Table of Contents
Houston Rockets
Rocket Launch
The team was originally established as the San Diego Rockets in 1967 before moving to Houston in 1971.1)
Why "Rockets"?
The “Rockets” name was inspired by San Diego’s aerospace industry; it conveniently fit Houston, home to NASA.2)
Home of NASA
Houston's nickname “Space City” made the Rockets a perfect thematic match when the team relocated.3)
Early Struggles
The team had a rough start, finishing their inaugural 1967–68 season with just 15 wins.4)
The First Pick
In 1968, the Rockets drafted future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes with the No. 1 overall pick.5)
Elvin's Epic Rookie Year
Elvin Hayes led the league in scoring his rookie season with 28.4 PPG.6)
First Playoff Series Win
Their first playoff series win came in 1975 against the New York Knicks.7)
Moses the MVP
Moses Malone won two MVP awards (1979, 1982) while playing for the Rockets.8)
1981 NBA Finals Run
As a 40–42 team, the Rockets reached the 1981 NBA Finals—a rare feat for a sub-.500 team.9)
Twin Towers Era
The 1980s Rockets featured the “Twin Towers” — Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.10)
Drafting Hakeem
In 1984, the Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon with the No. 1 pick—passing on Michael Jordan.11)
Clutch City is Born
The term “Clutch City” was born after the Rockets came back from multiple playoff deficits in 1994.12)
Back-to-Back Champions
The Rockets won NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, the only titles in franchise history so far.13)
Hakeem's Dominance
Hakeem Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (1994).14)
Clyde Drexler Reunion
Hakeem reunited with former University of Houston teammate Clyde Drexler in 1995, helping secure the second title.15)
Beating Four 50-Win Teams
In 1995, the Rockets beat four 50-win teams en route to their title—an unprecedented playoff path.16)
Charles Barkley Era
The Rockets traded for Charles Barkley in 1996, forming a veteran super team with Olajuwon and Drexler.17)
Yao Ming's Arrival
In 2002, Houston selected Yao Ming as the No. 1 pick—the first international player taken No. 1 without U.S. college experience.18)
Global Icon
Yao Ming turned the Rockets into a global brand, especially in China.19)
Yao & T-Mac Duo
Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady formed one of the most electrifying duos of the 2000s, though injuries hindered their potential.20)
22-Game Win Streak
In 2007–08, the Rockets won 22 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NBA history at the time.21)
The Harden Era Begins
The Rockets traded for James Harden in 2012, sparking a new era of success.22)
Scoring Machine
Harden led the league in scoring three straight seasons (2018–2020).23)
2018 MVP
James Harden won NBA MVP in 2018, the first Rocket to do so since Olajuwon.24)
Most Threes in a Game
The Rockets set an NBA record with 27 made three-pointers in a single game (2019).25)
Moreyball
Under GM Daryl Morey, the Rockets pioneered the “Moreyball” strategy emphasizing 3-pointers and analytics.26)
Chris Paul Trade
In 2017, Houston acquired Chris Paul, forming a deadly duo with Harden.27)
65 Wins
The 2017–18 Rockets had the best regular season in franchise history at 65–17.28)
Western Conference Finals Heartbreak
Houston lost a heartbreaking 7-game series to the Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, missing 27 straight threes in Game 7.29)
Russell Westbrook Reunion
In 2019, the Rockets reunited Harden and Russell Westbrook, former OKC teammates.30)
Small-Ball Experiment
Houston went all-in on small ball in 2020, trading away their center and relying on P.J. Tucker at 6'5“ to anchor the paint.31)
Post-Harden Rebuild
After Harden’s departure in 2021, the team entered a full rebuild phase.32)
Young Core Rising
As of 2024–25, the Rockets have one of the youngest and most promising cores, featuring players like Jalen Green and Amen Thompson.33)
Ime Udoka Takes Over
In 2023, the Rockets hired former Celtics coach Ime Udoka to lead the rebuild.34)
Toyota Center
The Rockets have played at Toyota Center since 2003—it replaced the old Compaq Center.35)
Red Rowdies
Houston’s diehard fan section, the Red Rowdies, are known for their passionate energy and creative chants.36)
Retired Jerseys
The Rockets have retired numbers for several legends: Olajuwon (34), Drexler (22), Yao (11), Murphy (23), Malone (24), Tomjanovich (45).37)
Rudy T’s Legacy
Coach Rudy Tomjanovich famously said: “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion” after the 1995 title.38)
Hakeem’s All-Time Block Record
Olajuwon holds the NBA record for most career blocked shots with 3,830.39)
Longest Tenured Rocket
Hakeem Olajuwon played 17 seasons with the Rockets, the longest in franchise history.40)
Houston Comets Connection
The Rockets once shared the Compaq Center with the WNBA’s Houston Comets, who won four straight championships.41)
Jersey Evolution
The Rockets' jerseys have evolved from green (in San Diego) to red and gold, to pinstripes, to sleek black alternates in the 2020s.42)
Rockets in Pop Culture
The Rockets were prominently featured in the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy via James Harden’s character.43)
Houston’s Big Three Attempts
Over the decades, Houston has tried various “Big Three” experiments—from Olajuwon-Drexler-Barkley to Harden-Paul-Capela.44)
International Pipeline
The Rockets have long valued international talent, with players from China, Spain, Lithuania, Turkey, Argentina, Nigeria, and more.45)