Houston Rockets Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom

suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.

However, I have decided to defy those odds. 

The Houston Rockets were established in 1967 as the San Diego

Rockets. Their stint in San Diego, however, was short-lived as the

franchise moved to Houston in 1971. Poor on court performance

and low attendance played the biggest role in the move. The

team kept the name “Rockets” because of Houston’s long history

in the space industry. 

The Rockets had their peaks and valleys in their initial decade but

have been a regular postseason participant and a franchise that is

frequently in the conversation for Western Conference title

contention. The Rockets reached two NBA Finals (1981, 1986) in

the 1980s, losing both times to the Boston Celtics. In the 1990s,

the Rockets reached the NBA mountaintop with back-to-back titles

in 1994 and 1995. Those two seasons, the Chicago Bulls dynasty

took a hiatus with Michael Jordan going on a brief retirement. 

The Rockets have been back to the Western Conference three

times, losing to Utah in 1997 and Golden State in 2015 and 2018.

The latter defeat, however, was a disappointment with the Rockets,

led by MVP James Harden winning a franchise-record 64 games. 

Today, I put together a Rockets Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Mavericks for a minimum of four seasons -- no

exceptions. 

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs

to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is

all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Rockets during a season of being a contender does

not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the Rockets

during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this team.

Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the

franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t

just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would

remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask

yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starters

Point guard: Calvin Murphy

Team success at times eluded the Rockets during Murphy's tenure,

they made the playoffs and just six of his 13 seasons. Murphy,

however, enjoyed an outstanding Hall of Fame career. Murphy

compiled career averages of 17.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.1

rebounds per game. Though Murphy was undersized, he made

good on 48.2 % of his field goal attempts.

Murphy was NBA All-Rookie first team in 1971. While he only made

one All-Star appearance, 1979, he's a starter on this team as much

for his longevity as anything else. Murphy was a member of the

Rockets team that made the NBA Finals in 1981. 

Shooting guard: James Harden

Harden, nicknamed “The Beard,” spent his first three seasons in

the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since becoming a

Rocket, Harden has become the highest scoring left-handed

shooter in NBA history.  

While Harden has his critics for his ball dominant approach and

his defensive liability, there's no doubting his offensive impact.

Harden owns a career average of 25.2 points, 5.3 rebounds

and 6.3 assists per game.  Harden was the MVP in 2018, eight-

time All-Star and 6 time all NBA first team. 

Small forward: Tracy McGrady

Until knee injuries cut McGrady's career short, he was one of

the most prolific scorers in the NBA. Though criticized for lack

of team success in the postseason, McCrady's most spectacular

moment came when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds to

defeat the San Antonio Spurs. McGrady spent six seasons with

the Rockets and even with two injury-plagued seasons averaged

22.7 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.

During his time as a Rocket, the presence of McGrady and Center

Yao Ming helped the franchise become a perennial playoff

participant. McGrady also helped the Rockets go on a 22-game

winning streak in 2007-2008, at the time the second longest in

NBA history.

Power forward: Ralph Sampson

Much of Sampson's legacy is defined by what he could have

been but in his short time with the Rockets, Sampson was

spectacular. Sampson and frontcourt mate Hakeem Olajuwon

formed but was known as the Twin Towers that helped the

Rockets reach the NBA finals in 1986. Sampson averaged 21

points per game as a rookie along with 19.7 points and 10.5

rebounds along with 1.9 block shots in his career with the

Rockets.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Sampson was

NBA Rookie of the Year in 1984, NBA All-Star game MVP in

1985, and was a four-time All-Star. Back injuries however

curtailed much of Samson's game for the rest of his career

which lasted until 1992 with three different teams. 

Center: Hakeem Olajuwon 

The Rockets have an embarrassment of riches at this position

but Olajuwon, who was nicknamed “The Dream,” is one of the

best players in NBA history who was extremely skilled both

offensively and defensively, Olajuwon had a vast array of

moves in the low post and was a very skilled perimeter

shooter. He was also a very exceedingly skilled all-around

player as he is the only one in NBA history to record more

than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Olajuwon led the

Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships and was MVP

in both series. He was NBA MVP in 1994, 12 time All Star

and 12 time All NBA (six as a first teamer), two-time Defensive

Player of the Year and nine-time NBA All Defensive Team,

four as a first-teamer. 

Bench (alphabetical order)

Clyde Drexler:

Drexler’s Hall of Fame career is mostly associated with his

time with the Portland Trail Blazers but the former University

of Houston Star returned home midway through the 1994-

1995 season to help the Rockets win the backend of back-

to-back NBA titles. On the way to a Hall of Fame career,

Drexler was a 10-time All Star who averaged 19.0 points,

6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in his time as a

Rocket. 

