"I Don't Spend $100,000 On Training, Not Even With Hakeem Olajuwon" - Credit Neemias Queta For Not Falling For The Classic Hakeem Olajuwon Workout Scam Even After Signing His Big Extension
Brian Babineau. Getty Images.By all accounts, the development and breakout season of Neemias Queta was one of the best storylines of the Celtics season last year. From a player who was discarded by the Kings (thanks idiots!) to going through the Maine Celtics development program to then proving to not only be a starting caliber center at the NBA level, but a player who many thought should have been in the running for Most Improved Player last year. For a guy making the minimum, Neemy was AWESOME
At the trade deadline, Brad Stevens could barely contain himself when talking about how good Neemy had been to that point
and then this summer he rewarded his breakout big man with a very nice new 4/$56M extension
Not a bad raise for a guy who was playing on $2M a year if you ask me.
In most cases, when a guy gets a deal like that and for the first time in his career gets legit NBA money, you tend to see them go on a bit of a splurge. I imagine there's a big difference in living off $2M a year and then $12M+, and even though Queta's extension season begins in 2027-28, it wouldn't shock me if he splurged a little bit.
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As it turns out, it seems like the money hasn't changed him at all. In fact, according to Queta, he's been able to avoid the patented Hakeem The Dream Scam
Now you may be thinking that Queta is insane for passing up the opportunity to work with arguably one of the greatest to ever do it. A big man with footwork so elite and legendary that decades later he's been able to scam NBA players for as long as I can remember when it comes to his workouts. Year after year we see it happen
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Look, I'm not saying working out with legends of the game can't help you develop. But the fact remains that each and every summer Hakeem Olajuwon finds a way to continue scamming his way to the easiest money he'll ever make in his life. Year after year, we see the clips and then the season starts, and those same players rarely unleash anything close to the Dream Shake or anything of the sort. Hell, if Wemby actually used some of what he learned in that training, maybe he wouldn't have disappeared in every 4th quarter of the Finals and would be a champion right now.
Now I'm not sure how accurate that $100k per week price is, I've seen the $100K number in total for workouts, but either way Hakeem is making an absolute killing by running drop step and footwork drills. Not a bad life if you can get it, and hey as long as there are some players out there who will pay for it, why wouldn't you continue to do it?
Should Neemy bite the bullet and pay the price? Eh. He's basically 80% of the way there already
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and I'm sure if Queta wanted to improve his footwork/post moves, there are ways to do those things that don't cost you $100K. Just because he may have the money now following his extension doesn't mean he has to be stupid with it. Hell, just watch the YouTube highlights or something and then go out and practice.
Also, while it would be nice to have that element added/improved in Neemy's game, that is not exactly what I want him doing out there. His role is simple. Set good screens, roll to the rim hard, catch lobs, hit the offensive glass, and be active defensively. That is all I'm looking for with Queta. I do not have much interest in dumping the ball down low to him and letting him go to work in the post. Every once in a while? Sure. Maybe off an OREB? Go nuts. But in terms of what his role is on this Celtics team, he's better off saving his money.
In fact, the only training I really want Neemy doing is whatever he can to figure out how to defend without fouling. Maybe give KG a call or something. You give me a version of Queta that can stay on the floor and not immediately get into foul trouble, and I'd much prefer that over a player who still has foul issues but also has a kind of shitty Dream Shake that he'll probably never use anyway.
P.S.
Having said all this, I do want to stress that Hakeem in his prime was absolutely terrifying. Let's not overlook that fact. I wouldn't exactly drop $100K just to work out with him, but there's no denying his footwork was simply incredible