Houston Rockets facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Houston Rockets
Conference	Western
Division	Southwest
Founded	1967
History	San Diego Rockets 1967–1971 Houston Rockets 1971–present
Arena	Toyota Center
Location	Houston, Texas
Team colors	Red, black, gray, anthracite, white
Main sponsor	Credit Karma
President	Gretchen Sheirr
General manager	Rafael Stone
Head coach	Ime Udoka
Ownership	Tilman Fertitta
Affiliation(s)	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Championships	2 (1994, 1995)
Conference titles	4 (1981, 1986, 1994, 1995)
Division titles	8 (1977, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Retired numbers	7 (11, 22, 23, 24, 34, 44, 45)
Association Icon Statement

The Houston Rockets are a professional basketball team from Houston, Texas. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Rockets are part of the Western Conference and the Southwest Division. Their home games are played at the Toyota Center in Downtown Houston.

The team started in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets. They were an expansion team, meaning they were a brand new team joining the league. In 1971, the team moved to Houston. The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles.

In their first season in 1967, the Rockets won only 15 games. But in 1968, they picked Elvin Hayes first in the 1968 NBA draft. He helped the team reach the playoffs in his first year. The Rockets didn't have a winning season for almost ten years. Then, in 1976, they got Moses Malone, an All-Star center. Malone won the NBA MVP award twice with the Rockets. He led them to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year.

During the 1980–81 season, the Rockets had a losing record (40 wins, 42 losses) but still made the playoffs. Led by Malone, they reached their first NBA Finals in 1981. They were only the second team in NBA history to do this with a losing record. They lost in six games to the Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird.

In the 1984 NBA draft, the Rockets again had the first pick. They chose Hakeem Olajuwon, who became a superstar. He and Ralph Sampson (who was 7 feet 4 inches tall) were called the "Twin Towers." They led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they again lost to the Boston Celtics. The Rockets kept making the playoffs in the 1980s.

Rudy Tomjanovich became the head coach in 1992. Under him, the Rockets had their most successful time. Led by Olajuwon, they won a franchise-record 58 games in the 1993–94 season. They went to the 1994 NBA Finals and won their first championship against the New York Knicks. The next season, with Clyde Drexler joining the team, the Rockets won their second championship. They swept the Orlando Magic in the Finals. The Rockets finished that season with a 47–35 record. They were the lowest-seeded team (sixth) to ever win the NBA title.

In 1996, the Rockets got Charles Barkley, another All-Star. But even with three of the NBA's greatest players (Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley), they couldn't get past the Western Conference Finals. By 2001, all three had left the team. In the early 2000s, the Rockets had stars like Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. They played well in the regular season but often struggled in the playoffs due to injuries. After Yao retired early in 2011, the Rockets started rebuilding their team.

The team got James Harden in 2012. He helped the Rockets become a top team again for the rest of the 2010s. Harden broke many team and NBA records. He won three scoring titles (2018-2020). He led the team to two Western Conference Finals, but they lost both times to the Golden State Warriors. Before the 2020–21 season, coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey left. Harden then asked to be traded and went to the Brooklyn Nets, starting another rebuilding period.

Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and James Harden have all won the NBA MVP award while playing for the Rockets. The Rockets, especially under Daryl Morey, were known for using advanced statistics to pick players and decide how to play.

Houston Rockets: A Journey Through Time

The Houston Rockets have a long and interesting history, starting in San Diego and moving to Houston. Let's explore their journey through the years.

1967–1971: The San Diego Rockets Begin

The Rockets started in 1967 in San Diego. A man named Robert Breitbard paid $1.75 million to have a new team join the NBA. San Diego was chosen because it was growing fast and had a successful local ice hockey team. The team was named "Rockets" to honor San Diego's fast growth and its connection to the Atlas missile program.

The Rockets' first coach and general manager was Jack McMahon. The team was built with experienced players and college players. Their first draft pick ever was Pat Riley. In their first game, they lost to the St. Louis Hawks. Their first win came against the Seattle SuperSonics, 121–114. In their first season, the Rockets lost 67 games, which was an NBA record at the time.

