VIDEO: How Kobe, LeBron, Giannis sought my guidance — Hakeem Olajuwon

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us VIDEO: How Kobe, LeBron, Giannis sought my guidance — Hakeem Olajuwon Sports November 11, 2026 8:53 am FILE: Ex-Nigerian NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon

Nigerian basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon has revealed how NBA superstars, including the late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo, approached him for guidance to improve their basketball skills. Old photo of a young Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon made the revelation in an interview with CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, aired on November 9, 2026, in which he discussed his post-retirement involvement in mentoring some of the biggest names in basketball.

Asked about his work with notable players, the former Houston Rockets centre said he did not initially plan to become a mentor but that the players approached him.

“I didn’t plan that, they reached out to me. From LeBron, Kobe, Wembyama, Giannis,” he said.

He identified Bryant as the player who initiated the relationship, recalling how the late Los Angeles Lakers star contacted him to learn some of his trademark moves.

“Kobe started it. Kobe called me up in the summer time,” Olajuwon said.

Recalling his initial reaction to Bryant’s request, the Nigerian-born Hall of Famer said he was surprised that a player of the American’s calibre wanted to learn from him.

“They wanted to come down and work out with me. I said they was kidding. I said, because I said, Kobe, you got everything. You are Kobe. Right,” he recounted.

He said Bryant, however, insisted that he wanted to learn Olajuwon’s moves.

The two-time NBA champion also discussed his work with Wembanyama, the French San Antonio Spurs centre, explaining that their sessions focused on maximising the advantages of his height and technical ability. Wemby shared images of training session with Hakeem | Yahoo Sports/ExtraEyesImages

“First of all, you know, you look at how to leverage it. You have the height advantage, you have the skill. How do you leverage it to the max?” he said.

Olajuwon also spoke about working with Antetokounmpo, the Greek-Nigerian Milwaukee Bucks forward, particularly on improving his finishing ability.

Asked about the player, whose Nigerian roots connect him to Olajuwon, he said he enjoyed working on his skills.

“I enjoy working with this guy’s skill, how to finish, how to create space and dunk,” he said.

He explained that his sessions with the players were no longer about teaching basic basketball techniques but helping them identify and exploit scoring opportunities.

“So we’re not talking about basics now. We just talking about how to create opportunities. And these guys are so athletic when they get that, they get any space, bam,” he added.

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐊𝐨𝐛𝐞, 𝐋𝐞𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧, 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐎𝐥𝐚𝐣𝐮𝐰𝐨𝐧

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Born in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 21, 1963, Olajuwon played college basketball at the University of Houston before being selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft, details on the NBA website noted.

He spent most of his 18-season NBA career with the Rockets between 1984 and 2001 before joining the Toronto Raptors for his final season in 2001–02.

During his career, he won two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, earning the Finals Most Valuable Player award on both occasions.

Olajuwon was also named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1994, won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice and made 12 All-Star appearances.

The legend was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and also won an Olympic gold medal with the United States at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

While Olajuwon did not specify when he mentored the players, three of those he mentioned are still active in the NBA.

LeBron James currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, having joined the franchise ahead of the 2026–27 season after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers.

The four-time NBA champion has also won four Most Valuable Player awards and four Finals MVP honours, and is the league’s all-time leading scorer.

Wembanyama, a French international, plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

The 22-year-old centre, who was selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, has won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, two All-Star selections and the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, plays for the Miami Heat after his move from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Greek international, whose parents are Nigerian, is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA champion and Finals MVP. He also won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020.

Bryant, however, died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, aged 41.

The five-time NBA champion spent his entire 20-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two Finals MVP awards and the 2008 regular-season MVP honour.

He had retired from professional basketball in 2016, almost four years before his death, and was subsequently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.

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