words & image // Zack Schlemmer
Hakeem Olajuwon was the #1 Pick of the 1984 NBA Draft which many would consider the greatest draft class of all time. In a draft that included Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Charles Barkley, Alvin Robertson and John Stockton, it's easy to see why. Hakeem, who at the time of this ad still went by "Akeem", was selected first in this stacked draft class and went on to become one of the greatest centers of all time.
As far as sneakers go, Hakeem will go down as having one of the most random groups of shoe sponsors in the NBA (probably right behind Latrell Sprewell and Vince Carter) with Etonic, Spalding, and LA Gear. In this awesome two page ad we get a look at the full spread of LA Gear basketball shoes from 1989-90 including Hakeem's Fire High and Kareem Abdul Jabbar's signature shoe. Also note the MVP-1, which looks suspectly similar to the Air Jordan IV.
Do your predict that tonight's #1 pick Anthony Davis' career be as successful as Hakeem's? Would you rock any of these LA Gears? Discuss in the comments below.
