Olajuwon: 'I would never have accomplished what I did if I did not play against Moses'

Before Houston had "The Dream," basketball in the state of Texas was overseen by "The Chairman of the Boards."

In 1982, Hakeem Olajuwon - then known as Akeem - walked into the Fonde Rec Center. The lanky teenager from Nigeria, who had just completed his first season at the University of Houston, had yet to step foot onto a NBA court, and had logged only 8.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in his freshman year.

Nevertheless, the 19-year-old from Lagos was about to go head-to-head with a seasoned NBA veteran - fresh off an MVP season with the Rockets - from Petersburg, Va.

Despite being from entirely different worlds, the pair of big men quickly learned that they had something in common: a tireless work ethic.

"With Moses there were no rests, no breaks," Olajuwon said of his mentor, Moses Malone. "He was working every time down the court - scoring, rebounding or just making you feel his body. He would laugh when he slammed into you. If you tried to take a breath, he went by you or over you. There was no stop."

Malone - who died on Sunday - took an immediate shine to the young Olajuwon. However, he did not sugarcoat his blue-collar approach to training and in-game mentality.

"Ain't no secrets about playing basketball," Malone said in 2003. "Who wants the ball more? Who wants the shot? Who wants the rebound? Go get it.

"Don't matter if you play in the NBA or you're off a plane from Africa. It's the man who's the strongest, the man who won't give up on the play, the man who does more work."

This formula was indeed a successful one, and it enabled Malone to play in the NBA until age 40. He retired in 1995 after completing his 21st pro season with the San Antonio Spurs.

He would end his illustrious career with 27,409 points (eighth all-time) and 16,212 rebounds (fifth), adding three regular-season MVP awards, 12 All-Star appearances, and a championship - in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers - to his incredible resume.

In spite of all these impressive accomplishments, he would humbly assume the same "Do the work" mindset from the his early years until his last.

This consistency in on-court diligence is what inspired Olajuwon to grow into a legendary player in his own right.

"I would never have accomplished what I did if I did not play against Moses at Fonde," the 52-year-old Rockets icon said at his own Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2008. "I knew the rules. I knew the basics of the game and what you were supposed to do. But he is the one that taught me how to do it."

Olajuwon - who retired in 2002 - finished his career ranked tenth all-time in points scored (26,946), thirteenth in rebounds (13,748) and first in blocks (3,830).

Thanks, in part, to "Big Mo," Olajuwon's hoop dreams were realized.