Hakeem Olajuwon, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 14-time All Star, and 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player, already has quite a list of accomplishments for one lifetime, but the Dream is on the verge of completing another lifelong goal—releasing his very own line of basketball shoes.
Sure we have already have Air Jordans, WADEs, and numerous other customizations by Nike and Adidas for various NBA players, but now it is time for DR34M brand to make its own mark on the shoe market.
Saturday, at Olajuwon's DR34M Mansion in the Houston area, the former Rockets star center will unveil the first basketball shoes from the 'Dream Shake' line.
"I'm very happy about it because for many years when I was playing I endorsed many shoe companies and I've always wanted to go from scratch, build my own brand," Olajuwon said to FOX 26 Houston. "I'm very excited to unveil the first Dream Shake shoe."
This isn't Olajuwon's first dip into the clothing market, since 2010 the Hall of Famer has been running the DR34M luxury designer brand and since 2013 has been running the business out of his restored 1930's mansion in the Houston area, where customers can come in by appointment and have a master tailor guide them through the purchasing experience.
Olajuwon's first basketball shoe line, which he said took two years before he was ready to launch it, won't be any different, but it will be the first time customers will be invited to stop by without an appointment from 11 am to 2pm Saturday to buy the 'Dream Shake' shoes priced at $185.
"It's the beginning of something I've always wanted to do, this is the beginning of the realization of my dream," Olajuwon said. "This dream of mine to be able to design your own shoe, pick your own material and create the first one."
If owning the inaugural 'Dream Shake' shoes aren't enough, customers purchasing the new gear during Saturday's unveiling will receive a free photo opportunity with Olajuwon or he will autograph one of the items bought.
Olajuwon's first collection of shoes come in black, blue, red, orange and back, and yellow and red--which is to represent the classic Rockets colors from his championship seasons in Houston.
