History of the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are one of the NBA’s most recognizable franchises, with a history spanning nearly six decades. From their beginnings as the San Diego Rockets in 1967 to winning back-to-back NBA championships in the 1990s and becoming a perennial contender in the modern era, the Rockets have been home to some of basketball’s greatest players and most memorable moments.
From San Diego to Houston
The franchise was founded in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets, one of two NBA expansion teams added alongside the Seattle SuperSonics. The nickname “Rockets” reflected San Diego’s thriving aerospace industry.
After struggling through four seasons in California, the franchise was sold and relocated to Houston, Texas, before the 1971-72 season. The move proved fitting, as Houston had become known worldwide as the home of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center (now the Johnson Space Center). Few team nicknames have ever matched their new city so perfectly.
Although the franchise moved, one player remained its cornerstone: Elvin Hayes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft.
Building Around Moses Malone
After Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets in 1972, the Rockets entered a rebuilding period.
Houston drafted Rudy Tomjanovich in 1970, and he became one of the franchise’s first stars. His career was tragically altered by a devastating on-court punch from Kermit Washington during the 1977 season, an incident that remains one of the darkest moments in NBA history.
The Rockets’ fortunes improved dramatically with the arrival of Moses Malone, who became one of the NBA’s most dominant centers.
Behind Malone’s incredible rebounding and scoring, Houston reached its first NBA Finals in 1981, becoming the first team with a losing regular-season record (40-42) to advance to the Finals. Although they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games, the appearance established Houston as a legitimate contender.
Malone won two NBA MVP Awards while playing for Houston before being traded to Philadelphia in 1982.
The Twin Towers Era
Houston quickly returned to prominence after selecting Hakeem Olajuwon with the first overall pick in the legendary 1984 NBA Draft, ahead of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton.
Olajuwon joined 7-foot-4 center Ralph Sampson to form the famous “Twin Towers.”
During the 1985-86 season, Houston defeated the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals before advancing to its second NBA Finals.
The Rockets ultimately lost to the Boston Celtics in six games, but Olajuwon established himself as one of basketball’s premier players.
Unfortunately, injuries soon derailed Sampson’s career, leaving Olajuwon to carry the franchise alone.
Championship Glory
The Rockets reached the pinnacle of the NBA during the mid-1990s.
After years of playoff disappointments, Houston finally broke through during the 1993-94 season.
Led by Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets finished 58-24 before defeating the New York Knicks in a dramatic seven-game NBA Finals.
Olajuwon became the first player in NBA history to win:
- NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- NBA Finals MVP
…all in the same season.
The following year, Houston entered the playoffs as only the sixth seed but embarked on one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history.
After acquiring Clyde Drexler, the Rockets defeated:
- Utah Jazz
- Phoenix Suns
- San Antonio Spurs
- Orlando Magic
Houston repeated as NBA Champions in 1995, becoming the lowest-seeded team ever to win an NBA championship—a record that still stands.
The Post-Championship Years
As Olajuwon aged, Houston attempted to extend its championship window by adding future Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. Despite high expectations, injuries and chemistry issues prevented another trip to the NBA Finals.
Olajuwon retired following the 2001 season as one of the greatest centers in basketball history.
The Yao Ming Era
Houston’s future brightened when the Rockets selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.
Yao became one of basketball’s biggest international stars while helping expand the NBA’s popularity throughout China.
Paired with superstar guard Tracy McGrady, Houston became a consistent playoff team.
The duo produced many memorable moments, including McGrady’s legendary 13 points in 35 seconds against San Antonio in December 2004.
Unfortunately, recurring injuries prevented Yao and McGrady from leading Houston to the NBA Finals.
The James Harden Era
A new era began in 2012 when Houston acquired James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
General Manager Daryl Morey embraced analytics more aggressively than almost any executive in professional sports, building an offense centered on three-point shooting and free throws.
Harden developed into one of the NBA’s greatest scorers, winning the 2018 NBA MVP Award after averaging 30.4 points per game.
The Rockets surrounded him with stars including:
- Dwight Howard
- Chris Paul
- Russell Westbrook
Houston came closest to another championship during the 2017-18 season, winning a franchise-record 65 games. After taking a 3-2 lead over the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, injuries—including Chris Paul’s hamstring injury—and a historic cold streak from three-point range prevented Houston from advancing.
Rebuilding Around Young Talent
Following Harden’s departure in 2021, the Rockets entered another rebuilding phase.
The franchise accumulated young talent through the NBA Draft, selecting players including:
- Jalen Green
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Amen Thompson
- Cam Whitmore
- Reed Sheppard
In 2023, the Rockets hired head coach Ime Udoka, whose defensive philosophy helped accelerate the team’s development.
Houston also added experienced veterans such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Steven Adams, providing leadership for one of the NBA’s youngest rosters.
Rockets Legends
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Moses Malone
- Elvin Hayes
- Clyde Drexler
- Charles Barkley
- Scottie Pippen
- Yao Ming
- Tracy McGrady
- James Harden
- Rudy Tomjanovich
- Calvin Murphy
- Robert Horry
- Otis Thorpe
- Vernon Maxwell
- Kenny Smith
NBA Championships
| Season | Result |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | NBA Champions |
| 1994-95 | NBA Champions |
NBA Finals Appearances
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Lost 4-2 |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | Lost 4-2 |
| 1994 | New York Knicks | Won 4-3 |
| 1995 | Orlando Magic | Won 4-0 |
Legacy
The Houston Rockets have evolved from a relocated expansion franchise into one of the NBA’s premier organizations. The team has featured some of basketball’s greatest centers—including Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Yao Ming—and has consistently embraced innovation, from the “Twin Towers” era to the analytics-driven offenses of the James Harden years.
With two NBA championships, four Western Conference titles, numerous Hall of Fame players, and a promising young core, the Rockets remain one of the NBA’s most successful and influential franchises. As they continue to build around their emerging stars, Houston appears poised to write another exciting chapter in its storied history.