Dream gets rock-star welcome
Hakeem Olajuwon made a rare appearance at Rockets practice Monday, eliciting a variety of reactions that ranged from point guard Chris Paul saying he wanted to chat about low-post play to coach Mike D’Antoni joking that he dreamed about having a few minutes available for the 55-yearold Hall of Famer, who played 17 seasons with the Rockets.
For forward Luc Mbah a Moute, visiting with Olajuwon has a more personal meaning since the Rockets legend helped inspire Mbah a Moute’s career. Mbah a Moute, a native of Cameroon, said he always uses the examples of Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo coming out of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively, when he speaks to young players in Africa about fulfilling their basketball dreams.
“They set the example,” Mbah a Moute said. “When I say they, Hakeem and Dikembe, to name those two pioneers, they are the reason why we’re here. You can name Manute Bol as well. I think all African players, we all looked up to him. They paved the way, especially him because he went to college here, him and Dikembe. They pretty much paved the way for guys like me to be here. I’ve always looked at him as an inspiration to pave the way with kids I’ve been involved with.”
Mbah a Moute, who has been involved in his own camp in Cameroon and with the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program, helped discover Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid, a fellow Cameroonian.
Mbah a Moute said he has gotten to know Olajuwon, who attends Rockets home games and often stops by the locker room.
“It’s great,” Mbah a Moute said. “You see him at the games, you kind of get used to it. For me, it’s still special to see him walk in, knowing what he represents.”
Harden receives weekly honor
Guard James Harden on Monday was named Western Conference player of the week for a second consecutive week, the fifth time this season and the 18th time in his career.
All of the commendations have come since he was traded to the Rockets from Oklahoma City in 2012.
The five selections this season for Harden are the most for a Rockets player in a single season, surpassing Tracy McGrady’s four selections in 2004-05.
Harden averaged 33 points, 6.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.25 steals while making 39.1 percent of his 3-pointer attempts as the Rockets went 4-0.
Harden, who is averaging a 31.3 points per game, is on pace to surpass Moses Malone as the team’s single-season scoring leader and join (1988-89) as the only players to average at least 30 points, eight assists, five rebounds and 1.7 steals in a season since steals became an official NBA statistic in 1973-74.
Wright signed for rest of year
Center Brandan Wright has been signed for the remainder of the season. The planned addition of forward Joe Johnson was not completed as the Rockets wait for him to clear waivers following his buyout agreement with the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
The team released guard Bobby Brown, who had been re-signed Friday though the move was not announced, to create room to sign Wright, a person with knowledge of the transactions said.