In 1968, the Rockets won a coin toss and got the first pick in the 1968 NBA draft. They chose Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston. Hayes helped the team improve to 37 wins and 45 losses. This was enough for their first playoff appearance in 1969. However, they lost to the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets struggled in the next two seasons, missing the playoffs by a small margin in 1971.

Off the court, the team's owner, Breitbard, faced money problems. He had tax issues with his arena and had to pay the NBA expansion fee. Many sports teams were losing money back then. Breitbard tried to keep the team in San Diego, but it was too difficult. On June 23, 1971, the San Diego Rockets were sold to a group from Houston. The NBA quickly approved the sale because the team was close to shutting down.

1971–1976: Moving to Houston and Getting Better

The team moved to Houston before the 1971–72 season. They were bought for $5.6 million. The name "Rockets" fit Houston perfectly because of the city's strong connection to the space industry. Houston had tried to get an NBA team before, but the deal fell through.

The Rockets changed coaches, and Tex Winter took over. They lost their first six games in Houston. Their first win was against the Detroit Pistons. However, Elvin Hayes didn't like Winter's coaching style and asked to be traded. He left for the Baltimore Bullets at the end of the season.

Around this time, the Rockets introduced their famous yellow and red logo and uniforms. Winter was fired in 1973, and Johnny Egan became coach. Egan led the Rockets back to the playoffs in 1975. They won their first playoff round against the New York Knicks but then lost to the Boston Celtics. The Rockets became more popular in Houston, selling out many games.

1976–1982: The Moses Malone Era Begins

In the 1975–76 season, the Rockets found a permanent home at The Summit. They played there for the next 29 years. After missing the 1976 playoffs, Tom Nissalke became coach. He helped the team get John Lucas and Moses Malone. Malone was a great rebounder.

These new players made a big difference. The 1976–77 Rockets won their division and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Julius Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers. The next season was tough because Rudy Tomjanovich got a serious injury. After trading Lucas, the Rockets returned to the playoffs in 1978–79. Moses Malone won the MVP Award, but the team lost in the first round. Nissalke was replaced by Del Harris.

In 1979, George Maloof bought the Rockets. After he passed away, his son Gavin took over. In 1982, Charlie Thomas and Sidney Shlenker bought the team. The Maloof family later owned the Sacramento Kings. The Maloof period was important for the Rockets. They won their first Western Conference Championship and reached the NBA Finals in 1981. This was their first year back in the Western Conference.

The Rockets made the playoffs in 1981 with a 40–42 record. They beat the Lakers, Spurs, and Kings to reach the Finals. They were only the second team with a losing record to make it to the Finals. In the NBA Finals, they faced Larry Bird's Boston Celtics. The Rockets won Game 2 in Boston but eventually lost the series in six games.

Even though Moses Malone won MVP again in 1981–82, the Rockets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. The team finished with a very bad record of 14–68. Bill Fitch became the new coach. The Rockets got the first pick in the 1983 NBA draft and chose Ralph Sampson. Sampson won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. The Rockets were still last, so they got the top pick again in the 1984 NBA draft. They used it to pick Hakeem Olajuwon.

1984–2001: The Hakeem Olajuwon Era and Championships

1984–1987: The "Twin Towers" Take Off

In his first season, Olajuwon was second in Rookie of the Year voting to Michael Jordan. The Rockets improved by 19 wins and made the playoffs. Olajuwon and Sampson were called the "Twin Towers." In the next season, Houston won their division with a 51–31 record.

In the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings. They then had a tough series with the Denver Nuggets. After that, they faced the defending champion Lakers. The Rockets won that series, which was a big upset. This sent them to their second Finals appearance. The NBA Finals was again against the Celtics. The Celtics won the series in six games.

After the Finals, the Celtics coach said the Rockets were "the new monsters on the block." But Sampson was traded in 1987 because of knee injuries. His promising career ended early. The Rockets didn't become a dynasty right away.

