59 Fun Facts About Houston Rockets

What is the name of the Rockets' downtown Houston arena, opened in 2003?

Toyota Center opened in October 2003 after the Rockets had spent 28 seasons in their previous arena, by then renamed the Compaq Center.

In which city was the Rockets franchise founded in 1967?

San Diego was home for four seasons, 1967–71; the name nodded to the city's 'city in motion' slogan and its rocket-building industry.

Which future Hall of Fame coach was the San Diego Rockets' first-ever draft pick in 1967?

Pat Riley, taken seventh overall out of Kentucky, played three seasons for the Rockets before going on to win five NBA titles as a head coach.

How many games did the expansion Rockets lose in 1967–68, then an NBA record?

The Rockets' 67 losses set a record at the time; they then won a coin toss with Baltimore for the top pick in the 1968 draft.

Which University of Houston star did the Rockets take first overall in 1968 after winning a coin toss?

Elvin Hayes, 'The Big E', led the Rockets to their first playoff berth as a rookie and was traded to the Bullets in 1972 after clashing with coach Tex Winter.

For how much did Texas Sports Investments buy the Rockets and move them to Houston in 1971?

Texas Sports Investments paid $5.6 million in 1971, making the Rockets the first NBA franchise in Texas.

Which small Texas city hosted a Rockets 'home' game in their first Houston season, drawing 759 fans?

Waco drew just 759 for one 1971–72 'home' game; the Rockets played around the state, and even in their old California home, trying to build a fan base.

Which Lakers player's 1977 punch left the Rockets' captain with facial fractures and months of rehab?

Kermit Washington's December 1977 punch shattered the captain's face; the NBA suspended him for 60 days and fined him $10,000.

With what losing record did the Rockets reach the 1981 NBA Finals?

At 40–42 the Rockets upset the defending champion Lakers, then beat the Spurs and Kings before losing to Boston in six.

Which family, later owners of the Sacramento Kings, owned the Rockets from 1979 to 1982?

The Maloofs took over when George Maloof paid $9 million in 1979; after his death in 1980, his 24-year-old son Gavin ran the club until the 1982 sale.

Which two centres, drafted first overall in 1983 and 1984, formed the Rockets' 'Twin Towers'?

Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon reached the 1986 Finals together, but Sampson was traded away in December 1987, barely 18 months later.

How many games did the Rockets need to beat the Lakers in the 1986 West finals?

Five games were enough: Houston won 4–1, closing it out at the Forum on Ralph Sampson's twisting buzzer-beater in Game 5.

Which former Rockets player took over as head coach midway through 1991–92 and won two titles?

Rudy Tomjanovich, 'Rudy T', took over in February 1992 and coached until 2003, when bladder cancer forced him to step down.

How many straight wins opened the Rockets' 1993–94 season, tying the record at the time?

Houston opened 15–0 to tie the 1948–49 Capitols' mark, finished 58–24, and Olajuwon won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

What did local papers nickname Houston after the Rockets blew big leads in Games 1 and 2 against Phoenix in 1994?

After the Rockets rallied to win the series in seven, the Houston Chronicle flipped 'Choke City' into a prouder nickname that stuck.

Which team did the Rockets beat in seven games in the 1994 NBA Finals for their first championship?

The New York Knicks led 3–2 before Houston won Games 6 and 7 at home, 86–84 and 90–84; Olajuwon was Finals MVP.

Which former college teammate of Hakeem Olajuwon was acquired from Portland in 1995?

Clyde Drexler arrived from Portland in February 1995 for Otis Thorpe and helped Houston beat the West's top three seeds and sweep Orlando.

As what seed did the Rockets enter the 1995 playoffs before winning the championship?

Sixth in the West at 47–35, Houston became the first champion to beat four 50-win teams in one postseason; no title team had been seeded lower.

What word completes the Rockets coach's 1995 line, 'Don't ever underestimate the ___ of a champion'?

'Heart' was the word: the Rockets' coach said it at the trophy presentation on the home floor after the Game 4 sweep of Orlando in 1995.

Which star did the Rockets acquire from Phoenix in 1996 to form a veteran 'Big Three'?

