To say the Final Four clash between Houston and Duke was dramatic would be an understatement. The Cougars pulled off a nail-biting 70-67 comeback win in front of a roaring crowd at the Alamodome. But just when fans thought the action had peaked, a tense moment between NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon and an on-floor security guard stole the spotlight. Cameras caught the Hall of Famer getting stopped as he tried to step onto the court to join in on the celebration—and let’s just say, it didn’t go over well.
Naturally, fans were quick to react, especially given Olajuwon’s legendary connection to Houston. The man took the Cougars to the Final Four three straight times in the early ’80s and became an icon with the Rockets. So, watching him get blocked like a stranger was bizarre. Even more bizarre? The guard seemingly had no clue who “The Dream” was. And just like that, Olajuwon’s former teammate Vernon Maxwell jumped into the conversation.
During the All The Smoke podcast, ex-Warriors star Matt Barnes asked Maxwell about the incident and he gave an outrageous reaction.
“Yeah, these weird a– white folks down in San Antonio,” he said with a grin. “This Olajuwon, you gotta know who this mother f—er is. I thought my boy was gonna reach up and knock the s–t out of him like he did me.”
And Matt Barnes couldn’t help himself to react to Maxwell’s reaction. He reposted the clip on Instagram Story, adding, “@vernmonmaxwell11 must be stopped .” But here’s the kicker—this wasn’t even the wildest thing Maxwell suggested Olajuwon should’ve done.
Vernon Maxwell’s another outrageous advice for Hakeem Olajuwon
Now, if there’s one name that defines Houston basketball, it’s Hakeem Olajuwon. From leading the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA finals in the early ‘80s to winning two NBA titles with the Rockets, The Dream is more than just a local hero—he’s family. His basketball journey began right there with the Cougars after arriving from Nigeria, and ever since, that bond has been deeper than most.
So naturally, when Houston pulled off that gritty win over Duke in the Final Four, Olajuwon tried to join the celebration on the court. But just as he made his move, a security guard shut it down—completely unaware of who he was dealing with.
As the awkward clip spread online, Vernon Maxwell chimed in on X with a typically unfiltered reaction: “Oh hell nah Dream you need to stop being Muslim for a second and ask that guy ‘What did the 5 fingers say to the face?’”
Clearly, Maxwell wasn’t joking—he was actually telling Olajuwon to slap the guy. Of course, he wasn’t disrespecting Dream’s faith. Olajuwon, who embraced Islam during his NBA career, has always stood by non-violence.
But what about Dream’s take? When asked if the moment upset him, he played it cool: “No, I mean, the guy sometimes, people [make] bad judgment… I’m so glad we won, anyway. That’s all.” Then he added, “Also, the other security guy was telling me to go in. So, he’s rejecting the other guy’s authority. That was what was bad about it.”
Though, he did add with a smile, “I will push him out of the way” next time. Guess Maxwell’s advice isn’t totally off the table.
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