Two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon has been selected by the NBA to serve as the league’s ambassador to Africa.

Olajuwon who was born in Nigeria moved to the U.S. in the 1980s to play college ball for Houston and went on to play 17 seasons with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon won two NBA titles and achieved 3,830 blocks during his career.  [See top African basket ball players here]

NBA Players United said under this new role Olajuwon will work closely with the NBA Africa office in Johannesburg, and will have a prominent role in the development of basketball across the continent.  He will represent the NBA through a series of basketball events and NBA Cares initiatives aimed at developing the game, giving back to communities in need, and drawing attention to diplomacy through sport.

“Basketball has given me so much in life,” said Olajuwon.  “In this new role I am looking forward to impacting young Africans and utilizing the power of sport to help change lives in what is an exciting new chapter in my career.”

“This is the advantage of sports,” Olajuwon said.  “Sports are something everybody can gather over regardless of their differences to be able to give back to the community and the youth of the future.”