houston rockets houston rockets american professional basketball team based houston texas rockets compete national_basketball_association nba member club league team plays home games toyota center located downtown houston rockets won nba championships titles team established san diego rockets expansion team originally based san_diego rockets moved houston rockets won games debut season franchise nba draft rockets selected power forward overall lead team playoff appearance rookie season rockets finish season winning record season traded center moses went win nba valuable player mvp award twice lead houston conference finals year team led rockets defeated games led future rockets coach rockets drafted center paired feet inches forming tallest courts nba nicknamed twin towers led team second berth franchise history houston defeated rockets continued reach playoffs 1980s failed advance past second round rest decade took head coach midway season successful period franchise history rockets reach led team franchise championship patrick team repeated champions sixth seed west swept favored led young houston lowest seeded team nba history win title rockets acquired star forward presence nba greatest players time propel houston past aging trio left team rockets early 21st century led superstars followed trend consistent regular season followed playoff players struggled injuries early retirement rockets entered period rebuilding completely roster acquisitions franchise players launched rockets championship contention rockets general manager notable use advanced statistical similar baseball player acquisitions style play franchise history san diego rockets rockets founded san_diego paid entry fee million join nba expansion team nba season nba wanted add teams chose san_diego based city strong economic population local success ice hockey team owned resulting contest franchise chose rockets paid homage san_diego theme city motion local arm developing missile rocket program brought coach serve rockets coach general manager team join league built roster veteran players expansion draft college players nba draft san_diego draft pick rockets lost games inaugural season nba record losses season time rockets won coin toss determine overall pick nba draft selected improved rockets record wins losses franchise playoff appearance rockets lost semi finals games despite additions management hall_of_fame coach rockets tallied record following seasons playoffs season low performance attendance looked sell team bought franchise million moved team houston franchise nba team texas nickname rockets took greater relevance given houston long connection space industry improving houston murphy start nba season left denver rockets later renamed joined nba hired place winter clashes system contrasted offensive style accustomed ask trade leaving end season time rockets classic yellow red logo accompanying uniforms end season winter left soon fired january following game losing streak replaced led rockets playoffs franchise managed win round subsequently losing veteran games time rockets gained popularity houston selling home games regular season rockets battled playoff spot selling home playoff games moses era nba season rockets finally permanent home houston moved summit home years period franchise owned developer plaza included summit missing playoffs hired coach pressed team add play making guard college standout center moses coached additions immediate impact rockets winning going way losing games following season team wins injury captain got numerous facial punched washington wound spending months rehabilitation trading lucas golden state warriors exchange rockets returned playoffs chairman boards moses receiving team swept atlanta round let assistant promoted head coach new_mexico bought rockets million died following year family expressed interest selling team george year old son took rockets buyer eventually found businessman purchased franchise million period ownership marked dominant period rockets highlighted team appearance prior season arrival dallas led nba realignment sent rockets houston qualified playoffs final game season record post season rockets beat state rivals equally second team nba history minneapolis advanced finals achieving losing record regular season final round facing finals round rockets blew late lead game won game boston garden team failed capitalize early success favored eventually lost games new owner expressed interest moses chosen mvp rockets traded philadelphia declining regional economy rockets unable pay salary rockets finished league worst coach hired replace outgoing team won pick nba draft select good numbers awarded nba rookie year award rockets finished overall getting pick upcoming nba draft select era twin towers era season finished second nba rookie year rockets record improved games good return playoffs best team west upset sixth seeded duo earned praise nicknamed twin towers following season houston won midwest division title record subsequent playoffs rockets sweeping sacramento kings having hard fought game series facing defending champion losing game eventually managing win series western playoffs defeat franchise second finals appearance nba finals matched rockets contrast houston young challenging playoff hardened court won games boston gave rockets home playoff defeat season game clinched title bird scored triple double game finals boston coach called rockets new monsters block feeling bright future team poor start following season amidst players getting injured suspended cocaine usage playoffs defeated second round early season signed new contract traded golden state warriors bringing twin towers era end months finals appearance promising career shortened chronic knee injuries forced retirement jones prophecy rockets dynasty early lean years seasons rockets failed qualify playoffs eliminated round elimination led dismissal replacing head coach celtic best season named leading rockets record despite absence injury games despite usual strong numbers roster lifted attempts rebuild team nucleus incorporated players later impact years come midway season rockets record fired replaced assistant houston player rockets playoffs arrival considered step forward year rockets improved record games getting midwest division title winning playoff series years defeating elimination game overtime loss championships july purchased rockets million second year head coach rockets began season tying nba record start led named mvp defensive player year rockets won franchise record games aside second round went seven games rockets easily beat western conference contestants playoffs advance finals opened advantage rockets managed win games home court claimed championship franchise history awarded finals mvp averaging points rebounds blocked shots game rockets initially struggled half season fixed sending exchange college teammate wins rockets entered playoffs sixth seed strong playoff run earned houston nickname rockets defeating west seeds jazz spurs reach finals time orlando magic led houston swept series straight games team nba history win championship sixth seed beat win teams single postseason route championship finals mvp second player win award years row rebuilding offseason rockets went change visual identity making navy blue silver new primary colors adopting new cartoon inspired logo rockets won games campaign nba time leader blocked shots playoffs rockets beating sweep start succeeding season rockets sent players phoenix exchange resulting big strong debut season record going way western conference finals losing utah jazz dramatic second shot following season marked injuries houston finished 8th seed leading elimination seeded jazz retired season rockets traded bring place strike shortened season rockets lost round playoffs draft rockets traded second overall pick vancouver exchange players round draft pick houston traded portland suffered career ending injury rebuilt rockets went missed playoffs second time years season rockets