Charles Barkley came from Phoenix for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry and two others; the 57–25 team lost the West finals to Utah on a John Stockton buzzer-beater.

For how much did Leslie Alexander buy the Rockets in July 1993, a year before their first title?

Leslie Alexander paid $85 million to Charlie Thomas in July 1993 and owned the club through both championships, selling in 2017 for $2.2 billion.

Which 7-foot-6 Chinese centre did the Rockets select first overall in 2002?

Yao Ming, an eight-time All-Star, retired in July 2011 after repeated foot and ankle injuries and entered the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Which star did the Rockets get from Orlando in a 2004 seven-player trade?

Tracy McGrady never won a playoff series in Houston, losing in the first round in 2005, 2007 and 2008 before injuries ended his run.

How many consecutive games did the Rockets win in 2007–08, then the second-longest NBA streak?

The 22-game streak ran from January into March 2008, surviving the loss of the team's All-Star centre to a foot injury, but Houston still lost to Utah in the first round.

Which reigning Sixth Man of the Year did the Rockets acquire from Oklahoma City in 2012?

James Harden scored 37 points with 12 assists in his Houston debut against Detroit, days after the trade from Oklahoma City.

Which general manager brought sabermetrics-style analytics to the Rockets before leaving in 2020?

Daryl Morey, an MIT-trained executive who became general manager in 2007, built the three-point-heavy 'Moreyball' approach and left for Philadelphia in 2020.

Which centre signed with the Rockets as a free agent in July 2013 to pair with their new star guard?

He opted out in 2016 and Mike D'Antoni took over as coach that summer.

Which team eliminated the Rockets in the conference finals in both 2015 and 2018?

The Golden State Warriors won in five in 2015 and in seven in 2018, when Houston led 3–2 before Chris Paul's hamstring injury.

Which restaurant billionaire bought the Rockets in 2017 for a then-record $2.2 billion?

Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Landry's restaurant group and the Golden Nugget casinos, paid $2.2 billion in 2017.

How many games did the Rockets win in 2017–18, Chris Paul's first season in Houston?

Houston went 65–17, a franchise record at the time and the league's best, and lost the West finals in seven after Paul's hamstring injury.

How many consecutive 30-point games did the Rockets' star guard score in his 2018–19 streak?

The streak reached 32 games, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 1961–62 run at the time; over it the guard carried Houston from 11–14 to a division title.

Whom did the Rockets receive from Oklahoma City in the 2019 trade of Chris Paul?

Russell Westbrook came for Chris Paul, two first-round picks and two swaps; his one Houston season ended in a second-round loss to the Lakers in the 2020 bubble.

The Rockets' 2020 trade of Clint Capela to Atlanta cemented their commitment to what style of play?

Small ball with a five-out offence meant 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker starting at centre, surrounded by four shooters, after Capela's departure.

To which team was the Rockets' franchise guard traded in January 2021 in a four-team deal?

The Brooklyn Nets landed him; Houston received Victor Oladipo, four first-round picks and four pick swaps, then finished 17–55.

Which G League Ignite guard did the Rockets draft second overall in 2021?

Jalen Green, who skipped college for the G League Ignite, went second behind Cade Cunningham in 2021 and made the All-Rookie First Team.

Which former Celtics coach did the Rockets hire in 2023 to replace Stephen Silas?

Ime Udoka, suspended by Boston for all of 2022–23, took Houston from a 60-loss season to 41–41 in his first year.

Which star did the Rockets acquire from Phoenix in a seven-team trade in July 2025?

Kevin Durant cost the Rockets a starting guard, Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick in the 2025 draft in a deal that grew to a record seven teams when finalised.

Which Rocket won the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest?

Eric Gordon beat Kyrie Irving in the final round of the 2017 contest in New Orleans, during his first season in Houston.

What did fans nickname the Rockets' 1972–95 logo and colour scheme?

'Ketchup and mustard' was the fans' tag for the red-and-gold look, which the Rockets wore through both the 1994 and 1995 title runs.

Which Missouri City artist sued the Rockets over their 1995–2003 cartoon rocket logo?

