Hakeem Olajuwon holds all top five spots as Houston’s leader for single-season blocks per game.
The Houston Rockets have had a number of legendary rim protectors suit up in Space City throughout their 59 years in the NBA. This article will dig into the greatest shot-blocking seasons in franchise history, with Hakeem Olajuwon filling out the entire list. Note that blocks did not become an official NBA stat until the 1973-74 season.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 1990, 4.6 BPG
Olajuwon blocked more than four shots per game in three separate campaigns, and his career-high 4.6 bpg he tallied in 1989-90 stands alone at the top of Houston’s all-time list. He added 24.3 points, a league-leading 14.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals across all 82 appearances, recording 68 double-doubles and four triple-doubles. The 7-footer had 37 outings with five or more swatted shots and four where he denied at least ten, including a career-best 12 blocks on one occasion, and his 376 total blocks are the most in a single season in franchise history. At age-27 in his sixth season, Olajuwon earned All-Defensive First Team honors, All-NBA Second Team, received his sixth consecutive All-Star nod, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Dennis Rodman.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 1992, 4.3 BPG
A couple seasons later, Olajuwon suited up for 70 games with the Rockets en route to averages of 21.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 4.3 blocks a night. ‘The Dream’ compiled 56 double-doubles and 33 outings with five or more blocks, but it was one of three seasons during his 17-year tenure where Houston didn’t qualify for the postseason. He made his seventh All-Star appearance and placed sixth in the DPOY race. With his 4.3 bpg, Olajuwon made it four straight years where he blocked at least 3.4 shots, a figure he reached in six of his first eight professional campaigns.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 1993, 4.2 BPG
In 1992-93, a 30-year-old Olajuwon erupted to the tune of a then career-high 26.1 points along with 13.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.2 blocks in 82 appearances. The two-time NBA champion with the Rockets led the league in blocks for the third and final time in his storied 18-year career, with his 342 total swats placing second on Houston’s all-time single-season list. Olajuwon was awarded with the DPOY honors, All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team selections, made his eighth All-Star team, and finished a close second to Charles Barkley for the Most Valuable Player trophy.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 1991, 3.9 BPG
Despite appearing in only 56 contests (50 starts) in 1990-91, Olajuwon posted a league-leading 3.9 blocks per game while chipping in 21.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals. The 2008 Hall of Fame inductee averaged at least two blocks and two steals per game in five different seasons, with 1990-91 being his final campaign to hit those marks. No other player in NBA history has achieved that feat more than once. ‘Little Moses’ spent all but one of his 18 years as a pro in Houston, from 1984 to 2001, before playing his final season with the Toronto Raptors in 2001-02. Across 1,238 total games, the Lagos, Nigeria native amassed averages of 21.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg and 3.1 bpg.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 1994, 3.7 BPG
Olajuwon, who was the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Rockets, produced perhaps his best season after a decade in the league in 1993-94. He averaged 27.3 points, 11.9 boards, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.7 blocks across 80 games, earning him MVP and DPOY honors. Olajuwon’s incredible regular-season stats were overshadowed by his playoff numbers, when he registered a league leading 28.9 ppg with 11.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.7 spg and 4.0 bpg in 23 outings. He was a significant factor in helping Houston win their first-ever championship that year and their second the following year (1994-95), taking home Finals MVP in back-to-back title runs. When he finally decided to retire after his age-39 season, Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, two-time rebounding champ, three-time blocks champ, nine-time All-Defensive, two-time DPOY winner, the 1993-94 MVP, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