1987–1992: Tough Years and New Players

For the next five seasons, the Rockets either missed the playoffs or lost in the first round. Coach Fitch was fired in 1988, and Don Chaney took over. Chaney had his best season in 1990–91, winning Coach of the Year. This was despite Olajuwon missing 25 games due to injury. Even with Olajuwon playing well, the team struggled. However, they brought in players like Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, Mario Elie, Sam Cassell, and Otis Thorpe. These players would be important later.

Midway through the 1991–92 season, Chaney was fired. His assistant, Rudy Tomjanovich, became the new coach. Tomjanovich was a former Rockets player. The Rockets missed the playoffs that year, but things started to look up. The next year, they improved by 13 wins and won their division. They won their first playoff series in six years against the Los Angeles Clippers. They then lost a very close Game 7 in overtime to the SuperSonics.

1993–1995: "Clutch City" Wins Back-to-Back Championships

On July 30, 1993, Leslie Alexander bought the Rockets for $85 million. In Tomjanovich's second full year as coach, the Rockets started the 1993–94 season by winning their first 15 games. This tied an NBA record. Their first loss was on December 3, 1993. Led by Olajuwon, who won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, the Rockets won 58 games. This was a new team record.

After beating the Portland Trail Blazers, they faced the Phoenix Suns, led by Charles Barkley. The Rockets lost the first two games at home. Local newspapers called Houston "Choke City." But the Rockets came back to win the series in seven games. "Choke City" became "Clutch City," a nickname that stuck. The Rockets then beat the Utah Jazz to reach their third Finals. They won their first championship against the New York Knicks. Olajuwon was named the Finals MVP.

The Rockets struggled at the start of the 1994–95 season. They traded for Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon's former college teammate. With only 47 wins, the Rockets were the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. But they had a strong playoff run, earning the nickname "Clutch City" again. They beat the top three teams in the West: the Jazz, Suns, and Spurs. They reached the Finals again, this time against the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal. Houston swept the Finals in four games. They became the first team to win the championship as a sixth seed. They were also the first to beat four teams with 50 or more wins in one postseason. Olajuwon was again the Finals MVP, becoming only the second player after Michael Jordan to win it twice in a row. After winning their second title, Coach Rudy Tomjanovich famously said, "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!"

1995–2002: After the Championships and Rebuilding

After their second championship, the Rockets changed their team look. They made navy blue and silver their main colors. They also got a new logo with a rocket orbiting a basketball. Red was still used, but as a secondary color.

The Rockets won 48 games in the 1995–96 season. Olajuwon became the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots. In the playoffs, they beat the Lakers but were then swept by the SuperSonics.

Before the next season, the Rockets traded for Charles Barkley. The "Big Three" of Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley had a great first season with 57 wins. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Utah Jazz. The next season was full of injuries. Houston finished 41–41 and lost to the Jazz again in the playoffs.

Drexler retired after the season. The Rockets traded for Scottie Pippen to replace him. In the short 1998–99 season, the Rockets lost to the Lakers in the first round. After trading Pippen and Barkley getting a career-ending injury, the Rockets rebuilt. They got Steve Francis in a trade. The team went 34–48 and missed the playoffs for only the second time in 15 years. Francis was named Co-Rookie of the Year.

In the 2000–01 season, the Rockets had a 45–37 record. But in the strong Western Conference, they missed the playoffs by two games. In the next off-season, 38-year-old Olajuwon asked for a trade. He went to the Toronto Raptors. The 2001–02 season was the first without Hakeem in 20 years. The Rockets only won 28 games, led by first-time All-Star Francis.

2002–2009: The Yao Ming Era

2002-2004: Early Years with Yao and Francis

In the 2002 NBA draft, the Rockets got the first pick. They chose Yao Ming, a 7-foot-6 Chinese center. The Rockets improved by 15 wins but missed the 2003 playoffs by one game. All-Stars Steve Francis and rookie Yao Ming led the team.

