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HOUSTON -- Hakeem Olajuwon will have to deal with an
immediate setback before he even starts his final NBA season.
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| Olajuwon |
Olajuwon will be
sidelined for the rest of the preseason with a strained tendon in his left foot, ESPN learned Friday.
An MRI taken Friday confirmed the strained tendon, but did not reveal anything more serious. The Rockets are hopeful that Olajuwon will return for the season opener Nov. 2 at home against the Bucks.
Olajuwon, 37, suffered the injury during the first quarter of
Thursday's preseason game against Portland and did not return.
The Rockets will likely use Kelvin Cato, a defensive specialist,
and rookie Jason Collier, a first-round pick in the 2000 draft,
at center in Olajuwon's absence.
One of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, Olajuwon missed 48 games
last season due to an assortment of injuries and illnesses. As
a result, he averaged career lows of 10.3 points and 6.2
rebounds.
After the injury-plagued campaign, Olajuwon announced his 17th
NBA season with the Rockets would be his last. Unfortunately, it
begins with yet another injury.
In the twilight of a superstar career, Olajuwon has not been the
same since undergoing knee surgery two years ago and underwent
hernia surgery and was also sidelined with recurring respiratory
problems last season.
The Rockets reportedly discussed the possibility of trading
Olajuwon prior to the 1999-2000 season. The Toronto Raptors
expressed the most interest, but the Rockets opted to turn down
the offer.
With Olajuwon sidelined and fellow superstar Charles Barkley
forced to retire due to injuries injuries last season, the
Rockets failed to make the playoffs for the first time since
1992.
The 7-foot, 255-pounder led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles
in 1994 and 1995, winning the Finals Most Valuable Player Award
both times.
A 12-time All-Star, Olajuwon earned MVP honors in 1994 when he
averaged 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.
One of the quickest big men in NBA history, Olajuwon had surgery
early in the 1997-98 season to repair a medial plica in his
knee.
Born in Nigeria, Olajuwon was the top overall pick in the 1984
draft. He became an American citizen and played for the United
States in the 1996 Olympics, winning a gold medal.
Information from SportsTicker was used in this report.
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