Olajuwon and Mutombo: Compare and Contrast

Without a doubt, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo are NBA greats and have contributed in different ways in basketball. But how do this duo differ in terms of worthy causes? And how are they similar in terms of playing the sport when it comes to setting records and winning championships?

Olajuwon is a devoted moslem, and his background are family, culture and tradition. He grew up in Lagos, a city compared to New York for being conjested and noisy. Played a little bit of basketball in his native land before enrolling at University of Houston for a full basketball scholarship.

Selected in 1996 as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. A member of the Houston Rockets' 1994 and 1995 back to back NBA champion teams, earning finals MVP honors both seasons, and also appeared in the 1986 NBA Finals. Olajuwon became the first NBA player in NBA history to accumulate both 2,000 blocks and 2,000 steals with a steal against Seatle on November 20, 1999. Closed the 1997-98 season as the Rocket's all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and ranks third in assists. Named to the 1984-85 NBA All-Rookie Team, was runner-up in the Rookie of the Year Voting after averaging 20.6 ppg, 11.9rpg and 2.68 bpg.

Mutombo was born Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Muhamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He's NBA's first four time recipient of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (1995, 1997,1998, 2001). He was voted to the All-NBA Defensive Team three times (1997, 1998, 2001). He was honored with the President's Service Award in 1999 and the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001. He created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, a charitable organization established to improve the health, education and quality of life for people in his homeland of Kinshasha. His foundation focal point has been the construction and opening of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center named after his late mother.

Both Olajuwon and Mutombo played basketball and set records in their own standards but they were totally different in their endeavors. Olajuwon, a moslem and reserved; Mutombo, very outspoken, pragmatic, diligent and did all he could for worthy causes. Olajuwon speaks dialectic Yoruba and English. Mutombo speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and five African dialects.