Steve Francis:

Francis played for the Rockets for six seasons and two

different stints, including his first five in the NBA. All three of

Francis's All-Star appearances came in a Rockets uniform.

Francis was also the NBA Co-Rookie of the Year in 2000

with Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers. During his

time in Houston, Francis averaged 19.0 points per game,

6.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists. 

Elvin Hayes:

Hayes played the majority of his Hall of Fame

career with the Washington Bullets but started and finished

his career with the Rockets. Besides being a prolific scorer,

Hayes was extremely durable in that he played at least 80

games in all 16 seasons that he played in the NBA. Hayes

was the NBA scoring champion in 1969 and NBA All Rookie

first team that same season. During his tenure with the

Rockets, Hayes averaged 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds

per game. 

Robert Horry:

Horry played for four different teams in a 16-year career,

accumulating 7 NBA championship rings. Horry is one of

only nine players in NBA history to accomplish such a feat

and the only one that did not play for the 1960s Boston

Celtics. Horry was not big on statistical contributions but

his best seasons numerically were with the Rockets

averaging 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per

game. Horry was second-team NBA All Rookie in 1993.

Moses Malone:

If not for the presence of Olajuwon, Malone would be a

starter. Malone was one of the best rebounders in NBA history.

Throughout the mid-70s Malone teamed up with Calvin Murphy

with some pretty good Houston teams. On the way to a Hall of

Fame career,  Malone averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and

made the All-Star team in all but one season as a member of

the Rockets.  

Yao Ming:

Ming's legacy is a mixture of what he could have been and

what he was. Ming's career was eventually derailed by foot

injuries as he only played five games in his last two seasons.

Ming, however, was a dominant player when he was healthy

and helped the game of basketball from a global standpoint

in his home country of China. Ming averaged 19 points, 9.2

rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots on his way to a Hall of Fame

career that saw him make eight All-Star games. 

Robert Reid:

Reed played a total of 10 years for the Rockets, taking a one-

year hiatus from basketball in the process. He played a

mixture of shooting guard and small forward. During his time

in a Rockets uniform, Reed averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds

a 3.0 sister game. 

Kenny Smith:

Many generations of fans only know Smith as a studio analyst

on TNT for Inside the NBA. Smith, however, will always be

remembered in Rockets lore for his role in guiding the team to

back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Smith's

regular-season numbers as a Rocket were modest at 12.6

points and 5.3 assists per game but his postseason

performance in that span was incredible.

Otis Thorpe:

Thorpe was a durable player throughout his career at one point

starting 542 consecutive games and at one time held the streak

for longest consecutive games played. Thorpe was an integral

part of the Rockets 1994 NBA championship team but was

traded the following year to Portland that brought Drexler back

to Houston. In his career with the Rockets, Thorpe averaged

15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. 

Rudy Tomjanovich: 

Tomjanovich is mostly known for being sucker punched by

Kermit Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers and

being sidelined for five months as a result. Tomjanovich,

however, spent his entire career with the Rockets and was a

five-time All-Star. Tomjanovich averaged 17.4 points, 8.1

rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. 

Head coach: Rudy Tomjanovich

Tomjanovich has multiple legacies with the

Rockets. After spending years as a scout and assistant

coach under Bill Fitch and Don Chaney, Tomjanovich

became the interim head coach in 1991-1992. He had the

interim tag lifted the following year and led the Rockets to

a Midwest Division Championship. Tomjanovich guided the

Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and

1995. After winning the second title as the No. 6 seed,

winning nine road games and sweeping the Orlando Magic

in the NBA Finals, Tomjanovich uttered the legendary quote,

“Never underestimate the heart of a champion.” No coach

in Rockets history has guided the franchise to more victories

than Tomjanovich, who was a prime example of somebody

that coached with his heart and soul on the way to a Hall of

Fame inductee. 

Team: 1993-1994. 

The Rockets have had more talented teams in their franchise’s

history but none worked like an ensemble as this version,

which won the first of two NBA titles on the way to winning

back-to-back championships. With Michael Jordan taking a

brief hiatus from the Chicago Bulls, the Rockets took advantage

of their chance to climb the summit of the NBA. Houston averaged

101 points per game and yielded just 96.8 on the defensive

end. Olajuwon was a dominant force at both ends of the court

and had a solid surrounding cast with Vernon Maxwell, Robert

Horry, Sam Cassell, Otis Thorpe, Kenny Smith. The Rockets

outlasted the New York Knicks for Games 4-3 in the NBA

Finals.