Hakeem Olajuwon to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Olajuwon fans. Speculation had been rife that two-time NBA champion with the Rockets is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 63, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/10/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a basketball player isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a basketball player just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouHakeem

For a little while on Tuesday evening, #ThankYouHakeem was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Hakeem Olajuwon was unlike any other basketball player we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouHakeem”
— @universalObserver, 20 Oct 2026

“Olajuwon wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 Oct 2026

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