Houston Rockets
Roster

Apr 14, 2001

MEM 95

HOU 100

Boxscore

Apr 17, 2001

HOU 114

MIN 87

Boxscore

Houston Rockets leaders

Season leaders

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Houston Rockets 2000-2001 stats

NBA

Player	Height	Age	Pts	Reb	Ast	GP	W-L	MIN	3P%	FG%	FT%	Or	Reb	Ast	Stl	To	Blk	Fo	Pts	Eff	PTS	REB	AST
Steve Francis	1m91	23	19.9	6.9	6.5	80	45-35	39.8	39.6%	45.1%	81.7%	2.4	6.9	6.5	1.8	3.3	0.4	3.4	19.9	22.7	36	15	13
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	19.5	5	2.5	79	44-35	37.9	35.7%	43.4%	83.1%	1.1	5	2.5	1.1	2.1	0.3	2.1	19.5	16.6	41	11	11
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	13	5.5	1.5	69	37-32	28.5	0%	48.9%	73.5%	1.6	5.5	1.5	0.4	1.8	0.6	3	13	12.6	34	14	5
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	11.9	7.4	1.2	58	32-26	26.6	0%	49.8%	62.1%	2.1	7.4	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.5	2.4	11.9	15.7	27	20	6
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	8.7	4.1	2.3	82	45-37	29.3	27.1%	44.6%	73.4%	0.9	4.1	2.3	1	1.6	0.5	2.5	8.7	10.3	26	11	7
Walt Williams	2m04	30	8.3	3.4	1.3	72	39-33	21.8	39.5%	39.4%	77%	0.4	3.4	1.3	0.4	1	0.4	2.1	8.3	8.1	28	10	6
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	7.1	5.6	1	74	39-35	24.6	27.2%	44.3%	72.2%	1.6	5.6	1	0.5	1.6	0.6	2.4	7.1	9.4	18	13	5
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	6.6	2.4	3.5	82	45-37	20.1	28.1%	44.6%	77.8%	0.5	2.4	3.5	0.8	1.3	0	1	6.6	8.7	28	8	9
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	5.8	2.1	0.7	61	31-30	16.2	40.4%	42.3%	71.4%	0.4	2.1	0.7	0.2	0.2	0.1	1.2	5.8	5.8	18	7	3
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	4.7	4	0.3	35	19-16	17.8	-	57.7%	64.9%	1.3	4	0.3	0.4	0.7	0.9	2.5	4.7	7.7	15	13	2
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	4.6	3.6	0.2	39	21-18	13.9	0%	68.8%	55.8%	1.2	3.6	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.8	4.6	7.2	22	12	2
Jason Collier	2m14	23	3.1	1.6	0.3	23	12-11	9.7	0%	38%	70.8%	0.5	1.6	0.3	0.1	0.5	0.1	1.2	3.1	2.5	12	4	2
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	2.7	1.2	0.1	33	17-16	7.3	0%	37.4%	55.2%	0.4	1.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0	0.5	2.7	1.8	13	5	1
Sean Colson	1m83	25	1.5	0.3	0.7	10	5-5	3	25%	31.6%	50%	0.2	0.3	0.7	0.1	0	0	0.6	1.5	1.1	6	1	6
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0	0	0	1	0-1	3	-	-	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Total			97.2	42	19.7	82	45-37	241.3	35.7%	45.3%	75.8%	11.2	42	19.7	7.2	13.9	4.4	20.2	97.2	107.1
Opponents			94.9	41.5	21.2	82	-	241.4	35.4%	44.9%	74.4%	12	41.5	21.2	7.4	12.9	4.9	21.6	94.9	105.9
Gap			2,3	0,5	-1,5	0	-	-0.1	0,3%	0,4%	1,4%	-0,8	0,5	-1,5	-0,2	1,0	-0,5	-1,4	2,3	1,2

