Houston basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon was caught in an awkward—and frankly, ridiculous—moment over the weekend as his alma mater, the University of Houston, punched its ticket to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game. Following the Cougars’ thrilling comeback victory over Duke, Olajuwon attempted to join the celebration on the court in San Antonio. The problem? Security didn’t recognize “The Dream.”
A video posted by reporter Chancellor Johnson shows Olajuwon trying to make his way onto the court to celebrate with the team, only to be stopped by a security guard who clearly didn’t realize he was denying a two-time NBA champion, 12-time All-Star, and the best player in Houston Cougars history. Even after someone from the team’s entourage attempted to intervene on his behalf, the security guard held his ground. The surreal moment left fans watching in disbelief.
This wasn’t just any fan trying to sneak onto the court. Olajuwon is Houston basketball. He helped lead the Cougars’ iconic Phi Slama Jama teams of the 1980s to multiple Final Fours and nearly won a national title himself. Now, decades later, with the Cougars back in the national spotlight, he wasn’t allowed to celebrate that moment with the players who are trying to finish what he started.
The internet quickly came to his defense. Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt summed up the mood perfectly, writing, “C’monnnnn Man. You let The Dream on the court. What are we doing here…”
While Olajuwon didn’t make it past security that night, you can bet if Houston wins the title on Monday night, there won’t be a person in the building who dares to stop him from joining the celebration. After all, for Cougar fans, this championship run is as much for the current team as it is for the legends who laid the foundation. And if there’s one person who deserves to be on the floor when that confetti falls, it’s Hakeem Olajuwon.
