As if Houston's incredible comeback win against Duke in the Final Four of the men's NCAA tournament wasn't dramatic enough, there was a little extra controversy sprinkled in at the end of the game.
After the Cougars' 70-67 win in the Alamodome on Saturday night, cameras caught NBA legend and Houston alum Hakeem Olajuwon trading words with a security worker on the floor. It looked like Olajuwon wanted to go onto the court to celebrate the victory with the Cougars squad, but the security person wasn't letting him.
Olajuwon, who led Houston to the Final Four in each of his three collegiate seasons from 1981 to '84 and went on to the enjoy a Hall of Fame career with the Rockets, seemed pretty annoyed that the security person didn't know who he was.
Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't allowed to join Houston's Final Four celebration
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 7, 2025
(via @ChancellorTV) pic.twitter.com/yiSHGQzhcL
Maybe The Dream should have pulled a spin move on the security guy.
Fans were understably irate about the incident:
C’monnnnn Man.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 7, 2025
You let The Dream on the court.
What are we doing here… https://t.co/XyDQGSI9tE
Oh hell nah Dream you need to stop being Muslim for a second and ask that guy “What did the 5 fingers say to the face?” https://t.co/5neE6VgoDS
— Vernon Maxwell (@VernonMaxwell11) April 7, 2025
This guy should never be allowed to work a sporting event. This is embarrasing. https://t.co/5j4okSq06B
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) April 7, 2025
No matter how bad your life is going, you're not the security guy at the Houston game that didn't know who Hakeem Olajuwon is. https://t.co/i9AGXQmtUY pic.twitter.com/jcU1j2sW7b
— U.S. Secretary of Common Sense (@ScottButtram) April 7, 2025
imagine being the guy caught on camera denying HAKEEM OLAJUWON from joining his alma mater on the court. that is absolute foolishness. my word. https://t.co/bC27HWSTyh
— rori 🫧 (@roricait) April 7, 2025
Imagine disrespecting the person that put Houston basketball on the map. https://t.co/hK0UelWAae
— Luul 🍉 (@RealZamzampappi) April 7, 2025
I love how Dream is too sweet and polite to cause a ruckus, but still manages to have an unmistakable "do you know who the hell I am?" expression on his face. https://t.co/aZnmqooEnf
— Ben Watanabe (@BenjeeBallgame) April 7, 2025
First guy who's ever defended the Dream Shake. https://t.co/03TmwSoIh9
— Matt Mosley (@mattmosley) April 7, 2025
Olajuwon will reportedly be back in San Antonio for Houston's NCAA title game against Florida Monday night. We'll see if he can storm the court then, assuming the Cougars take home their first-ever national championship.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Hakeem Olajuwon Being Barred From Houston’s Final Four Celebration Had Fans Fuming.
