E

Ewing, Patrick - A rival center who spent the first 15 years of his NBA career with the New York Knicks before being dealt to the Seattle SuperSonics prior to the 2000-2001 season. Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas defeated the UH Cougars for the 1984 NCAA championship. Hakeem returned the favor by winning the 1994 NBA championship over Ewing's Knicks.

F

Fifty Greatest Players - Hakeem was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in November of 1996.

Final Four Most Oustanding Player - Olajuwon received this award for his performance in the 1983 NCAA Final Four. He was the 10th player to win the award as a member of the losing team. In two games, he scored 41 points, grabbed 40 rebounds and blocked 19 shots against Louisville and North Carolina State.

First NBA Basket - Hakeem scored his first NBA basket by grabbing an offensive rebound and following it up with a four-foot jumper against the Dallas Mavericks. Hakeem finished the game with 24 points and nine rebounds in the Rockets' 121-111 win.

Fitch, Bill - Two-time NBA Coach of the Year. Coached the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA championship. Led the Houston Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals. One of the 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA history. Head coach of the Rockets when Hakeem Olajuwon joined the team in 1984. Hakeem gives his first NBA coach credit for drilling into his mind the work ethic necessary to establish himself in the league. Fitch helped him to start reaching his potential by never letting him coast and always requiring him to do his best.

Fonde Recreation Center - The gym where during the summers Hakeem honed his skills against Moses Malone, the reigning NBA MVP. Most of the 1981-82 Houston Cougars prepared for the upcoming season by going against then-Rockets players Malone, Allen Leavell, Robert Reid, Tom Henderson and Major Jones.

G

Games Played - Hakeem owns the Rockets franchise record for most games played with 1,119 entering the 2000-2001 season. On March 3, 1998 Hakeem played in his 1,003rd game with the Rockets, breaking the mark previously held by Calvin Murphy.