Average
height 203 cm

Average
age 27 years old

Player	Height	Age	Pts	Reb	Ast	GP	W-L	MIN	2P	3P	FG	FT	Or	Reb	Ast	Stl	To	Blk	Fo	Pts	Eff
Steve Francis	1m91	23	1591	553	517	80	45-35	3180	417/883	133/336	550/1219	358/438	190	553	517	141	265	31	274	1591	1819
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	1538	397	195	79	44-35	2997	437/962	90/252	527/1214	394/474	83	397	195	84	165	26	169	1538	1308
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	899	378	104	69	37-32	1969	390/793	0/4	390/797	119/162	109	378	104	28	125	38	208	899	872
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	689	431	72	58	32-26	1543	283/567	0/1	283/568	123/198	124	431	72	70	81	88	141	689	909
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	710	333	188	82	45-37	2401	217/420	46/170	263/590	138/188	72	333	188	82	131	40	202	710	845
Walt Williams	2m04	30	599	245	97	72	39-33	1571	104/265	98/248	202/513	97/126	31	245	97	30	73	28	153	599	586
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	528	417	77	74	39-35	1820	181/373	25/92	206/465	91/126	122	417	77	40	116	43	178	528	695
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	544	198	283	82	45-37	1652	159/324	25/89	184/413	151/194	44	198	283	69	107	2	84	544	717
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	354	130	42	61	31-30	991	43/92	86/213	129/305	10/14	22	130	42	10	12	9	76	354	353
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	165	141	11	35	19-16	624	64/111	0/0	64/111	37/57	47	141	11	13	25	31	89	165	269
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	179	139	9	39	21-18	544	75/108	0/1	75/109	29/52	48	139	9	10	17	18	33	179	281
Jason Collier	2m14	23	71	37	6	23	12-11	222	27/70	0/1	27/71	17/24	12	37	6	2	11	3	27	71	57
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	90	41	4	33	17-16	241	37/98	0/1	37/99	16/29	13	41	4	7	8	1	16	90	60
Sean Colson	1m83	25	15	3	7	10	5-5	30	5/15	1/4	6/19	2/4	2	3	7	1	0	0	6	15	11
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0	0	0	1	0-1	3	0/0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total			7972	3443	1612	82	45-37	19788	2439/5081	504/1412	2943/6493	1582/2086	919	3443	1612	587	1136	358	1657	7972	8782
Opponents			7784	3407	1735	82	-	19798	2661/5718	359/1015	3020/6733	1385/1862	988	3407	1735	605	1055	400	1770	7784	8686
Gap			188	36	-123	0	-	-10	-222/-637	145/397	-77/-240	197/224	-69	36	-123	-18	81	-42	-113	188	96

Player	Height	Age	Pts	Reb	Ast	GP	W-L	MIN	3P%	FG%	FT%	Or	Reb	Ast	Stl	To	Blk	Fo	Pts	Eff	PTS	REB	AST
Steve Francis	1m91	23	18	6.3	5.9	80	45-35	36	39.6%	45.1%	81.7%	2.2	6.3	5.9	1.6	3	0.4	3.1	18	20.6	36	15	13
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	18.5	4.8	2.3	79	44-35	36	35.7%	43.4%	83.1%	1	4.8	2.3	1	2	0.3	2	18.5	15.7	41	11	11
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	16.4	6.9	1.9	69	37-32	36	0%	48.9%	73.5%	2	6.9	1.9	0.5	2.3	0.7	3.8	16.4	15.9	34	14	5
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	16.1	10.1	1.7	58	32-26	36	0%	49.8%	62.1%	2.9	10.1	1.7	1.6	1.9	2.1	3.3	16.1	21.2	27	20	6
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	10.6	5	2.8	82	45-37	36	27.1%	44.6%	73.4%	1.1	5	2.8	1.2	2	0.6	3	10.6	12.7	26	11	7
Walt Williams	2m04	30	13.7	5.6	2.2	72	39-33	36	39.5%	39.4%	77%	0.7	5.6	2.2	0.7	1.7	0.6	3.5	13.7	13.4	28	10	6
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	10.4	8.2	1.5	74	39-35	36	27.2%	44.3%	72.2%	2.4	8.2	1.5	0.8	2.3	0.9	3.5	10.4	13.7	18	13	5
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	11.9	4.3	6.2	82	45-37	36	28.1%	44.6%	77.8%	1	4.3	6.2	1.5	2.3	0	1.8	11.9	15.6	28	8	9
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	12.9	4.7	1.5	61	31-30	36	40.4%	42.3%	71.4%	0.8	4.7	1.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	2.8	12.9	12.8	18	7	3
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	9.5	8.1	0.6	35	19-16	36	-	57.7%	64.9%	2.7	8.1	0.6	0.8	1.4	1.8	5.1	9.5	15.5	15	13	2
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	11.8	9.2	0.6	39	21-18	36	0%	68.8%	55.8%	3.2	9.2	0.6	0.7	1.1	1.2	2.2	11.8	18.6	22	12	2
Jason Collier	2m14	23	11.5	6	1	23	12-11	36	0%	38%	70.8%	1.9	6	1	0.3	1.8	0.5	4.4	11.5	9.2	12	4	2
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	13.4	6.1	0.6	33	17-16	36	0%	37.4%	55.2%	1.9	6.1	0.6	1	1.2	0.1	2.4	13.4	9	13	5	1
Sean Colson	1m83	25	18	3.6	8.4	10	5-5	36	25%	31.6%	50%	2.4	3.6	8.4	1.2	0	0	7.2	18	13.2	6	1	6
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0	0	0	1	0-1	36	-	-	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	0	0	0	0
Total			14.5	6.3	2.9	82	45-37	36	35.7%	45.3%	75.8%	1.7	6.3	2.9	1.1	2.1	0.7	3	14.5	16

