Home » Kenny Smith Picks Hakeem Olajuwon Over Shaquille O’Neal, Claims He’s A Clint Capela On Steroids

Kenny Smith Picks Hakeem Olajuwon Over Shaquille O’Neal, Claims He’s A Clint Capela On Steroids

by David Guillermo
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Photo Credit: Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images

Kenny Smith Picks Hakeem Olajuwon Over Shaquille O’Neal, Claims He’s A Clint Capela On Steroids

 

If there was a common connection to both Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, it would be ‘NBA on TNT’ host Kenny Smith who currently works with Shaq, and was a former teammate of Olajuwon.

In an interview with Mark Carman of FanSided, Smith was asked if he drafted O’Neal or Olajuwon if they were both coming out of college; Smith gave an easy answer and resorted with his former teammate with whom he won two NBA championships.

 

“In my era and this era I’m going with the guy who got me two rings, I’m going with Hakeem,” the former Rockets guard said. 

 

While a lot of talented centers roamed the 90s NBA, Olajuwon was a center that stood out among the rest. On top of his championships, Olajuwon displayed a unique skillset for a big man. He was way ahead of his time with his series of post-up skills and ability to knock down jump shots.

So when Smith answered the question, the former Rockets point guard gave emphasis on his ability to shoot the three, which modern-day centers are doing right now. Smith eventually claimed that Olajuwon is a Clint Capela on steroids during his explanation.

 

“Because I know Hakeem would have moved out and shot the 3 ’cause he had the nice jumper. So even in this era he would have probably started shooting 3s. He would have been like Clint Capela on steroids. He would have been something different.”

 

Olajuwon and Smith won two rings during their tenure as teammates. One of these rings came against the Orlando Magic who was led by a young Shaq and Penny Hardaway in the 1995 NBA Finals.

Olajuwon has established himself as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game on 51.2% shooting from field during his 18-year career playing for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors.

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