worked way record competitive western conference seven teams won games left rockets games playoffs following offseason year old requested trade despite stating desire rockets reached sign trade agreement sending toronto ensuing season decades rockets finished wins return relevance arrives houston awarded overall pick nba draft selected feet inches chinese center rockets missed playoffs game improving record victories season marked rockets arrival new arena redesign uniforms logo season resigned head coach diagnosed cancer led coach rockets finished regular season record earning playoff berth losing round duo offseason houston saw major changes roster rockets acquired seven player deal scoring champion strong formed regarded pair helped rockets win consecutive games nba season time 3rd longest winning streak nba history duo plagued injuries regular season games teammates missed win playoff series despite gathering leads dallas jazz elimination fired rockets hired replace season rockets signed forward wound playing half games enduring season ending surgery rockets ended season fifth seed playoffs rockets beat games winning round series injured knee forced retire seasons nba second round rockets losing suffering season ending injury time fracture left foot competitive rebuilding season rockets saw departures offseason mid season trades despite great play arrived kings eventually chosen improved player season rockets playoffs finishing 3rd time rockets set nba record best record team stars rockets finish ninth following seasons getting season ending injury seven games season deciding retire offseason said offseason saw nba going dismissed general manager deciding start rockets based advanced statistical similar baseball player acquisitions style play named head coach roster saw significant changes present era resurgence roster moves nba offseason players left rockets roster leaving trades nba season important acquisition reigning sixth man year called player expected houston featured player supporting role oklahoma city thunder caused immediate impact starting lineup rockets points assists rebounds steals block season opener average points game season combining performance tempo offense rockets highest scoring offenses nba leading league scoring majority season post season rockets fell round losing series eager add franchise player team rockets heavily pursued free agent center offseason officially signed rockets july led new inside combination howard strong supporting cast including rockets expected jump title contention upcoming season post season rockets defeated round losing series season parsons reinforced rockets started season winning games season time winning games points team accomplish feat rockets key players miss time entire season took rockets near conference turning mvp runner rocket score points game player franchise history record multiple point games season april rockets beat jazz claim title division crown completing wins finished best regular season record franchise history playoffs rockets beat round overcame deficit win return time years rockets defeated season saw fired bad start team won games assistant took coaching duties inconsistent play led rockets struggling remain playoff qualifying zone surrounded trade rumors houston clinched playoffs spot winning game finishing season earn seed match warriors like previous year rockets defeated games june rockets named new head coach season season record list seasons completed rockets season season history list houston rockets seasons note games played wins losses winning percentage home arenas years rockets san_diego played games seating capacity season moving houston rockets arena played years venues city including eventually adopted home arena play home games cities san_antonio san_diego efforts extend fan base season rockets averaged fans game roughly half game fans attendance permanent arena houston seat campus moved starting second season played arena years occupying summit arena hold spectators home years renamed following title rockets streak consecutive home games including playoffs lasted struggling seasons saw houston having worst attendance average league spectators season season rockets moved new arena seating capacity nba season team achieved game winning streak rockets got best numbers date averaging spectators exceeded joined team rockets averaged spectators season selling home games better numbers average tickets sold team identity uniforms rockets debuted san_diego colors green gold road uniforms featured city home uniforms feature team block lettering uniform design rockets use years san_diego rockets logo featured rocket basketball surrounded team moving houston rockets replaced green red kept design san_diego days save change color city logo player spinning basketball launching upward leaving trail red gold flames words houston rockets season rockets introduced famous logo dubbed fans featuring gold basketball surrounded red trails houston atop red trail rockets capitalized save black surrounding basketball initial home uniforms season features city numbers player red gold trim away uniforms feature city capitalized lower case numbers player gold white trim season rockets modified uniforms featuring look cooper black white lettering road uniforms home shorts team logo located right leg away shorts feature team location minor modifications number font version appearances including championships following title rockets opted look fan contest entries team went idea artist rocket basketball reworked houston designer nash later sue rockets breach contract given idea despite having paid contest prizes nba suggested cartoon inspired imagery teams adopted 1990s leading rocket painted nose art basketball red retained navy blue silver uniform primary colors home white away navy uniforms featured gradient fading futuristic number stripes navy fading red season rockets current uniforms introduced season created new_york based agency association japanese designer logo stylized shape rocket takeoff surrounded red orbit streak interpreted central circle basketball court said inspired team new custom designed single digit read distance arena television red dominant color silver black secondary rockets invoked championship years alternate red uniform featuring gold numbers stripes rockets alternate season alternate silver colored uniform design referenced design nasa rocket red gold jersey featuring nickname mascot 1980s called mascot turbo man performed maneuvers rockets debuted second mascot large bear like mascot performs variety acts games years serving dual performer playing turbo retired making clutch sole mascot team rivalries rockets developed rivalries western conference team returned interstate rivalries moved rockets years dallas introduced season houston faced texas teams beating spurs occasions losing twice famed rivalries 1980s showtime era missed beaten rockets utah jazz rockets beat championship seasons defeated utah occasions honors statistics individual honors statistics records franchise leaders bold denotes active team denotes active team points scored regular season end season statistics regular season end season players current roster complete list houston rockets players houston rockets time roster players drafted list houston rockets second round draft picks retained draft rights rockets hold draft rights following unsigned draft picks playing outside nba drafted player international college signed team drafted allowed sign non nba teams case team retains player draft rights nba year player contract non nba team ends list includes draft rights acquired trades teams notable players retired numbers served head coach play rockets team initials numbers number issued announced retirement july probably retired according owner basketball hall april elected inducted september notes players inducted hall_of_fame members olympic team management coaches san_diego rockets houston rockets winter interim present
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