--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem…" description: "\"The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem Olajuwon. No one can guard Hakeem. And then, Kevin McHale.\" — John Salley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/john-salley-31644_guard_the-hardest-guy-i-had-to-guard-hakeem-ol_2768597.jpg" --- # The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem Olajuwon. No one… ![“The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem Olajuwon. No one can guard Hakeem. And then, Kevin McHale.” quote by John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/john-salley-31644_guard_the-hardest-guy-i-had-to-guard-hakeem-ol_2768597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/john-salley-31644_guard_the-hardest-guy-i-had-to-guard-hakeem-ol_2768597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/john-salley-31644_guard_the-hardest-guy-i-had-to-guard-hakeem-ol_2768597.jpg) > “The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem Olajuwon. No one can guard Hakeem. And then, Kevin McHale.” [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hakeem Olajuwon was unbeatable defensively, followed by Kevin McHale. **In simple terms:** Hakeem was impossible to guard; then Kevin. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect elite talent. Themes sports defense legendary players Mood admiring analytical Type sports motivational When to use this quote - coaching - player scouting - game analysis - fan discussion Key Concepts basketball history talent evaluation team strategy Questions to Reflect On - What makes a defender truly exceptional? - How can teams adapt to elite opponents? A Different Perspective Even legends have limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Around sixth or seventh grade, I fell in love with Tim Duncan and his all-around game. That's when I started watching him. 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You go from one to another, and they all blend in to a big mass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-can-t-remember-any-of-the-films-i-ve-done-you-go-from-one-to/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) Dan Carter > [I would love to play with Kevin Durant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/i-would-love-to-play-with-kevin-durant/) [Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/) > [Kevin James is going to do a couple of specials. One's called It's Getting Muggy In Here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/kevin-james-is-going-to-do-a-couple-of-specials-one-s-called-it-s/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [We have over an hour of footage with Ken Marino. Same with Kevin Smith. 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Because it would ruin my life. I would have to talk about it the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-would-hate-to-see-a-ufo-because-it-would-ruin-my-life-i-would-have/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) ## More by John Salley > [No one asks the cow or the chicken where it gets its protein. I eat about 4,000 or 5,000 calories a day, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/no-one-asks-the-cow-or-the-chicken-where-it-gets-its-protein-i-eat/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I explain to athletes, you're supposed to be a well-oiled machine. You're supposed to be in better shape than the people watching you. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-explain-to-athletes-you-re-supposed-to-be-a-well-oiled-machine-you/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [The thing about the NBA, any pro sport, is, guys don't know how to take care of their body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/the-thing-about-the-nba-any-pro-sport-is-guys-don-t-know-how-to-take/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I'm a Michael Jordan fan just like everyone else. I just don't think he's the greatest player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-m-a-michael-jordan-fan-just-like-everyone-else-i-just-don-t-think/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [If everyone knew how important it was to celebrate life, they would be a vegan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/if-everyone-knew-how-important-it-was-to-celebrate-life-they-would-be/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I eat a lot of kale, and I drink about half a gallon to a gallon of water a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-eat-a-lot-of-kale-and-i-drink-about-half-a-gallon-to-a-gallon-of/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I was a vegetarian first. I had high blood pressure at 27, everybody in my family died of cancer, and I knew it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-was-a-vegetarian-first-i-had-high-blood-pressure-at-27-everybody-in/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [If you're a professional athlete, and after the game, you're eating at the same place that somebody in the audience is eating at? You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/if-you-re-a-professional-athlete-and-after-the-game-you-re-eating-at/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [Any kind of blockage is heart disease; when you have a blood clot anywhere, that's heart disease. When Wilt Chamberlain died, strongest man I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/any-kind-of-blockage-is-heart-disease-when-you-have-a-blood-clot/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I think the greatest player I've ever played against was Magic Johnson. Next, was Larry Bird. Then, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-think-the-greatest-player-i-ve-ever-played-against-was-magic/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [There's no reason that America should be No. 1 in obesity; we have the greatest country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/there-s-no-reason-that-america-should-be-no-1-in-obesity-we-have-the/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [In 1981, when I went down to visit Georgia Tech, I watched Michael Jordan play and literally get ridiculed for taking a jump shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/in-1981-when-i-went-down-to-visit-georgia-tech-i-watched-michael/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I went into raw vegan for a while, but I prefer cooked food, the way it smells, the way it feels going through your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-went-into-raw-vegan-for-a-while-but-i-prefer-cooked-food-the-way-it/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [You fouled a guy who needs to be fouled. If he's going to the basket, you don't give a knick-knack foul and then argue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/you-fouled-a-guy-who-needs-to-be-fouled-if-he-s-going-to-the-basket/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [I'm John Salley, and I'm a vegan. I'm a vegan because I'm only four pounds heaver than I was in 1989.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/i-m-john-salley-and-i-m-a-vegan-i-m-a-vegan-because-i-m-only-four/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) [Explore all 16 John Salley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) ## More Guard quotes > [There's always a good point guard in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/there-s-always-a-good-point-guard-in-this-league/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [You don't have to run from baseline to baseline when you play guard. That helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/you-don-t-have-to-run-from-baseline-to-baseline-when-you-play-guard/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [“Some, in an effort to protect and preserve the gospel message, have become like the guards in that museum, fueled by fear that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-hipps/some-in-an-effort-to-protect-and-preserve-the-gospel-message-have/) Shane Hipps > [Well, for me, my favourite 'Indiana Jones' is 'The Last Crusade,' because you get tears in your eyes when you see the old guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-winstone/well-for-me-my-favourite-indiana-jones-is-the-last-crusade-because/) [Ray Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-winstone/) > [I don't know how many people have ever seen the National Guard break in somewhere, but they mean business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzie-smith/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-have-ever-seen-the-national-guard-break/) [Ozzie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzie-smith/) > [I still say, to this day, I could not guard Nigel Lloyd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-still-say-to-this-day-i-could-not-guard-nigel-lloyd/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [I can't think of much higher praise to give a player than to say, 'This point guard reminds me of Jason Kidd.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/i-can-t-think-of-much-higher-praise-to-give-a-player-than-to-say-this/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [Who will guard the guards ? If we're the guards of society, then who will watch us and make sure that we're not dangerous?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/who-will-guard-the-guards-if-we-re-the-guards-of-society-then-who/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [I can always make trouble for who I guard and control the effort I bring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/i-can-always-make-trouble-for-who-i-guard-and-control-the-effort-i/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [Defensively, I think I'm very versatile, I can guard different positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/defensively-i-think-i-m-very-versatile-i-can-guard-different-positions/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) Browse all 567 Guard quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hardest guy I had to guard: Hakeem Olajuwon. No one can guard Hakeem. 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