Player	Height	Age	Pts	Reb	Ast	GP	W-L	MIN	3P%	FG%	FT%	Or	Reb	Ast	Stl	To	Blk	Fo	Pts	Eff	PTS	REB	AST
Steve Francis	1m91	23	20	7	6.5	80	45-35	40	39.6%	45.1%	81.7%	2.4	7	6.5	1.8	3.3	0.4	3.4	20	22.9	36	15	13
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	20.5	5.3	2.6	79	44-35	40	35.7%	43.4%	83.1%	1.1	5.3	2.6	1.1	2.2	0.3	2.3	20.5	17.5	41	11	11
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	18.3	7.7	2.1	69	37-32	40	0%	48.9%	73.5%	2.2	7.7	2.1	0.6	2.5	0.8	4.2	18.3	17.7	34	14	5
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	17.9	11.2	1.9	58	32-26	40	0%	49.8%	62.1%	3.2	11.2	1.9	1.8	2.1	2.3	3.7	17.9	23.6	27	20	6
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	11.8	5.5	3.1	82	45-37	40	27.1%	44.6%	73.4%	1.2	5.5	3.1	1.4	2.2	0.7	3.4	11.8	14.1	26	11	7
Walt Williams	2m04	30	15.3	6.2	2.5	72	39-33	40	39.5%	39.4%	77%	0.8	6.2	2.5	0.8	1.9	0.7	3.9	15.3	14.9	28	10	6
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	11.6	9.2	1.7	74	39-35	40	27.2%	44.3%	72.2%	2.7	9.2	1.7	0.9	2.5	0.9	3.9	11.6	15.3	18	13	5
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	13.2	4.8	6.9	82	45-37	40	28.1%	44.6%	77.8%	1.1	4.8	6.9	1.7	2.6	0	2	13.2	17.4	28	8	9
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	14.3	5.2	1.7	61	31-30	40	40.4%	42.3%	71.4%	0.9	5.2	1.7	0.4	0.5	0.4	3.1	14.3	14.2	18	7	3
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	10.6	9	0.7	35	19-16	40	-	57.7%	64.9%	3	9	0.7	0.8	1.6	2	5.7	10.6	17.2	15	13	2
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	13.2	10.2	0.7	39	21-18	40	0%	68.8%	55.8%	3.5	10.2	0.7	0.7	1.3	1.3	2.4	13.2	20.7	22	12	2
Jason Collier	2m14	23	12.8	6.7	1.1	23	12-11	40	0%	38%	70.8%	2.2	6.7	1.1	0.4	2	0.5	4.9	12.8	10.3	12	4	2
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	14.9	6.8	0.7	33	17-16	40	0%	37.4%	55.2%	2.2	6.8	0.7	1.2	1.3	0.2	2.7	14.9	10	13	5	1
Sean Colson	1m83	25	20	4	9.3	10	5-5	40	25%	31.6%	50%	2.7	4	9.3	1.3	0	0	8	20	14.7	6	1	6
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0	0	0	1	0-1	40	-	-	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	13.3	0	0	0	0	0
Total			16.1	7	3.3	82	45-37	40	35.7%	45.3%	75.8%	1.9	7	3.3	1.2	2.3	0.7	3.3	16.1	17.8

