As if Houston’s stunning comeback victory over Duke in the men’s NCAA Final Four wasn’t dramatic enough, a bit of controversy added more buzz to the end of the game.
Following the Cougars’ 70-67 win at the Alamodome on Saturday night, cameras captured a tense moment between NBA legend and Houston alum Hakeem Olajuwon and a security guard. Olajuwon appeared to be trying to join the team on the court to celebrate, but the guard blocked his path.
Olajuwon, who famously led Houston to three straight Final Four appearances from 1981 to 1984 and later had a Hall of Fame career with the Houston Rockets, looked visibly frustrated—likely because the security personnel didn’t recognize him.
Maybe “The Dream” needed to break out a signature spin move to get by.
Fans were understandably upset about the incident.
Olajuwon is expected to return to San Antonio for Houston’s NCAA championship matchup against Florida on Monday night. If the Cougars clinch their first-ever national title, we’ll see if he makes it onto the court this time.