lead List of Notable Cougars

Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon remains the most beloved figure in Houston basketball history for several reasons. As a star center, he was a key member of the “Phi Slama Jama” Houston team in the early 1980s, which made three consecutive Final Fours, though they never won the title. In 1984, the Houston Rockets selected Olajuwon as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, keeping him in the city for most of his NBA career. The Nigerian-born player spent 17 years with the Rockets, securing back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, earning two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and winning the 1993-94 MVP. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game during his career, which concluded with a brief stint in Toronto. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Clyde Drexler

Another standout from the “Phi Slama Jama” era, Drexler entered the NBA in 1983 after two Final Fours with the University of Houston. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th overall pick, Drexler never captured major awards but consistently ranked among the NBA’s best, averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists throughout his career. Drexler spent 12 years with the Trail Blazers, cementing himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. In 1995, he returned to Houston via trade and reunited with Olajuwon, winning an NBA title in 1995. Drexler retired in 1998 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.

Elvin Hayes

Before Olajuwon and Drexler, there was Hayes, the star of Houston’s first Final Four team in 1967. A two-time Player of the Year, Hayes remains Houston’s all-time leader in total points and points per game, averaging over 31 points per game during his college career. Drafted first overall by the San Diego Rockets in 1968, Hayes led the league in points per game during his rookie season. After the team moved to Houston in 1971, Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets, where he helped lead them to a championship in 1978. Hayes returned to Houston before retiring in 1984 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.