Basketball has never reached the same heights as it has in North America, but it could be about to if NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon has anything to do with it.
The former number one draft pick for the Houston Rockets has swapped the USA for Birmingham, and has brought with him the love he has for basketball. He is trying to emulate his love of the game in a Birmingham based basketball side called the COB Rockets.
The City of Birmingham Basketball Club was formed in 2003 to provide a pathway for Birmingham residents into basketball. The club consists of all age groups ranging from Under 11’s to a senior side, and their main base is at the Nechells Wellbeing Centre in the city. It has been a roaring success since it was introduced having just one team. Nowadays, there are 14 sides ranging from players aged between five and 18-years-old. The programme boasts over 300 participants and the 45 volunteers spend an average of 50 hours a week on the court.
The busiest time of the year for the club is between September and April; which is when the NBA season takes place. The Birmingham-based side contests 14 fixtures per weekend, with players travelling around the country, and the globe. This offers people that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to travel far and wide and reach the optimum level. It opens pathways to the players never mind of their ability level, ethnic background or disability.
The sport not only allows players to express themselves on the court by representing the Rockets but also sees them grow as people to contribute positively to the local community. The success of the club is unprecedented, and they now hold the Basketball England Club Mark accreditation. This recognises that the Rockets are a child-friendly and safe environment to grow and learn.
The club changed the name to the City of Birmingham Rockets in August 2017 to recognise the partnership with the Houston Rockets superstar Hakeem Olajuwon. The NBA great loves his new life in the second city. He said: “I love Birmingham because it has got such a great buzz and everyone is very friendly. As a practising Muslim, I feel at home here and often pray at different mosques in the city.”
Olajuwon also pinpointed it as the perfect city for basketball to make a difference. Speaking to the Huffington Post about the importance of the club, he said: “The kids come from all over Europe and are of different sizes and speak many different languages, but they all speak basketball.”
“They’re so happy to be here; there’s an energy here. This is just as a result of what we’ve been planning for a couple of years. To see the execution, and to see how well it’s organised, I just couldn’t be more proud.”
The club has had a profound effect on the players that have come through the door, and some of them have even gone on to become professional players, while some have gone on to further education and contribute to society positively through their jobs. Some of the past members of the club have taken up jobs as teachers, policemen, soldiers and writers, and the club is fundamentally a reason for creating positive role models that inspire future generations.
UPDATE (2021): Olajuwon has now moved back to Houston to spend time with his family. However, the legacy that he established in Birmingham remains to this day. His inspirational stay in the second city has played a hugely influential role on the next crop of basketball talent to come out of the city, and the impact that he made continues to inspire the next wave of talent.
