History of the Houston Rockets facts for kids
The Houston Rockets are a professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team started in 1967 in San Diego, California. After four years, they moved to Houston, Texas.
In their first season, the Rockets won 15 games. They picked Elvin Hayes first in the 1968 NBA draft. He helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in 1969. Later, Moses Malone joined the team. Malone won two MVP awards and led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics.
After Malone left, the Rockets had two tough seasons. But they got two top draft picks, Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon. These two future Hall of Famers led the Rockets to the 1986 Finals. They lost to Boston again. The Rockets finally won their first championship in 1994. Olajuwon led them to a team-best 58 wins and the championship. They won again in 1995. They have not been back to the NBA Finals since.
The Rockets struggled from 1999 to 2003. They improved after drafting Yao Ming in 2003. However, they didn't get past the first round of the playoffs for 13 years. In the 2007–08 NBA season, they won 55 games, including 22 in a row. But they still lost in the first round. The next season, they won a playoff series for the first time since 1997. They pushed the champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games.
In the next ten years, the Rockets changed their team and became top contenders again. In the 2014–15 NBA season, led by coach Kevin McHale and guard James Harden, they won their first division title in 21 years. They also reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1997.
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The Early Years: San Diego Rockets (1967–1971)
The NBA wanted to add more teams in the Western United States. San Diego was chosen to get a new team in 1967. The team was named the "Rockets." This name honored San Diego's idea of being "a city in motion." It also recognized the local company that made Atlas missiles.
The Rockets' first game was on October 14, 1967. They lost by one point to the St. Louis Hawks. In their first season, the Rockets lost 67 games. This was an NBA record for losses at the time. The team struggled financially.
In 1968, the Rockets picked Elvin Hayes first in the NBA draft. Hayes led the team to their first playoff appearance in 1969. They lost to the Atlanta Hawks. In 1970, the Rockets drafted Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich. Both players spent their entire careers with the Rockets.
Because of poor performance and low attendance, the team was sold in 1971. The new owners moved the team to Houston. The Rockets became the first NBA team in Texas. The nickname "Rockets" fit even better in Houston. This is because Houston is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Moving to Houston and Building Up (1971–1976)
When the Rockets arrived in Houston, many people doubted they would succeed. Houston had not shown much interest in professional basketball before. The city also lacked a good arena. The Rockets played most of their games at the University of Houston's Hofheinz Pavilion.
Before the 1971–72 NBA season, coach Tex Winter was hired. He had different ideas than Elvin Hayes. Because of these differences, Houston traded Hayes. Hayes had been the Rockets' top scorer for four years. Winter was fired in January 1973 after a losing streak.
With a 41–41 record, the Rockets made the playoffs in 1975. This was their first playoff trip since moving from San Diego. They won their first playoff series in team history. They beat the New York Knicks. But they lost to the Boston Celtics in the semi-finals. The next season, the Rockets moved into their own arena, The Summit.
The Moses Malone Era (1976–1982)
Coach Tom Nissalke joined the Rockets. He wanted a strong rebounder and a good play-making guard. Houston acquired John Lucas and Moses Malone. Malone led the Rockets in rebounding for six straight years. He also set an NBA record for offensive rebounds.
In the 1977–78 NBA season, a fight during a game caused Rudy Tomjanovich to suffer a serious face injury. He recovered but his performance declined. The Rockets finished with only 28 wins that season.
In the 1978–79 NBA season, Malone, Murphy, and Tomjanovich all played in the NBA All-Star Game. Malone won the MVP Award. The Rockets also got Rick Barry, who set an NBA record for free throw percentage. The Rockets finished second in their division but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
In 1979, George Maloof bought the Rockets. After he passed away, his son Gavin took over. In 1982, businessman Charlie Thomas bought the team. The Rockets, led by new coach Del Harris, made it to the playoffs in 1981. They upset the Los Angeles Lakers and beat the San Antonio Spurs. They then defeated the Kansas City Kings to reach the NBA Finals. The Rockets became the only team in NBA history to reach the Finals with a losing record. They lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.
The next season, the Rockets improved their record. But they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Although Malone won the MVP again, the Rockets traded him. They didn't want to pay his high salary. The Rockets then had a very bad season, winning only 14 games. This gave them the first pick in the 1983 NBA draft. They selected Ralph Sampson. Sampson had a great first season, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The Hakeem Olajuwon Era (1984–2001)
The Rockets got the first pick again in the 1984 NBA draft. They used it to pick Hakeem Olajuwon. In his first year, Olajuwon was second in Rookie of the Year voting. The Rockets' record improved by 19 wins.
The Twin Towers (1984–1987)
In the 1985–86 NBA season, Olajuwon and Sampson were both named All-Stars. They were called the "Twin Towers." Houston won their division title with 51 wins. In the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings. They then beat the Denver Nuggets. In the Conference Finals, they faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets shocked everyone by winning the series 4–1. Sampson's buzzer beater in Game 5 was a famous moment.
