One of the NBA’s greatest players of all time is condemning Donald Trump in light of the Republican presidential candidate’s comments about Muslims.
Hakeem Olajuwon, a former NBA MVP and two-time champion, is a devout Muslim, and he could not believe Trump’s stance.
“That kind of statement is not worthy of a president. I don’t think it was too wise a statement,” the former Rockets center told the Houston Chronicle. “It is a complex question. It is something so complex and that just gave it a generic answer to a complex question.
“I do not believe that we have come this far that that kind of statement would come out when discussing that kind of issue today,” Olajuwon said. “I think we passed that a long time ago.”
In response to the San Bernardino mass shooting, Trump in early December called for a ban of Muslims entering the country.
“Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” Trump said in a written statement.
Olajuwon was born in Nigeria but became a US citizen in 1993. Religion is a central part of his life. He was known for observing the month of Ramadan even during the NBA season, often playing games despite fasting until sundown. Clearly he and many others are dissatisfied with Trump’s remarks. Tom Brady, on the other hand, seems to feel differently about Trump.
