Houston Rockets

Lore & Background

The Rockets were established in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets, an expansion team originally based in San Diego. In 1971, the Rockets relocated to Houston. The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season. In the 1968 NBA draft, they selected Elvin Hayes, who led the team to its first playoff appearance. The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record until the 1976–77 season, after trading for Moses Malone. Malone led Houston to the Eastern Conference finals in his first year and to the NBA Finals in 1981, losing to the Boston Celtics. In the 1984 NBA draft, the Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, who formed the 'Twin Towers' with Ralph Sampson and led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals, again losing to the Celtics. Rudy Tomjanovich became head coach in 1991–92, ushering in the most successful period. Led by Olajuwon, the Rockets won their first championship in 1994 against the New York Knicks and repeated in 1995 with a sweep of the Orlando Magic after adding Clyde Drexler. The Rockets acquired Charles Barkley in 1996 but could not advance past the Western Conference finals. By 2001, Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley had left. The early 2000s featured Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, but injuries led to playoff underachievement. After Yao's retirement in 2011, the Rockets rebuilt. The acquisition of James Harden in 2012 launched perennial contention, with Harden leading the team to two Western Conference finals appearances, both times losing to the Golden State Warriors. After the 2020–21 season, head coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey left, and Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, starting a rebuilding period.

In Their Own Story

The road to the playoffs was paved with dramatic shifts in momentum. After a shaky 3–3 start, the Rockets found their rhythm, eventually climbing to the second seed in the West. Their postseason run against the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors tested their resolve. Despite falling behind 3–1 in the series, Houston fought back to win two consecutive games, forcing a decisive Game 7. The series reached its climax as the Rockets mounted a near-comeback in that final game, but they ultimately could not maintain their momentum and lost both the game and the series.

Reader's Guide

The Rockets have won two NBA championships (1994, 1995) and four Western Conference titles. Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and James Harden have been named NBA MVPs while playing for the Rockets, for a total of four MVP awards. Under Daryl Morey, the Rockets were renowned for popularizing advanced statistical analytics in player acquisitions and style of play.

Did You Know?

• The Rockets were originally founded in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets.
• The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season.
• Elvin Hayes was the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft and led the Rockets to their first playoff appearance.
• Moses Malone led the Rockets to their first NBA Finals in 1981.
• Hakeem Olajuwon led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.