The 2003–04 season was special. The Rockets moved into their new arena, the Toyota Center. They also got new uniforms and a new logo. It was their first season without Rudy Tomjanovich, who resigned as coach. Jeff Van Gundy, a former Knicks coach, took over. The Rockets finished with 45 wins and made the playoffs. They lost to the Lakers in the first round.

2004-2009: The McGrady and Ming Duo

In the off-season, the Rockets made big changes. They got Tracy McGrady in a trade with the Orlando Magic. This trade included three-time Rockets All-Star Steve Francis. McGrady, a scoring champion, and Yao, a strong rebounder, formed a great duo. They helped the Rockets win 22 games in a row in the 2007–08 season. This was the third longest winning streak in NBA history at the time.

However, both players often had injuries. They didn't win any playoff series together. Yao was chosen to carry China's flag at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. After the 2007 playoff loss, Van Gundy was fired. Rick Adelman became the new coach.

For the 2008–09 season, the Rockets signed Ron Artest. McGrady played only half the games due to injury. But the Rockets finished with 53 wins, earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, the Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers. This was their first playoff series win since 1997. During this series, Dikembe Mutombo injured his knee and retired. In the second round, the Rockets lost to the Lakers in seven games. Yao Ming also got another season-ending injury.

2009–2012: Rebuilding the Team

During the 2009–10 season, Artest left, and McGrady was traded. Despite great play from Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks, the Rockets missed the playoffs. Brooks was named the Most Improved Player. The Rockets also set an NBA record for the best record by a team with no All-Stars. They missed the playoffs for the next two seasons as well. Yao Ming had another injury and retired in 2011.

After the 2011 NBA lockout, Coach Adelman was dismissed. General manager Daryl Morey decided to rebuild the Rockets. He focused on using advanced statistics to pick players and decide how to play. Kevin McHale was named head coach, and the team changed a lot of players.

2012–2021: The James Harden Era

After many player changes in 2012, only four players remained from the previous season. The most important new player was James Harden. He was the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. Morey called Harden a "foundational" player. Harden made an immediate impact, scoring 37 points in his first game. He averaged 25.9 points per game that season. With Harden and McHale's fast offense, the Rockets became one of the highest-scoring teams. In the playoffs, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Rockets wanted another star player. They signed Dwight Howard in 2013. With Howard and Harden, the Rockets hoped to compete for a championship. But in the playoffs, they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. In the 2014–15 season, the Rockets started well. Harden became an MVP candidate. He was the first Rocket since Hakeem Olajuwon to score 50 points in a game. On April 15, 2015, the Rockets won their first division title since 1994. They finished with 56 wins, their third-best record ever.

In the playoffs, the Rockets beat the Mavericks. They then came back from being down 3–1 to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. This sent them to the Conference Finals for the first time in 18 years. However, they lost to the Golden State Warriors.

The 2015–16 season started poorly. Coach Kevin McHale was fired. The Rockets struggled and barely made the playoffs. They finished 41–41 and lost to the Warriors again in five games.

2016–2020: Mike D'Antoni Arrives

In 2016, Mike D'Antoni became the Rockets' new head coach. Dwight Howard left the team. The Rockets signed Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon to fit D'Antoni's fast-paced, three-point shooting offense. They also signed Nenê Hilario for defense.

The 2016–17 season was great for Harden. He was a top MVP candidate. The Rockets traded for Lou Williams to boost their offense. They finished third in the Western Conference. D'Antoni won Coach of the Year, and 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 the next round.

In 2017, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta bought the Rockets for $2.2 billion. The team also traded for Chris Paul, an 8-time All-NBA player. Even though Paul missed many games due to injury, he was a key player. The team finished with 65 wins, a new franchise record. In the playoffs, Houston beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz. They then faced the Golden State Warriors again in the Conference Finals. The Rockets led 3–2, but Paul got injured. His absence was felt, and the Warriors won the last two games.