Player	Height	Age	USG%	PACE	PIE	PER	GMSCR	AST%	TO%	AST/TO	OREB%	DREB%	REB%
Steve Francis	1m91	23	24.4%	21,0	11,0	20,0	19,2	24%	16%	15	5%	10%	16%
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	24.5%	20,1	8,0	16,1	14,7	11%	10%	1.9	2%	9%	12%
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	23.4%	14,4	5,0	13,6	10,5	9%	13%	-2.1	4%	11%	15%
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	22.1%	12,7	5,0	19,3	12,3	9%	11%	-1.2	5%	13%	18%
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	15.5%	9,8	5,0	10,9	8,6	19%	16%	7.1	3%	10%	13%
Walt Williams	2m04	30	18.9%	8,9	3,0	11,5	7,0	13%	11%	3.7	2%	11%	13%
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	16.2%	8,6	3,0	10,3	7,1	11%	18%	-6.1	6%	14%	19%
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	17%	7,4	5,0	15,0	7,1	32%	18%	29.1	2%	9%	11%
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	15.1%	5,3	2,0	12,0	5,0	12%	4%	9.3	2%	7%	9%
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	12%	4,6	1,0	12,2	6,3	6%	16%	-8.7	3%	6%	9%
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	12.7%	3,8	2,0	17,1	5,4	6%	11%	-5.4	4%	7%	11%
Jason Collier	2m14	23	19.3%	4,0	0	6,6	2,3	6%	12%	-5.4	1%	3%	4%
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	23%	3,6	0	8,3	1,7	3%	7%	-3.3	2%	4%	6%
Sean Colson	1m83	25	32%	2,1	0	13,3	1,3	25%	0%	33.7	1%	0%	1%
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0%	0	0	-5,7	0,4	0%	0%	0	0%	0%	0%

Player	Height	Age	eFG%	TS%	3PAr	FTr	%FGA/2PTm	%FGA/3PTm	%FGA/FTm	%PTS/2PTm	%PTS/3PTm	%PTS/FTm	PTS/2PTm	PTS/3PTm
Steve Francis	1m91	23	59,8%	56,3%	27,6%	35,9%	53,3%	20,3%	26,4%	52,4%	25,1%	22,5%	0.94	1.19
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	59,6%	54,1%	20,8%	39,0%	57,0%	14,9%	28,1%	56,8%	17,6%	25,6%	0.91	1.07
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	56,4%	51,8%	0,5%	20,3%	82,7%	0,4%	16,9%	86,8%	0%	13,2%	0.98	0
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	60,7%	52,6%	0,2%	34,9%	74,0%	0,1%	25,8%	82,1%	0%	17,9%	1	0
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	56,3%	52,8%	28,8%	31,9%	54,0%	21,9%	24,2%	61,1%	19,4%	19,4%	1.03	0.81
Walt Williams	2m04	30	48,8%	52,7%	48,3%	24,6%	41,5%	38,8%	19,7%	34,7%	49,1%	16,2%	0.78	1.19
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	54,1%	50,7%	19,8%	27,1%	63,1%	15,6%	21,3%	68,6%	14,2%	17,2%	0.97	0.82
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	62,8%	54,6%	21,5%	47,0%	53,4%	14,7%	32,0%	58,5%	13,8%	27,8%	0.98	0.84
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	43,9%	56,9%	69,8%	4,6%	28,8%	66,8%	4,4%	24,3%	72,9%	2,8%	0.93	1.21
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	74,3%	60,6%	0%	51,4%	66,1%	0%	33,9%	77,6%	0%	22,4%	1.15	0
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	82,1%	67,9%	0,9%	47,7%	67,1%	0,6%	32,3%	83,8%	0%	16,2%	1.39	0
Jason Collier	2m14	23	50,0%	43,5%	1,4%	33,8%	73,7%	1,1%	25,3%	76,1%	0%	23,9%	0.77	0
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	45,5%	40,3%	1,0%	29,3%	76,6%	0,8%	22,7%	82,2%	0%	17,8%	0.76	0
Sean Colson	1m83	25	36,8%	36,1%	21,1%	21,1%	65,2%	17,4%	17,4%	66,7%	20,0%	13,3%	0.67	0.75
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0	0

