LAGOS, NIGERIA — A dusty storage box in a family-owned Lagos mosque has reignited one of basketball’s most heated debates — and may rewrite the legacy of Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon.
Inside that box? A VHS tape labeled “Dream Game — Ramadan 1995.”
What’s on it has sports analysts buzzing: a 45-point, 19-rebound, 9-block performance by Hakeem during the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs — all while fasting for Ramadan.
️ The Backstory
The tape was discovered by Imam Kareem Olajuwon, Hakeem’s cousin, while cleaning out storage rooms at the mosque where Hakeem spent time as a young man.
“I thought it was a family video,” Kareem said. “But when I watched it, my jaw dropped. It was Hakeem, dominating the Spurs — while playing with no water, no food, during Ramadan. The whole family remembered the game, but not like this.”
The Lost Game
The game in question? Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Finals, played on May 22, 1995, in San Antonio. Olajuwon posted 43 points in the official box score — but this footage appears to be a personal angle recorded from floor level by a Nigerian journalist who was traveling with the family.
What makes the video different isn’t just the stats — it’s the raw, behind-the-scenes footage:
- Hakeem praying during halftime
- Assistant coach Larry Smith wiping sweat off Olajuwon’s neck as he crouches between timeouts
- Rudy Tomjanovich whispering, “You’re carrying us tonight, Dream”
The footage also captures David Robinson — then MVP of the league — visibly overwhelmed, gasping, and shaking his head.
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“Better Than the Flu Game”?
When ESPN’s Jay Bilas and Jalen Rose were shown the footage for an upcoming Netflix documentary, both responded with the same word: “Unbelievable.”
“I love MJ’s Flu Game,” Rose said, referencing Jordan’s iconic 1997 Finals performance. “But Hakeem was fasting, blocking, leading, and never flinched. The energy, the grace—it was like watching ballet in battle boots.”
The tape has since been verified by David Weiner, a Rockets historian and blogger, who confirmed its authenticity via time stamps and jersey footage. “It’s 100% real. This might be the most spiritually powerful game ever played in the NBA,” he said.
️ Why It Matters
This discovery is reigniting praise for Olajuwon, often considered underrated in GOAT discussions. Fans on social media are already using the hashtag #DreamOverFlu, and basketball forums are flooded with comparisons to Jordan’s Flu Game.
Even LeBron James commented on an Instagram reel of the footage:
“Hakeem was DIFFERENT. That footwork + focus? Unreal.”
️ A Netflix Moment?
Netflix is reportedly working on a new docuseries titled “The Dream’s Dream: Faith, Fasting, and 45 Points” — with the recovered tape at its core. The pilot episode is expected to drop in fall 2025.
Whether this settles the GOAT debate is unclear. But one thing’s certain:
The Dream’s most legendary game wasn’t lost. It was waiting.