The Rockets made some trades in the 2018 off-season. They signed Carmelo Anthony, but he left the team after only 13 games. James Harden then went on an amazing streak, scoring at least 30 points in 32 straight games. He averaged 41.1 points per game during this time. He led the Rockets to a strong finish, and they ended up fourth in the Western Conference. The Rockets set a new NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game twice. They clinched a playoff spot for the seventh year in a row. After beating the Utah Jazz, Houston faced Golden State for the fourth time in five years. The Warriors won the series, eliminating the Rockets again.

In 2019, the Rockets traded Chris Paul for James Harden's former teammate, Russell Westbrook. Near the 2019–20 season's trade deadline, the Rockets made a big trade. They got Robert Covington and sent centers Clint Capela and Nenê away. This trade showed the Rockets' commitment to a "small ball" offense. This style of play used smaller players and focused on three-point shots. Harden and Westbrook became the first teammates in NBA history to both average over 30 points and 5 assists per game.

After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Rockets played in the 2020 NBA Bubble. After losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs, D'Antoni and Morey left the team. Rafael Stone became the new general manager, and Stephen Silas was hired as head coach. The Rockets made more trades, getting players like Christian Wood and John Wall. In January 2021, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets received several players and draft picks in return. The team finished the season with a 17–55 record, the worst in the league, due to injuries and trades.

2021–Present: Rebuilding for the Future

In the 2021 NBA draft, the Rockets picked Jalen Green second overall. They also drafted Alperen Şengün and Josh Christopher. The team decided to focus on developing these young players. John Wall was benched for the entire season. In the 2021–22 season, the Rockets had a 20–62 record. Jalen Green was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In the 2022 NBA draft, the Rockets picked Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. They also traded Christian Wood and bought out John Wall's contract. On February 9, 2023, the Rockets traded Eric Gordon. The Rockets finished the 2022–23 regular season with a 22–60 record. They fired coach Stephen Silas and hired Ime Udoka.

In the 2023 off-season, the Rockets signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. They also picked Amen Thompson and Cam Whitemore in the 2023 NBA draft. Alperen Sengun improved a lot this season, but he got an ankle injury in March.

Where the Rockets Play: Home Arenas

When the Rockets were in San Diego, they played at the San Diego Sports Arena. It could hold 14,400 fans. After moving to Houston, they played in different places for two years. These included the Astrodome and Hofheinz Pavilion. Hofheinz Pavilion became their main home until 1975. They even played "home" games in other cities to gain more fans. In their first Houston season, they averaged less than 5,000 fans per game.

Their first permanent arena in Houston was the 10,000-seat Hofheinz Pavilion. They played there for four years. Then, in 1975, they moved to The Summit. This arena could hold 16,611 fans. It was their home for 28 years and was renamed the Compaq Center in 1998. After winning the 1994 title, the Rockets sold out 176 home games in a row! But in the early 2000s, attendance dropped.

For the 2003–04 season, the Rockets moved into their new arena, the Toyota Center. It can hold 18,500 fans. When the team had its 22-game winning streak in 2007–08, they averaged over 17,000 fans. After James Harden joined in 2012, attendance grew even more. In the 2014–15 season, they sold out 40 of their 41 home games.

Team Look: Uniforms and Logos

The Rockets have changed their look many times over the years.

Uniforms and Logos: A Visual History

When the Rockets started in San Diego, their colors were green and gold. Their first logo showed a rocket with a basketball.

When they moved to Houston in 1971, they changed green to red. Their logo showed a player launching upwards with boosters.

For the 1972–73 season, the Rockets introduced the famous "ketchup and mustard" logo. It had a gold basketball with red trails. This look was used when they won their championships in 1994 and 1995.

After the 1995 championship, the Rockets updated their look. They chose navy blue and silver as new main colors. The new logo had a rocket with a shark mouth orbiting a basketball. The uniforms had pinstripes and futuristic numbers. This look was used until 2003.

