On the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, Boardroom co-founder and 2026 NBA All-Star Kevin Durant sits down with Houston Rockets icon and Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
In a wide-ranging conversation, the two Rockets legends swap stories regarding basketball, greatness, and the evolution of the game.
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“I’ve been inspired by the grace,” Durant said in explaining how Olajuwon inspired him. “I’m grateful. I had family members that introduced me to the NBA. I was a kid outside just playing, but being introduced to the standard of a basketball player — my mom’s a big fan of you, aunts and uncles are big fans of you, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal. That introduced me to what greatness looks like.”
Olajuwon, a two-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), opens up to Durant regarding his unlikely path to basketball; his legendary battles with the Showtime-era Los Angeles Lakers; and the modern players he admires.
That latter list includes the likes of Durant; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a pair of superstar centers in Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers).
Among many other topics in the 26-minute interview, Durant and “The Dream” break down the league’s historic 1984 draft class; the value of pickup basketball; and what it takes to dominate in the post.
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The complete episode can be viewed below.
More: Kevin Durant passes Dirk Nowitzki for No. 6 in all-time NBA scoring
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Kevin Durant finds inspiration in Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon