Clyde Drexler Trade to Houston (1995)

Lore & Background

Despite finishing the regular season with a record of 47–35, which placed the Rockets 6th out of 8 playoff teams in the Western Conference, Drexler and long-time friend Hakeem Olajuwon helped propel them to an improbable second consecutive championship in 1995. On May 5, during the Western Conference Semifinals while down two games to one against the Utah Jazz, Drexler led the Rockets in scoring with 41 points while Olajuwon added 40 in a 123–106 win. Houston would go on to win the deciding Game 5, and then also win every remaining elimination game on their postseason run. In the finals, the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic. In his third and final NBA Finals appearance, Drexler averaged 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.

Reader's Guide

Drexler played his last three full seasons with the Rockets. The 1995–96 season saw him average 19.3 points per game in 52 games played, owing to knee and ankle injuries. The Rockets dispatched their first-round opponent in the Lakers to face the Seattle SuperSonics. Drexler led the team.

Did You Know?

• Drexler scored a career-high 50 points on January 6, 1989, during a double-overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.
• He remains the only player in University of Houston history with combined totals of at least 1,000 career points, 900 rebounds and 300 assists.
• Drexler is Houston's all-time steals leader with 268.