Player	Height	Age	%MIN	%PTS	%FGM	%FGA	%2PM	%2PA	%3PM	%3PA	%FTM	%FTA	%OREB	%DREB	%REB	%AST	%TOV	%STL	%BLK	%BLKA	%PF	%PFD	%+/-	%EFF
Steve Francis	1m91	23	99%	20%	19%	19%	18%	18%	27%	24%	23%	22%	21%	15%	16%	33%	24%	25%	9%	-	17%	-	-	21%
Cuttino Mobley	1m94	25	95%	20%	19%	19%	19%	20%	19%	19%	26%	24%	9%	13%	12%	13%	15%	15%	8%	-	11%	-	-	15%
Maurice Taylor	2m07	24	71%	13%	16%	15%	19%	19%	0%	0%	9%	9%	14%	13%	13%	8%	13%	6%	13%	-	15%	-	-	12%
Hakeem Olajuwon	2m14	37	67%	12%	14%	12%	16%	16%	0%	0%	11%	13%	19%	17%	18%	6%	10%	17%	35%	-	12%	-	-	15%
Shandon Anderson	1m99	27	73%	9%	9%	9%	9%	8%	9%	12%	9%	9%	8%	10%	10%	12%	12%	14%	11%	-	12%	-	-	10%
Walt Williams	2m04	30	55%	9%	8%	9%	5%	6%	22%	20%	7%	7%	4%	10%	8%	7%	7%	6%	9%	-	11%	-	-	8%
Kenny Thomas	2m04	23	61%	7%	8%	8%	8%	8%	5%	7%	6%	7%	15%	13%	13%	5%	11%	8%	13%	-	12%	-	-	9%
Moochie Norris	1m86	27	50%	7%	6%	6%	7%	6%	5%	6%	10%	9%	5%	6%	6%	18%	9%	12%	1%	-	5%	-	-	8%
Matt Bullard	2m09	33	41%	6%	6%	6%	2%	2%	23%	20%	1%	1%	3%	6%	5%	4%	1%	2%	3%	-	6%	-	-	5%
Kelvin Cato	2m12	26	45%	5%	5%	4%	6%	5%	0%	0%	5%	6%	12%	9%	10%	2%	5%	5%	20%	-	13%	-	-	7%
Carlos Rogers	2m12	29	35%	5%	5%	4%	6%	4%	0%	0%	4%	5%	11%	8%	8%	1%	3%	4%	11%	-	4%	-	-	7%
Jason Collier	2m14	23	24%	3%	3%	4%	4%	5%	0%	0%	4%	4%	5%	4%	4%	1%	3%	1%	3%	-	6%	-	-	2%
Dan Langhi	2m12	23	18%	3%	3%	4%	4%	5%	0%	0%	3%	3%	4%	3%	3%	1%	2%	3%	1%	-	2%	-	-	2%
Sean Colson	1m83	25	8%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	1%	2%	2%	0%	1%	4%	0%	1%	0%	-	3%	-	-	1%
Anthony Miller	2m07	29	8%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	-	5%	-	-	0%

Basketbal career higlights

Houston Rockets

Cuttino Mobley scores a season high 41 points for Houston Rockets

On January 01, 2001, Cuttino Mobley set a season high in points in a NBA game. That day he scored 41 points in Houston Rockets's road win against Golden State Warriors, 104-112. He also had 9 rebounds, 1 steal and finished the game with a 37 efficiency.

2000-2001 - Rebounds

Hakeem Olajuwon grabs a season high 20 rebounds for Houston Rockets

On February 02, 2001, Hakeem Olajuwon set a season high in rebounds in a NBA game. That day he grabbed 20 rebounds in Houston Rockets's home win against Washington Wizards, 99-89. He also had 15 points, 1 assist and finished the game with a 32 efficiency.

2000-2001 - Assists

Steve Francis dishes a season high 13 assists for Houston Rockets

On April 04, 2001, Steve Francis set a season high in assists in a NBA game. That day he dished 13 assists in Houston Rockets's road win against Memphis Grizzlies, 95-100. He also had 14 points, 5 rebounds and finished the game with a 16 efficiency.