In the 2003–04 season, the Rockets released simpler logos and uniforms. The new logo was a stylish 'R' shaped like a rocket taking off. Red became the main color again, with silver and black as secondary colors. In 2009, they brought back a red alternate uniform with gold numbers, like their championship years. They also had special silver and red "Clutch City" jerseys. In 2016, they started wearing black alternate uniforms.

When Nike became the NBA's uniform maker in 2017, the Rockets made small changes. They also wore a "City" uniform with Chinese writing. Later, they had a NASA-inspired space theme for their "City" uniform.

The 2020–21 "City" uniform was powder blue, honoring the city of Houston. It looked like the uniforms of Houston's former NFL team, the Houston Oilers. In 2021, Credit Karma became a sponsor and their logo appeared on the jerseys.

The 2021–22 "City" uniform combined different past designs. It had navy blue with white pinstripes from the 1990s. It also had the "ketchup and mustard" logo and diagonal "Houston" writing from the 1970s. The modern 'R' logo was also included.

For the 2023–24 "City" uniform, the Rockets were inspired by the "Phi Slama Jama" era of the Houston Cougars from the 1980s. This honored Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, who played for both teams. The white uniform had "H-Town" in red cursive letters.

Mascots: Clutch the Bear

The Rockets have a popular mascot named Clutch the Bear. He was introduced on March 14, 1995. Before Clutch, the mascot was Turbo, who did acrobatic dunks. In 1995, Clutch, a large teddy bear-like mascot, joined the team. After eight years, Turbo retired, and Clutch became the only mascot. Clutch is very popular and was even put into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.

Team Rivalries

The Rockets have many rivalries, especially since they moved back to the Western Conference in 1980.

• Texas Teams: They have rivalries with the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets have played both Texas teams in the playoffs many times.
• Los Angeles Lakers: In the 1980s, the Rockets often faced the Lakers, who were a very strong team.
• Utah Jazz: The Rockets beat the Jazz in their championship seasons. But the Jazz also beat the Rockets in the playoffs five other times.

Rockets' Achievements and Records

The Houston Rockets have had many great players and coaches who have won awards and set records.

Individual Honors: Top Players and Coaches

Many Rockets players and coaches have won important awards:

• NBA MVP
  • Moses Malone – 1979, 1982
  • Hakeem Olajuwon – 1994
  • James Harden – 2018
• NBA Finals MVP
  • Hakeem Olajuwon – 1994, 1995
• NBA Scoring Champions
  • Elvin Hayes – 1969
  • James Harden – 2018, 2019, 2020
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • Hakeem Olajuwon – 1993, 1994
• NBA Rookie of the Year
  • Ralph Sampson – 1984
  • Steve Francis – 2000
• NBA Sixth Man of the Year
  • Eric Gordon – 2017
• NBA Most Improved Player
  • Aaron Brooks – 2010
• NBA Coach of the Year
  • Tom Nissalke – 1977
  • Don Chaney – 1991
  • Mike D'Antoni – 2017

All-Star Weekend: Rockets Shine Bright

Rockets players have also been chosen for the NBA All-Star Game and won contests during the All-Star Weekend.

• All-Stars
  • Hakeem Olajuwon (12 times)
  • James Harden (8 times)
  • Yao Ming (8 times)
  • Moses Malone (5 times)
  • Rudy Tomjanovich (5 times)
  • Elvin Hayes (4 times)
  • Ralph Sampson (4 times)
  • Steve Francis (3 times)
  • Tracy McGrady (3 times)
  • Don Kojis (2 times)
  • Clyde Drexler (2 times)
  • Calvin Murphy (1 time)
  • Jack Marin (1 time)
  • Charles Barkley (1 time)
  • Otis Thorpe (1 time)
  • Dwight Howard (1 time)
  • Russell Westbrook (1 time)
• All-Star Game MVP
  • Ralph Sampson – 1985
• Three-Point Contest champion
  • Eric Gordon – 2017
• Skills Challenge champion
  • Patrick Beverley – 2015

Franchise Leaders: Who Holds the Records?

Here are some of the top players in Rockets history for different statistics.

