history houston rockets houston rockets american professional basketball team based houston texas team plays national_basketball_association nba team established played san_diego california years moving houston texas rockets debut season won games drafting overall nba draft appearance playoffs traded moses replaced won valuable player mvp awards time houston led rockets conference finals year rockets took rockets defeated games years advancing finals rockets traded losing seasons having franchise low victories gave houston straight overall picks bring future hall eventually got rockets way finals lost boston seven seasons lost round playoffs times win championship led franchise best wins championship rockets repeated feat following seasons advance finals missed playoffs reach playoffs drafted advance past round playoffs years nba season rockets successful campaign 2000s winning games victories row lost round following season team managed win playoff series time defeating round nba playoffs pushed eventual champion seven games western conference semifinals decade rockets roster contenders nba title nba season led head coach guard rockets won division title years reached time san_diego rockets national_basketball_association commissioner visited san_diego saw passionate support invited owner arena nba owners meeting league wanted add franchises represented owners liked input meeting combining city economic population success san_diego chosen receive expansion team paid million dollars entry fee join nba expansion team nba season resulting contest franchise chose rockets san_diego theme city motion local arm developing missile rocket program brought coach serve rockets coach general manager team built roster veteran players expansion draft college players nba draft san_diego draft pick rockets inaugural game held october fans seeing rockets lose closely rockets lost games inaugural season nba record losses season attendance ranked eighth league teams leading financial losses sole bright spot inaugural season forward good numbers earned spot nba star game rockets won coin toss determine overall pick nba draft selected led team franchise playoff appearance rockets lost semi finals games nba draft rockets drafted spend careers rockets despite coached hall_of_fame coach rockets tallied record playoffs seasons poor performance attendance sold team led real estate broker banker group bought franchise million immediately moved team houston franchise nba team texas team nickname rockets took greater relevance houston home nasa improving houston arrival disbelief rockets thrive houston coming city suitable arena shown interest professional basketball houston previously home seasons average attendance city largest indoor arena year old rockets quickly ruled playing temporary basis team owners planned building proper arena rockets forced play games playing occasional games san_antonio start nba season left denver rockets later renamed hired place winter said worst player coached applied system contrasted offensive style accustomed differences winter houston traded led rockets scoring straight years end season winter left soon fired january following game losing streak rockets second worst team league replaced record rockets earn berth nba playoffs moving san_diego winning playoff series franchise history defeating led game mini series ultimately bow upcoming champions games semi finals rockets arena summit following season arena located near plaza developer rockets primary owner moses era failure qualify playoffs soon season ended replaced coach knew rockets firepower needed center play making guard pressed rockets management acquire college standout drafted overall nba draft pick houston acquired sending ninth pick atlanta hawks player started season houston acquired sending buffalo round picks drafts led rockets straight times established nba record offensive rebounds season rockets posted franchise best wins won franchise finishing round bye playoffs houston defeated led seven games semi finals advanced conference finals time history lost seeded philadelphia led superstar early season game december got fight washington approached altercation washington turned punched face causing numerous face spent months rehabilitation returned appear star game averages significantly declined injury houston finished wins season following season murphy played nba star game received rockets sent golden state warriors exchange went set nba record time free throw percentage season shooting rockets went season coach finished second lost atlanta best round series 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 led new coach houston campaign team finished record tying second place rockets defeated spurs games round playoff series swept eastern conference semi finals season newly established nba team texas nba conferences sent rockets previously played harris second season houston tied kansas_city second place midwest division san_antonio record qualified playoffs game left season murphy set nba records sinking consecutive free throws break mark set achieving free throw percentage breaking barry record set rockets playoffs houston began run began upset los_angeles games defeated spurs games western conference semifinals resulted conference finals matchup led kings fell rockets games rockets team nba history advanced finals having losing record regular season splitting games series boston houston eventually lost games following season rockets improved regular season mark eliminated round playoffs won mvp season new owner expressed interest contract following offseason rockets traded philadelphia avoid paying salary rockets finished league worst coach hired replace outgoing winning coin