San Diego Rockets Founding

Lore & Background

The Rockets were founded after NBA commissioner J. Walter Kennedy visited San Diego in 1966 and saw support for the Western Hockey League's San Diego Gulls. Owner Robert Breitbard paid a $1.75 million entry fee. The team's first head coach and general manager was Jack McMahon, hired from the Cincinnati Royals. The Rockets' first-ever draft pick was Pat Riley in the 1967 NBA draft.

Their inaugural game was on October 14, 1967, at the San Diego International Sports Center, a 99–98 loss to the St. Louis Hawks. The team lost 67 games in their first season, an NBA record for losses at the time. Forward Don Kojis was the bright spot, earning a spot in the 1968 NBA All-Star Game. In 1968, the Rockets won a coin toss for the first overall pick and selected Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston.

Hayes led the team to their first playoff appearance in 1969, but they lost in the Western Division semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks. Despite later drafting Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich in 1970, the Rockets posted a 67–97 record over the next two seasons under Hall of Fame coach Alex Hannum and did not make the playoffs. Poor performance and attendance led Breitbard to sell the team in 1971 to Texas Sports Investments, which moved the franchise to Houston.

Reader's Guide

The San Diego Rockets were an NBA expansion team founded in 1967. They played at the San Diego International Sports Center (also known as the San Diego Sports Arena). Their first head coach was Jack McMahon. Notable early players included Don Kojis (first All-Star), Pat Riley (first draft pick), and Elvin Hayes (drafted 1968, led team to first playoffs). The team never won a playoff series in San Diego. After four seasons, the franchise relocated to Houston in 1971.

Did You Know?

• Elvin Hayes was drafted first overall in 1968 after the Rockets won a coin toss against the Baltimore Bullets.
• The franchise moved to Houston in 1971 after being sold for $5.6 million.