• Points Scored (Regular Season)
  • 1. Hakeem Olajuwon (26,511)
  • 2. James Harden (18,365)
  • 3. Calvin Murphy (17,949)
  • 4. Rudy Tomjanovich (13,383)
  • 5. Elvin Hayes (11,762)
• Rebounds
  • 1. Hakeem Olajuwon (13,382)
  • 2. Elvin Hayes (6,974)
  • 3. Moses Malone (6,959)
• Assists
  • 1. James Harden (4,796)
  • 2. Calvin Murphy (4,402)
  • 3. Allen Leavell (3,339)
• Steals
  • 1. Hakeem Olajuwon (2,088)
  • 2. Calvin Murphy (1,165)
  • 3. James Harden (1,087)
• Blocks
  • 1. Hakeem Olajuwon (3,740)
  • 2. Yao Ming (920)
  • 3. Moses Malone (758)

Retired Numbers: Honoring Legends

The Rockets have retired the jersey numbers of several great players. This means no other player on the team can wear that number.

• 11 – Yao Ming
• 22 – Clyde Drexler
• 23 – Calvin Murphy
• 24 – Moses Malone
• 34 – Hakeem Olajuwon
• 44 – Elvin Hayes
• 45 – Rudy Tomjanovich
• CD – Carroll Dawson (for his work as assistant coach and general manager)
• The NBA also retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Many players and coaches who were part of the Rockets have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for those who have made a huge impact on basketball.

Team Management: Who Runs the Rockets?

The Rockets have had different people in charge of the team over the years.

General Managers: Building the Team

The general manager (GM) is in charge of picking players, making trades, and building the team.

• Rafael Stone is the current GM (since October 2020).
• Other GMs include Daryl Morey (2007–2020), Carroll Dawson (1996–2007), and Ray Patterson (1972–1989).

Owners: The Team's Leaders

The owner is the person or group who owns the team.

• Tilman Fertitta is the current owner (since October 2017).
• Other owners include Leslie Alexander (1993–2017) and Charlie Thomas (1982–1993).

Head Coaches: Guiding the Team

The head coach leads the team during games and practices.

• Ime Udoka is the current head coach (since 2023).
• Famous Rockets coaches include Rudy Tomjanovich (1992–2003), who led the team to two championships, and Mike D'Antoni (2016–2020).

Politics and the Rockets

Sometimes, sports teams or their members can get involved in political discussions. In October 2019, the Rockets' general manager at the time, Daryl Morey, posted a message on social media that supported protests happening in Hong Kong. This caused some disagreement. The team's owner, Tilman Fertitta, said that while Morey was a great manager, the Rockets were not a political organization. Morey later removed his post.

This message led to reactions from China, including their basketball association stopping its relationship with the Rockets. Both Morey and the NBA later released statements about the situation. This event showed how actions by individuals in sports can sometimes lead to bigger discussions about politics and international relations.

See also

In Spanish: Houston Rockets para niños

Images for kids

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  The Summit (later Compaq Center) hosted the Rockets from 1975 to 2003, and was also the site where the Rockets won both of their NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. Today the site is the worship center for Lakewood Church.

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  Toyota Center is the current home of the Houston Rockets.

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  Elvin Hayes was selected first overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1968 NBA draft

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  Hakeem Olajuwon won Finals MVP for both of the Houston Rockets' championship seasons in 1994 and 1995

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  A ticket for Game 2 of the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals between the Rockets and the Seattle SuperSonics

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  Rudy Tomjanovich spent all his playing career with the Rockets, and after becoming the team's head coach in 1992 led Houston to two straight championships.

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  Yao Ming during his rookie season with the Rockets

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  Yao Ming carrying his home country's Five-star Red Flag at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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  Houston acquired Tracy McGrady in 2004.

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  James Harden arrived in Houston in 2012, and became a franchise player for the Rockets.

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  Chris Paul (Shown in 2022) arrived in Houston in 2017

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  Alperen Sengun

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  Clutch the Bear is the Rockets' mascot.