Why do people underrate Hakeem so much?

No idea! Unstoppable on offense - dominant to use that word so falsely attributed to Shaq - and not only a dominant defender by being #1 all-time shot blocker, but also #8 all-time in steals. Steals!

Won a Championship even before getting old-man Drexler; so really had no other great, much less all-star.

#2 after Jordan in my book.

I love Olajuwon. Easily Top 5 center all time, and top 10 overall (gee, just goes to show how dominant centers have been in this league).

When you start getting into arguments between Hakeem, Kareem, Wilt, Bill, and Shaq though, it really comes down to what your criteria is, and there's nothing wrong with that, I think you're ever so slightly exaggerating Olajuwon's accomplishments, Kareem and Shaq were not in their primes when he played them, and you seem to ignore he only made the NBA Finals twice, and never played Jordan, so he's not an excuse for only 2 rings, but I agree in general that Hakeem is underrated by histpry

I've always assumed it was because he played in Houston and they never got much national press. If he played on a west coast team like the Lakers or an east coast team like Boston or the Knicks, he would get the respect he deserves. Hakeem was by far the greatest center I ever watched, but I'm only 40 so I haven't seen everything.

Players always get underrated by some people, as well as overrated by other people. As for why, there's too many people for there to be a unanimous list.

Olajuwon is not a lock for top 3 centers ever. He won 1 MVP and was top 4 four times. Compare that to Chamberlain, Russell, and Jabbar who have each won a minimum of 4 MVPs and have been top 4 a minimum of nine times. Chamberlain and Russell were better shot blockers but blocks weren't kept as a stat back then.

Cause a lot of people don't know what a great basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon was.

I would easily pick Kareem and Wilt over Hakeem. I don't see any argument that Hakeem is better. I personally would also pick Shaq ahead of Hakeem, but I can see arguments against that, they are very close.

I would never put him in my top 5, but would put him in my top 10, and I think that is the accurate ranking for him.

Those who argue that Hakeem was the greatest center of all time never watched Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

His first championship was shadowed by the OJ simpson case. I do agree though he was extremely underrated. Defensively he is the all time blocked shots leader. And Offensively, the dream shake which I could watch highlights of all day long. It's extremely sad nobody gives him the credit he deserves as an all time great.

I always say this about Hakeem

People are entitled to their opinion, I think Hakeem is the 5th or 6th best center of all time