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+====== Houston Rockets ======
+===== Rocket Launch =====
+The team was originally established as the San Diego Rockets in 1967 before moving to Houston in 1971.[([[https://sportsteamhistory.com/san-diego-rockets/|sportsteamhistory]])]
+===== Why "Rockets"? =====
+The "Rockets" name was inspired by San Diego’s aerospace industry; it conveniently fit Houston, home to NASA.[([[https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/dsd_appendix-e3-historical-resource-technical-report-san-diego-international-sports-arena.pdf|sandiego]])]
+===== Home of NASA =====
+Houston's nickname “Space City” made the Rockets a perfect thematic match when the team relocated.[([[https://www.reddit.com/r/Texans/comments/10oeqlc/does_anyone_else_wish_we_had_a_different_team_name/|reddit]])]
+===== Early Struggles =====
+The team had a rough start, finishing their inaugural 1967–68 season with just 15 wins.[([[https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Little-known-facts-about-the-Houston-Rockets-11114580.php|chron]])]
+===== The First Pick =====
+In 1968, the Rockets drafted future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes with the No. 1 overall pick.[([[https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/elvin-hayes/|hoophall]])]
+===== Elvin's Epic Rookie Year =====
+Elvin Hayes led the league in scoring his rookie season with 28.4 PPG.[([[https://from-way-downtown.com/2025/04/05/its-a-new-year-for-elvin-hayes-1971/|from-way-downtown]])]
+=====  First Playoff Series Win =====
+Their first playoff series win came in 1975 against the New York Knicks.[([[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/09/archives/knicks-beaten-by-rockets-in-playoff-opener-9984-knicks-fall-to.html|nytimes]])]
+===== Moses the MVP =====
+Moses Malone won two MVP awards (1979, 1982) while playing for the Rockets.[([[https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nba/nba-players-with-most-mvp-awards/3853221/?os=rokufno_journeysdtrue&ref=app|nbcphiladelphia]])]
+===== 1981 NBA Finals Run =====
+As a 40–42 team, the Rockets reached the 1981 NBA Finals—a rare feat for a sub-.500 team.[([[https://www.reddit.com/r/nbadiscussion/comments/pyl22o/how_the_1981_rockets_made_the_finals_despite_a/|reddit]])]
+===== Twin Towers Era =====
+The 1980s Rockets featured the "Twin Towers" — Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.[([[https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-sampson-lakers|nba]])]
+===== Drafting Hakeem =====
+In 1984, the Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon with the No. 1 pick—passing on Michael Jordan.[([[https://www.thedreamshake.com/2022/8/20/23313183/what-if-michael-jordan-was-drafted-by-the-houston-rockets-in-1984-hakeem-olajuwon-chicago-bulls-nba|thedreamshake]])]
+===== Clutch City is Born =====
+The term "Clutch City" was born after the Rockets came back from multiple playoff deficits in 1994.[([[https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Choke-City-The-story-behind-a-memorable-12904247.php|houstonchronicle]])]
+===== Back-to-Back Champions =====
+The Rockets won NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, the only titles in franchise history so far.[([[https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball/NBA-championship|britannica]])]
+===== 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).[([[https://www.quora.com/Who-are-the-only-three-players-to-have-won-NBA-MVP-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-and-Finals-MVP-in-the-same-season|quora]])]
+===== Clyde Drexler Reunion =====
+Hakeem reunited with former University of Houston teammate Clyde Drexler in 1995, helping secure the second title.[([[https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/slideshow/Clyde-Drexler-through-the-years-131358.php|chron]])]

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