Hakeem Olajuwon, then known as Akeem Olajuwon, was in his fourth season in the NBA in 1987 and already considered one of the league’s most talented big men. In the 1986-87 season, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to a 42-40 record, good for a fourth-place finish in the Midwest Division.

 Olajuwon’s numbers in the regular season reflected his dominance. He averaged 23.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. His performance earned him a spot on the All-NBA First Team, as well as the All-Defensive First Team.

 In the playoffs, Olajuwon was even more impressive. In the first round against the Seattle SuperSonics, he averaged 32.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. In Game 5 of the series, Olajuwon put together one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history, scoring 49 points, grabbing 25 rebounds, and blocking 6 shots in a 128-125 win.

 The Rockets then faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, where Olajuwon faced off against Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest players in NBA history. Olajuwon continued to shine, averaging 27.6 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in the series. However, the Rockets ultimately fell to the Lakers in five games.

 Despite the playoff loss, Olajuwon’s incredible performance did not go unnoticed, and he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the season. He also finished second in MVP voting behind Magic Johnson.

 In conclusion, the 1986-87 NBA season was a breakout year for Hakeem Olajuwon, as he established himself as one of the league’s premier players. His dominant regular season and incredible playoffs showcase why the NBA named him one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.