flip obtain pick nba draft rockets selected good numbers rockets finished season averaging points rebounds game earning nba rookie year award era twin towers era houston given pick nba draft select season finished second nba rookie year rockets record improved games eliminated round playoffs following season named year star game duo nicknamed twin towers houston won midwest division title record contrast guard oriented teams rockets high rotation position left team games season replaced games breaking wrist took starter final game regular season playoffs rockets swept sacramento kings hard fought series including game going double overtime exhausting altitude mile high city young squad eventually pulled away victory faced defending champion conference finals rockets ready knock rivals best regular season rockets blown game spinning reverse alley notwithstanding embarrassed loss rockets stormed shock star defending champions straight wins impressive games series victory feat western conference team come close showtime won game described greatest moment basketball career rockets competed finals second time team history facing boston happy getting shot revenge beaten finals year matchup interesting young court challenging playoff hardened court bird parish won games boston garden rockets win games series went houston close game leadership point leading game got ejected losing game late rockets guard game went boston finding foul trouble little effect older series boston coach called rockets new monsters block future looking bright rockets game championship series loss averaged points shooting rebounds assists game year rockets started poorly winning games amidst injuries star players court controversies rest roster getting suspended cocaine use team playoffs advanced second round past favored portland trail eventually proving playoff victory eliminated game double overtime classic scored points losing cause signed new deal prior nba season traded early season golden state warriors exchange floyd learned trade arrived houston road game twin towers split months finals appearance lean years seasons rockets eliminated straight times round playoffs leading dismissal hired replace named season leading rockets record despite absence injury games rockets eliminated round playoffs midway season rockets record fired replaced assistants houston player rockets playoffs year rockets won loss record improved games won games won year award rockets clinched midwest title playoffs started houston series victory 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 rockets recovered games second round playoffs advance finals houston games managed win games home court claim championship franchise history awarded finals mvp averaging points rebounds blocked shots game rockets initially struggled half season ended winning games games lower previous year total midseason trade portland rockets obtained guard teammate exchange houston entered playoffs sixth seed started strong playoff run earned nickname pushing utah jazz games rockets seven points remaining led comeback fell second round won straight win series team nba history overcome series deficit seven game series rocket beat conference finals included season mvp averaging points rebounds return finals led houston swept series straight games team nba history win championship sixth seed champion lowest seed home court round beat win teams single postseason route championship named finals mvp second player win award years row 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 beat round playoffs swept second round start succeeding season rockets dramatic trade sent players phoenix exchange resulting big led rockets record houston swept minnesota round game battle seattle rockets fell western conference finals team beaten way championships season marked injuries team finished eighth seed houston faced jazz time round lost series retired season rockets bold trade bring place strike shortened season rocket went lost round playoffs end big era draft rockets traded overall pick vancouver exchange players round draft pick houston traded stating chemistry problems old rival teammate suffered career ending injury rebuilt rockets went missed playoffs second time years season rockets worked way record playoffs following offseason year old requested trade despite stating desire rockets reached sign trade agreement sending toronto proceeding season houston season years disappointing era houston awarded overall pick selected foot inch chinese center rockets record improved games missed playoffs game following season houston began playing new arena redesigned uniforms logo long time coach resigned diagnosed cancer replaced rockets finished regular season record earned playoff berth handed rockets loss round duo offseason houston saw major changes roster rockets acquired seven player deal season saw lead rockets best record years finishing seeded fifth western conference playoffs season ended round playoffs lost state rival dallas seven games despite leading series following season injury plagued year missed total games team finished wins missed playoffs rockets improved games year wins lost round leading lost seven games utah loss fired rockets hired replace following year despite suffering season ending injury year row rockets won consecutive games second longest winning streak nba history streak included going month february making team chicago finish entire month undefeated houston finished season eliminated second year row jazz round playoffs games season rockets acquired sacramento kings new big barely played games injuries knee bothered year performance eventually opted mid season surgery season despite team went win games season earned