The Rockets reached the Finals for the second time. They faced the Boston Celtics again. The Celtics won the first two games. The Rockets won two games in Houston. But the Celtics won the series in six games. After the series, the Celtics coach called the Rockets "the new monsters on the block."
The next year, the Rockets started slowly. But they made the playoffs. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics. Sampson was traded early in the 1987–88 NBA season. The "Twin Towers" era ended.
Building Towards Championships (1987–1992)
For the next three seasons, the Rockets lost in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Don Chaney was hired in 1988. He led the Rockets to the playoffs in his first season.
Chaney was named Coach of the Year in the 1990–91 NBA season. He led the Rockets to 52 wins, even with Olajuwon missing games due to injury. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs again. Midway through the next season, Chaney was fired. Former Rockets player Rudy Tomjanovich became the new coach. The Rockets did not make the playoffs that year. But their record improved by 13 wins the next season. Olajuwon won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Rockets won their division title. They won their first playoff series in five years. But they lost a close series to the SuperSonics.
Back-to-Back Championships (1993–1995)
In 1993, Leslie Alexander bought the Rockets. In Tomjanovich's second full year as coach, the Rockets started the 1993–94 NBA season by winning their first 15 games. This tied an NBA record. Olajuwon was named the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. The Rockets won a team-record 58 games.
In the playoffs, the Rockets came back from being down 2–0 to the Phoenix Suns. They reached the Finals. Houston was down 3–2 to the New York Knicks. But they won the last two games at home to claim their first championship. Olajuwon was named the Finals MVP.
The Rockets struggled at the start of the 1994–95 NBA season. They won only 47 games. They traded for guard Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's former college teammate. Houston entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. They started a strong playoff run known as "Clutch City". They beat the Utah Jazz and came back from a 3–1 deficit against the Phoenix Suns. They then beat the San Antonio Spurs, who had that season's MVP David Robinson.
The Rockets reached the Finals again. They faced the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal. Houston swept the series in four games. They became the first team to win the championship as a sixth seed. They were also the first to beat four 50-win teams in one postseason. Olajuwon was named Finals MVP again.
The Rockets changed their uniforms and logo before the next season. They won 48 games in the 1995–96 NBA season. Olajuwon became the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots. They lost to the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the playoffs.
The Big Three Era (1996–1999)
Before the next season, the Rockets traded for Charles Barkley. The new "Big Three" of Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley led the Rockets to 57 wins. They swept Minnesota in the first round. But they lost to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals.
The 1997–98 NBA season was affected by injuries. The team finished with 41 wins and lost to the Jazz in the first round. Drexler retired after the season. The Rockets traded for Scottie Pippen to replace him. In the 1998–99 NBA season, the Rockets lost to the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
End of an Era (1999–2001)
After the 1999 draft, the Rockets traded for Steve Francis. They also traded Pippen and Barkley suffered a career-ending injury. The Rockets missed the playoffs for only the second time in 15 years. In the 2000–01 NBA season, they had a winning record but still missed the playoffs.
In the next offseason, a 38-year-old Olajuwon asked for a trade. The Rockets sent him to the Toronto Raptors. The next season was disappointing. Houston's first season without Olajuwon in almost 20 years ended with a 28–54 record.
The Yao Ming Era (2002–2011)
With the first pick in the 2002 NBA draft, the Rockets selected Yao Ming, a 7-foot 6-inch Chinese center. The Rockets' record improved by 15 wins. But they missed the playoffs by one game.
In the 2003–04 NBA season, Houston started playing in their new arena, the Toyota Center. They also changed their uniforms and logo. Coach Tomjanovich resigned after being diagnosed with cancer. Jeff Van Gundy became the new coach. The Rockets made the playoffs but lost to the Lakers in the first round.
Yao and McGrady Duo (2004–2010)
In the offseason, the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady. In the 2004–05 NBA season, McGrady and Yao led the Rockets to their best record in 10 years. They finished with 51 wins. But they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
The 2005–06 NBA season was full of injuries for McGrady and Yao. The team missed the playoffs. The Rockets improved the next year with 52 wins. But they lost in the first round again to Utah. Van Gundy was fired, and Rick Adelman was hired.
In the 2007–08 NBA season, Yao suffered a season-ending injury. But the Rockets won 22 games in a row. This was the second longest winning streak in NBA history. Houston finished with 55 wins. But they were eliminated by the Jazz in the first round again.
The next offseason, the Rockets acquired Ron Artest. The new "Big Three" of McGrady, Yao, and Artest barely played together due to injuries. McGrady had knee surgery. Despite this, the team won 53 games. They won their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. This was their first time advancing from the first round since 1997. They lost a tough series to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Yao also left with an injury that sidelined him for the next season.
The Rockets acquired Trevor Ariza in the offseason. In February 2010, the Rockets traded Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks. They received Kevin Martin and other players. Despite good play from Martin and Aaron Brooks, the Rockets missed the playoffs.
The 2010–11 NBA season started badly. Yao Ming injured his left ankle in his fifth game. This was a stress fracture that kept him out for the season. In July 2011, Yao, at only 30, retired because of many injuries. The Rockets finished with a winning record but missed the playoffs. Coach Rick Adelman left the team.