2000-2001 - Steals

Shandon Anderson has a season high 5 steals for Houston Rockets

On December 12, 2000, Shandon Anderson set a season high in steals in a NBA game. That day he reached 5 steals in Houston Rockets's road win against Dallas Mavericks, 99-114. He also had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals and finished the game with a 21 efficiency.

2000-2001 - Blocks

Hakeem Olajuwon blocks a season high 7 blocks for Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon

On February 02, 2001, Hakeem Olajuwon set a season high in blocks in a NBA game. That day he went for 7 blocks in Houston Rockets's road win against Detroit Pistons, 90-103. He also had 17 points, 8 rebounds and finished the game with a 28 efficiency.

2000-2001 - Efficiency

Steve Francis set a season high 44 efficiency for Houston Rockets

On February 02, 2001, Steve Francis set a season high in efficiency in a NBA game. That day he accomplished 44 efficiency in Houston Rockets's home win against Cleveland Cavaliers, 92-80. He also had 35 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and finished the game with a 44 efficiency.

Basketball team

About the Houston Rockets

Country: USA

Location: Houston, Texas

Demography: 2,326M

Spoken language: English

NBA Championships: 1994, 1995

Team names:

San Diego Rockets (1967-1971)
Houston Rockets (1971-...)

Houston Rockets logos history

2019/20-Today

2003/04-2018/19

1995/96-2002/03

1972/73-1994/95

1971/72

Houston Rockets Retired Numbers

Drexler 22

Murphy 23

Malone 24

Olajuwon 34

Tomjanovich 45

Retired Numbers : Clyde Drexler #22, Calvin Murphy #23, Moses Malone #24, Hakeem Olajuwon #34, Rudy Tomjanovich #45

Houston Rockets history

When the NBA looked to expand in 1967, they chose a Californian city with a growing population and a strong economy. San Diego was awarded an expansion franchise as Robert Breitbard paid 1.75 million dollars to join the League. The fans chose the name Rockets as San Diego used the theme "a city in motion" to boost its image as a first class city, and the Rockets' name lent itself to that effort.

From San Diego to Houston

To build the roster, the Rockets chose veteran players during an expansion draft and their first ever draft pick : Pat Riley from Kentucky, who was drafted that same year as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. It was no surprise that the Rockets finished last in the League in their inaugural season with only 15 wins. It gave them the opportunity to draft a power forward who ended up in the Naismith Hall of Fame and the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. 6-foot-9 Elvin Hayes twice took Houston University to the NCAA Final Four. And it did not take him long to make an impact in the NBA. As a rookie he was the first in scoring (28.4 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (17.1 boards). Although he remains the only rookie in history to lead the League in scoring, he was not named Rookie of the Year as center Wes Unseld, from Baltimore, won the trophy.

The following season he was the NBA’s leading rebounder but despite the addition of guard Calvin Murphy and forward Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets did not become a contender and failed to win over fans in San Diego. Owner Robert Breitbard sold the team to a group of investors from Texas and the team moved to Houston where the name Rockets fit perfectly with the city’s connection with the space industry.

The triangle offense fiasco

The franchise hired a new coach with no prior NBA experience. In the NCAA he implemented a system he had learned as a player after World War II : the triangle offense. Tex Winter later became a legend as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls, but his philosophy did not seat well with Rockets star Elvin Hayes. The two clashed, the Rockets won only 34 games and at the end of the season Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets. Winter was fired soon after and some improvement was perceived with coach Johnny Egan.

Much had to do with the stellar play of Calvin Murphy. Standing at 5-9 Murphy is the shortest player inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame and a true Rockets’ legend. Known for his quickness, defensive ability and free-throw accuracy, his number 23 was retired by the franchise where he spent his whole career. He never left the organization after his retirement in 1983, working in numerous roles, mainly as a television analyst.

During the 1976-77 season he received the help of fellow guard John Lucas, the first overall pick of the draft out of Maryland, and center Moses Malone, already a star in the ABA. With Tomjanovich scorching the nets averaging 21.6 points per game and Malone controlling the boards with 13.4 rebounds per game, the Rockets enjoyed their best season ever. With 49 wins they reached the playoffs, eliminating the Bullets before losing to the Philadelphia Sixers in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was only four years later that they joined the Western Conference, playing in the Midwest Division rather than the Central Division.