round match houston struck fast blowing road game route series win time advancing round games career injured knee forced retire seasons nba despite winning game western conference semifinals rockets ended losing tough fought series seven games saw leave injury eventually sidelined upcoming season season sixth man left greece left team signing rockets acquired defensive star disabled player exception granted league injury september rockets unveiled new alternate uniforms inspired championship uniforms featured similar colors february hours trade deadline rockets acquired team trade sent tracy sacramento kings despite stellar play martin named nba improved player rockets playoffs finishing 3rd time rockets set nba record best record team stars rockets drafted kentucky 14th pick nba draft july rockets signed free agent month later traded team player trade rockets received return nba season started badly rockets lost games seventh injured left ankle fifth game season examined thought mild turned stress fracture kept court season july retired series unfortunate injuries cut career short star break february rockets february rockets traded round pick traded round pick team won games reaching winning record playoff spot team entered april chances qualifying postseason second straight season rockets failed playoffs losing louisiana games remaining team finished year winning record head coach left rockets right season june rockets named head coach 14th pick nba draft houston rockets selected 38th pick draft selected offseason extended nba rockets office started plan roster overhaul ended team tried use cap space attract high profile free agents including nearing trade deadline march rockets traded rockets sent return waived shortly signed thunder round pick nba draft strike shortened season rockets eliminated playoff contention season penultimate game eventual champions miami heat milwaukee traded 12th overall pick rockets 14th overall pick traded 18th pick draft houston drafted connecticut iowa state kentucky 12th 16th 18th picks respectively era present nba offseason rockets significant changes roster early july traded let return free agency saw arrival pick lithuania signed deal july rockets released veteran forward time amnesty clause july rockets signed restricted free agent year million contract decided match rockets offer sheet achieved worldwide fame game stretch high performance basketball play known stepped place injured players july restricted free agent signed year million offer sheet rockets decided match offer july officially joined rockets october rockets traded future round picks reigning sixth man year cole stepped previous sixth man role starting lineup rockets points assists rebounds steals block debut rocket points rebounds assists steals signed year contract extension rockets worth approximately million days trade completed scored career high points second game rockets atlanta hawks tied career high points overtime loss spurs sat ankle selected nba star game held houston february houston rockets point field goals game golden state warriors nba team record game rockets achieved home game record points scored toyota center victory february rockets acquired fifth overall pick trade sacramento kings houston sent night rockets defeated oklahoma city thunder trailing remaining game scored career high points win team despite youngest team nba rockets highest scoring offenses nba remarkable players starting forward backup forward center rarely played rookie season left roster head coach ran tempo offense emphasis transition shooting playing fast pace result rockets highest scoring offenses nba leading league scoring majority season post season rockets fell round losing series nba season evolved franchise player rockets averaging points game howard duo eager add franchise player team rockets heavily pursued free agent center offseason july howard announced twitter account intended sign houston rockets july period ended nba fined rockets talking howard period 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 following season ups downs injury form traded july day rockets declined match year million offer sheet received compensate departure rockets agreed bring year million deal free agency deal officially completed team trade rockets received sign trade traded double wins utah boston philadelphia start nba season rockets recorded start time won games season recording double digit wins miami san_antonio games rockets won games points team accomplish feat december rockets acquired veterans added depth roster rockets key players miss time entire season took rockets near conference turning mvp runner march scored career high points victory rocket score points scored april scored points win sacramento kings player franchise history record multiple point games season april rockets won 56th game season finished best regular season record franchise history night rockets claimed title division crown playoffs rockets beat round built lead rockets rockets won games series return time years time golden state warriors win rockets ninth team nba history win playoff series faced deficit warriors won games scored points win game toyota center warriors finished series game winning prior season rockets drafted acquired sending round draft pick fired beginning season rockets won games assistant took coaching duties inconsistent play led rockets struggling remain playoff qualifying zone recent trade rumors involving pursuing howard trade talks rumored offer plus salary cap filler houston clinched playoffs spot winning game kings finishing season earn seed adversary warriors record breaking regular season rockets lose games time round playoffs
History of the Houston Rockets