HOUSTON, Texas -- Hakeem Olajuwon came through, the dream came true and the Houston Rockets are NBA champions.
The Rockets pulled out a dramatic 90-84 Game 7 win against the New York Knicks Wednesday to lay claim to their first NBA title - and first in any major league pro sport for the city of Houston.
Olajuwon was a unanimous pick as most valuable player. He thus completed a dream season in which he became the first player in NBA history to be regular-season MVP, Finals MVP and defensive player of the year, in addition to making the all-NBA first team and winning the championship. "I'm proud, I'm honored, I'm happy and I'm tired," he said.
Olajuwon led the Rockets with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Vernon Maxwell scored 21, including eight of Houston's last 10, and harassed John Starks into a 2-for-18 disaster.
The Knicks, who played a record 25 playoff games, failed in their bid to bring New York a second championship trophy. The Rangers won hockey's Stanley Cup last week.