Rebuilding the Team (2011–2012)
On June 1, 2011, the Rockets named Kevin McHale their new head coach. They drafted Marcus Morris and Chandler Parsons. The Rockets' management planned to change the team. They tried to sign many top free agents.
The Rockets made several trades before the 2012 trade deadline. They traded players to get Marcus Camby and a first-round pick. During the 2011–12 NBA season, the Rockets missed the playoffs.
Before the 2012 NBA draft, the Rockets made more trades to get more draft picks. They drafted Jeremy Lamb, Royce White, and Terrence Jones.
The James Harden Era (2012–2021)
Return to the Playoffs (2012–2013)
In the 2012 offseason, the Rockets made big changes. They traded Kyle Lowry and signed Jeremy Lin and Ömer Aşık. On October 27, 2012, the Rockets traded for James Harden. Harden was the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. He stepped into a starting role for the Rockets. He had 37 points in his first game as a Rocket. Harden signed a big contract extension. He scored a career-high 45 points in his second game. Harden was selected for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, which was held in Houston.
On February 20, 2013, the Rockets acquired Thomas Robinson. That same night, the Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden scored a career-high 46 points against his former team. The Rockets became one of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA. They focused on fast-paced offense and three-pointers. In the post-season, the Rockets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. James Harden became a star player for the Rockets, averaging 25.9 points per game.
Harden and Howard Duo (2013–2016)
The Rockets wanted another star player. They pursued free agent center Dwight Howard. On July 5, 2013, Howard announced he would sign with the Houston Rockets. Howard officially signed on July 13, 2013. With Howard and James Harden, the Rockets were expected to compete for a championship. However, in the post-season, they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.
After the season, Jeremy Lin was traded. The Rockets also let Chandler Parsons leave. They brought back Trevor Ariza on a four-year deal.
The Rockets started the 2014–15 NBA season with a 4–0 record. They won their first six games by 10 points or more. In December, the Rockets acquired Corey Brewer and Josh Smith. James Harden played very well and was a top MVP candidate. On March 20, 2015, Harden scored a career-high 50 points. He was the first Rocket to score 50 points since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. On April 1, Harden scored 51 points. He became the first player in team history to have multiple 50-point games in a season.
On April 15, 2015, the Rockets won their 56th game. This was the third-best regular season record in team history. They also won their first Southwest Division title. In the playoffs, the Rockets beat the Mavericks. In the Conference Semifinals, they came back from a 3–1 deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers. They became only the ninth team in NBA history to win a playoff series after being down 3–1. They returned to the Conference Finals for the first time in 18 years. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games.
Before the 2015–16 NBA season, the Rockets acquired Ty Lawson. Expectations were high. But the team struggled. Coach Kevin McHale was fired early in the season. J. B. Bickerstaff took over. The Rockets struggled with injuries and inconsistent play. They barely made the playoffs as the eighth seed. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games.
After a disappointing season, the Rockets made changes. Howard left the team. On June 1, 2016, the Rockets named Mike D'Antoni their new head coach. Harden became the clear star player. He signed a new contract extension. The Rockets also signed Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon. These players fit D'Antoni's fast-paced style.
Mike D'Antoni and Chris Paul (2017–2019)
In the 2016–17 season, Harden played great. The Rockets finished third in the Western Conference. D'Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year. Eric Gordon won Sixth Man of the Year. Harden finished second in MVP voting. In the playoffs, the Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. But they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.
On June 28, 2017, the Rockets acquired Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers. This was a big trade for the team. In September 2017, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta agreed to buy the team for $2.2 billion. This was a record price for an American professional sports team.
The Rockets went on a 17-game winning streak. This was the second-longest in team history. They finished the season with 65 wins, a team record. In the playoffs, Houston easily beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz. They faced the Golden State Warriors again in the Conference Finals. The Rockets led the series 3–2. But Paul got injured. His absence was felt, and the Warriors won the last two games.
Harden and Westbrook Duo (2019–2020)
In the 2019 offseason, the Rockets traded Chris Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They got Russell Westbrook, James Harden's former teammate. Near the 2019–20 season trade deadline, the Rockets made another big trade. They brought Robert Covington back and sent Clint Capela away. This trade was to focus on a "small ball" offense. This meant playing with smaller, faster players. The Rockets played very well with this new style. In February, Westbrook and Harden became the first teammates in NBA history to average 30+ points and 5+ assists per game.
After Harden and Rebuilding (2021-present)
After the 2019–20 season, coach Mike D'Antoni left the team. In December, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall. Under new coach Stephen Silas, James Harden reportedly arrived late to training camp. On January 14, 2021, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets announced they would retire Harden's No. 13 jersey when he retires.
With Harden gone, the Rockets struggled. They lost 20 straight games from February to March. This was one of the longest losing streaks in NBA history and the longest in Rockets history. They finished the season with a 17–55 record, the worst in the league. Only two players from the 2019–20 team were still on the roster at the end of the season.
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