| | HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets decided the best place for
ailing Hakeem Olajuwon is on the sidelines for two to three weeks.
Olajuwon has an asthma-like condition, which prevents him from
breathing properly during games, and coach Rudy Tomjanovich is
pleased the Rockets' star is taking time off.
|  | | Shooting over Hakeem Olajuwon has been a nightmare for Portland's Brian Grant, among others. |
"I feel relieved that he's in a safe situation because I don't
want to see anything happen to him," Tomjanovich said. "This
isn't a surprise, because he's been struggling with this."
Olajuwon, officially placed on the injured list Thursday, missed
22 games this season recovering from hernia surgery and has had his
playing time slowed by the respiratory problem. He played 16
minutes in Tuesday's loss to Cleveland with two points and four
rebounds but was fatigued early.
The Rockets reactivated forward Matt Bullard from the injured
list to replace Olajuwon. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Bullard missed
the last 10 games with back spasms. He averages seven points and
2.8 rebounds per game.
Tomjanovich said Olajuwon "has had moments where he looked like
he was recovering and making strides and then in that last game at
the first time-out, he just couldn't catch his breath. At that
point, I started thinking 'Just for his welfare, are we doing the
right thing by having this guy out there?'
"Because he's been through so many different ailments ... it
just hit me as concern for him as a person."
Team physician Dr. James Muntz wouldn't speculate if Olajuwon
would return this year or next season, the final year of his
contract. The regular season ends April 19.
"It's hard to answer that now," Muntz said. "What we'd like
to do is have him take off and see if he gets to feeling better. He
had some side effects from his previous medication, so we want to
try some things out."
Olajuwon, 37, was diagnosed March 1 with a disease that
restricts the flow of air through his bronchial passages during
heavy exercise, causing spasms in his lungs. He has been taking
medicine for the condition.
"Hakeem Olajuwon came in for a follow-up for his respiratory
status, and as you can see he's having some problems, so we asked
him to take some time off," Muntz said.
Muntz said Olajuwon's condition had not worsened, but had not
gotten better since the first diagnosis.
The breathing problem limited Olajuwon's playing time -- he has
played as much as half a game only once since the diagnosis. He is
averaging 24 minutes a game for the season, 13.4 below his career
average.
"If he was not playing basketball, he would not even know he
has this condition," Muntz said.
Olajuwon, the NBA's career leader in blocked shots and the
Rockets' leader in virtually every offensive category, said next
season will be his last. It also is the last of his contract, which
is worth $16.5 million.
Olajuwon's career averages were 23.6 points and 11.8 rebounds
beginning this season. He is averaging 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds this season. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Rockets physician Dr. Jim Muntz discusses Olajuwon's respiratory problems.
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