His orbiting-rocket idea was reworked with sharkmouth nose art at the NBA's suggestion.

Which Japanese designer created the Rockets' 2003 uniforms alongside logo designer Rafael Esquer?

Eiko Ishioka, the Oscar-winning costume designer of 'Bram Stoker's Dracula', designed the 2003 uniforms while Esquer drew the stylised 'R' logo.

What is the name of the Rockets' teddy-bear mascot, introduced in 1995?

Clutch, the teddy bear, shared duties with the acrobatic Turbo for eight years and entered the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Rockets' 2023–24 'H-Town' City uniform was inspired by which team's early-1980s look?

The Phi Slama Jama Houston Cougars of 1982–84 were the model; Olajuwon starred for that dunk-happy college team before the Rockets drafted him first overall.

Which Houston team's colours inspired the Rockets' powder-blue 2020–21 City uniform?

The Houston Oilers wore Columbia blue until leaving for Tennessee in 1997, and the Rockets' 'H-Town' uniform borrowed the shade.

Which company became the Rockets' jersey sponsor in 2021–22?

Credit Karma replaced ROKiT as the jersey-patch partner in 2021, with its logo on the left shoulder of the Nike uniforms.

The Rockets GM's October 2019 tweet that angered China expressed support for what?

The Hong Kong protests were the subject — 'Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong' — and the Chinese Basketball Association suspended its ties with the Rockets.

How many consecutive home sellouts did the Rockets post from the 1994 title until 1999?

By 2001–02 they had the worst attendance in the league at under 12,000 a game.

What was the Rockets' original colour scheme in San Diego?

Green and gold were the original colours; red replaced green on the 1971 move to Houston, keeping the gold.

Which coach won 1991 Coach of the Year with the Rockets despite Olajuwon missing 25 games?

Don Chaney, himself a former Guy Lewis player at the University of Houston, guided the 1990–91 team to 52 wins.

Which team did the Rockets beat 4–1 in the first round of the 2015 playoffs?

The Dallas Mavericks went out in five; that 56-win Houston team had just claimed its first Southwest Division title.

Which guard did the Rockets acquire from Vancouver after the 1999 draft, later a Co-Rookie of the Year?

Steve Francis, 'The Franchise', had refused to play for Vancouver after going second overall; he shared the 2000 Rookie of the Year award with Elton Brand.

What honor did Yao Ming receive at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

Carrying China's flag was Yao's role again in 2008, as in Athens in 2004; he led the delegation into the Bird's Nest alongside a young Sichuan earthquake survivor.

Which former Knicks coach led the Rockets to a 45-37 record and their first playoff berth since 1999?

Jeff Van Gundy, hired in June 2003, went 45–37 in his first Houston season and took the team to the playoffs, where it lost to the Lakers in five.

Which other expansion team joined the NBA alongside the San Diego Rockets in 1967?

The Seattle SuperSonics also debuted in 1967–68, the same expansion class as the Rockets; Jack McMahon, previously with Cincinnati, was the Rockets' first head coach.

Which arena, opened in 1975, housed the Rockets for 28 seasons?

The Summit opened in 1975 in developer Kenneth Schnitzer's Greenway Plaza and was renamed Compaq Center in 1998 before the Rockets left in 2003.

Which star did the Rockets trade for to replace Clyde Drexler after his retirement in 1998?

Scottie Pippen came from Chicago in a January 1999 sign-and-trade; the experiment lasted one lockout-shortened season, ending with a first-round loss to the Lakers.

The name 'Rockets' honored San Diego's 'city in motion' theme and which company's missile program?

General Dynamics' local division was building the Atlas missile and booster when a 1967 naming contest settled on Rockets.

Which former Celtics coach was hired after the Rockets' league-worst 14-68 season in 1982-83?

Bill Fitch, who had coached Boston to the 1981 title, took over in 1983, and Houston's two coin-flip wins then delivered the top picks of 1983 and 1984.

How much did Charlie Thomas's group pay for the Rockets in 1982?

Charlie Thomas's group paid $11 million in 1982, and he owned the team until selling to Leslie Alexander in 1993.