The punch to Tomjanovich's face

The team rise to the top was derailed by an incident that remains famous today. On December 9, 1977, during a game against the Lakers, Tomjanovich was knocked down by a punch from power forward Kermit Washington. The blow shattered Tomjanovich's face and inflicted life-threatening head and spinal injuries, leaving him sidelined for five months. Washington was suspended for 60 days, missing 26 games; then the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history. Although Tomjanovich recovered and regained All Star status, the Rockets were no longer contenders despite Moses Malone dominance. The Chairman Of The Boards was the NBA’s MVP in 1979 averaging 24.8 points and a League best 17.6 rebounds per game.

He carried on with his impressive numbers as the Rockets, under new coach Del Harris, qualified for the playoffs in the final game of the 1980-81 season with a 40-42 record. Yet, they upset the Lakers in the first round then topped San Antonio and Kansas City to become the second team in history to reach the Finals despite a losing record, where they eventually fell to the Celtics 4-2.

Ralph Sampson, Hakeem Olajuwon: The twin towers

Malone, again named MVP in 1982, was traded to the Philadelphia Sixers. The move proved to be catastrophic in the short term as the Rockets had the worst record in the League but positive in the long run as Houston chose first in the 1983 and 1984 drafts. The franchise decided to draft two centers who quickly became the Twin Towers. 7-4 Ralph Sampson teamed up with 7-0 Hakeem Olajuwon. It took only two seasons together to bring the Rockets back to the Finals.

With Bill Fitch on the sidelines and John Lucas back as a point guard, the team topped the 50 win barrier for the first time, won its division, dominated the Kings and Nuggets before facing the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers. After losing Game 1, the Rockets won the next four games including a decisive last win in L.A. on a buzzer beating turnaround jumpshot from Sampson. Despite his size, Sampson had moved to the power forward position to make room for Olajuwon. His speed and mobility was unprecedented and his teammate John Lucas insisted "he will revolutionize the game." Yet, Houston was no match for the Celtics and Larry Bird in the Finals, losing 4-2. Boston coach K. C. Jones called the Rockets "the new monsters on the block" feeling they had a bright future. But his vision never came true. Injuries to key players, including Sampson, and suspension for drug abuse derailed their road to success.

Hakeem The Dream

It was the return of Rudy Tomjanovich, this time on the bench, that brought the franchise back to the top. As Michael Jordan retired in 1993, following a three-peat, Hakeem Olajuwon was without a doubt the best player in the world. At 31 he was at the pinnacle of his career. He played 41 minutes per game in 1993/94 averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 blocks. He became the only player in NBA history to win the MVP, the Championship, the Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. He was also the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award. The Rockets won the championship in a gruesome seven game series against the New York Knicks, with neither team able to score more than 93 points.

The Rockets initially struggled in the first half of the 1994–95 season and decided to send power-forward Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Olajuwon's former college teammate Clyde Drexler. With only 47 wins, the Rockets entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. But they cruised through the playoffs earning the nickname "Clutch City" and sweeping the Orlando Magic in the Finals. The Rockets they became the first team in NBA history to win the championship as a sixth seed, and the first to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason. The result led to Tomjanovich’s famous quote : "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!"

Costly injuries to Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady

After years of rebuilding, fans firmly believed they had another opportunity to dream when the franchise welcomed another center with the first pick of the 2002 draft. 7-6 Yao Ming was an attraction because of his size, shooting touch and the fact that a country of more than 1 billion followed his every move. When he was joined by Tracy McGrady in 2004, the franchise had the one-two punch to bring them a championship. But these two incredible talents battled through injuries. Of the 463 regular season games for which they were teammates, Yao missed 146 and McGrady 160. Together, they never won a playoffs series.

Once again Houston was forced to rebuild. And this time the franchise put his faith into the hands of a guard. In 2013, the reigning sixth man of the year, James Harden arrived from Oklahoma City. Out of the shadow of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the lefty and his trademark beard became one of the most prolific scorer in NBA history. Around him and with Mike D’Antoni taking charge in 2016, the Rockets changed the game relying on isolation plays for Harden and a flurry of three-pointers. Quite ironic for a franchise where centers ruled the hardwood.

Houston Rockets Roster