A Basic History of the Houston Rockets Basketball Team
The team is currently owned by Leslie Alexander. The coaching position is open at the time of this article as the Rockets recently fired head coach Jeff Van Gundy. The official colors of the Houston Rockets are red, silver, and white.
The franchise was founded in 1967 in San Diego, California when the team was the San Diego Rockets. In 1970, the team moved to Houston but kept the name Rockets.
During the team's time in San Diego, they played their home games in the San Diego Sports Arena. After moving to Houston, the team played its home games in the Hofheinz Pavillion until 1975, with some games being played in the HemisFair Arena in San Antonio, Texas, in 1972 and 1973. The team moved to the Houston Summit, later known as the Compaq Center, in 1975 and played there until 2003. In 2003, the team began playing in its current area, the Toyota Center.
In the history of the franchise, the Rockets have won a total of four division titles in 1977, 1986, 1993, and 1994. They have also won four conference titles in 1981, 1986, 1994, and 1995. The Houston Rockets won the franchise's only two NBA Championships in back-to-back seasons in 1994 and 1995.
Seven former players for the Rockets are currently in the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Those seven players are Charles Barkley, Rick Barry, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Calvin Murphy, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
The Houston Rockets have retired a total of five numbers. The players whose jersey numbers have been retired are Clyde Drexler - 22, Calvin Murphy - 23, Moses Malone - 24, Hakeem Olajuwon - 34, and Rudy Tomjanovich - 45. A jersey also hangs inside the Toyota Center with the letters "CD" instead of a number, representing former assistant coach and general manger Carroll Dawson.
Some other former fan favorites in Houston include Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, and Mario Elie.
The current Houston Rockets team is led by a pair of star players. The captain of the team is Shooting Guard Tracy McGrady. The Houston Rockets also rely on the inside play of Yao Ming, a 7 foot 6 inch center from China.
Published by Shane Carney
I am a graduate of USC. I have worked for the USC Sports Information Department, the Los Angeles Avengers, Sports Fan Magazine and Realfootball365. I have been a freelance writer for the Contra Costa Times f... View profile
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