The rise and fall of Hakeem Olajuwon and his Rockets dynasty, including the 16 teammates who helped him win two championships. The timeline runs from Moses Malone’s 1982 departure to Rudy Tomjanovich’s 2003 retirement.
Rebuilding without Moses
Moses Malone is traded to the 76ers in exchange for Caldwell Jones and a first round pick. This sets off two consecutive seasons of the Rockets finishing in last place in the Western Conference and subsequently landing the #1 overall pick
Franchise savior arrives
Hakeem Olajuwon is drafted with the #1 overall pick out of Houston. He joins the #1 overall pick from 1983, Ralph Sampson, in the Rockets front court
Conference Finals stunner
Led by the “Twin Towers” Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, the Rockets stun the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals to move on to the NBA Finals, where they’re defeated by the Celtics. This would turn out to be the peak for this youthful Rockets team
“Twin Towers” no more
With Ralph Sampson hobbled by a torn knee, the Rockets lose to the SuperSonics in the Conference Semifinals. Sampson would later be traded away during the ’87-’88 season and it would take the Rockets six years to win another playoff series
Otis Thorpe acquired
Otis Thorpe is acquired via trade from the Kings, in exchange for Rodney McCray and Jim Petersen. The Kings had selected Thorpe #9 overall in 1984, eight spots after the Rockets landed Hakeem Olajuwon
Two more key pieces added
Vernon Maxwell is acquired via trade from the Spurs, in exchange for cash considerations
Kenny Smith is acquired via trade from the Hawks, in exchange for John Lucas, Tim McCormick, and a first round pick
Rock bottom, again
A difficult ’91-’92 season ends with the Rockets missing the playoffs for the first time in Hakeem Olajuwon’s career. The disgruntled star center asks for a trade. Several offers are fielded but Olajuwon ultimately stays with Houston
A message to you, Rudy
Rudy Tomjanovich is named as head coach. He had taken over as interim coach during the ’91-’92 season when Don Chaney was fired. He had previously spent 11 seasons with the Rockets as a player, making five All-Star appearances. This hiring is reportedly what convinces Hakeem Olajuwon to rescind his trade demand
Taking a big shot
Robert Horry is drafted with the #11 overall pick out of Alabama
Back in contention
The Rockets end the ’92-’93 season with a franchise record 55 wins and enter the playoffs as the #2 seed in the West. They defeat the Clippers in a first round series but are defeated by the SuperSonics in seven games in the Conference Semifinals
Finding the point
Sam Cassell is drafted with the #24 overall pick out of Florida State. Later in the offseason, the Rockets also acquire Mario Elie from the Trail Blazers in exchange for a second round pick
Streaking out the gate
The Rockets begin the ’93-’94 season with a record 15 consecutive wins. They go on to finish the season with a franchise record 57 victories
Awards sweep
Hakeem Olajuwon is named NBA league MVP for the first time, and Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He ultimately becomes the only player in NBA history to earn both of those awards and Finals MVP all in the same season.
First championship
The Rockets defeat the Knicks in seven games in the NBA Finals, winning not just the first championship in franchise history, but the first major team sports title in Houston history. Hakeem Olajuwon is named Finals MVP
Rebuilding on the fly
Vernon Maxwell is suspended for 10 games after entering the stands in Portland and punching a fan who was heckling him with racist remarks. The Rockets subsequently attempt to trade Maxwell at the deadline but are unsuccessful
Clyde Drexler is acquired via trade from the Trail Blazers, in exchange for Otis Thorpe, Marcelo Nicola, and a first round draft pick
Tough season ends
The Rockets lose three straight games to close out a difficult regular season with a 47-35 record and the #6 seed in the Western Conference
After playing just 16 minutes off the bench in a first round game one loss to the Jazz, Vernon Maxwell takes an indefinite leave of absence. He ultimately never suits up for the Rockets again
Cinderella playoffs run
The Rockets upset the #3 seed Jazz in the Conference Quarterfinals, the #2 seed Suns in the Conference Semifinals (highlighted by the “Kiss of Death” series clincher in game seven from Mario Elie, capping off a 3-1 series comeback), and the #1 seed Spurs in the Conference Finals
Back-to-back champions
The Rockets defeat the Magic in an NBA Finals sweep to clinch back-to-back titles. Hakeem Olajuwon is named Finals MVP for a second time
After the series is completed, Vernon Maxwell is waived and signs with the 76ers
Title defense woes
An up-and-down ’95-’96 season for the Rockets ends with a Conference Semifinals sweep at the hands of the SuperSonics, ending their title defense
In the subsequent offseason, the Rockets make a blockbuster trade with the Suns, sending Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, and Chucky Brown in exchange for Charles Barkley
One last go of it
The Rockets cap a 57-win ’96-’97 season with a return to the Western Conference Finals, but are eliminated in six games by the Jazz. It subsequently takes 12 years for Houston to win another playoff series and 18 years to make a Conference Finals return
Swapping out legends
Following a first round series loss to the Jazz, Clyde Drexler retires and Mario Elie departs as a free agent for the Spurs.
The Rockets sign Scottie Pippen in an attempt to make one last title run with Hakeem Olajuwon. They finish the ’98-’99 season with a 37-13 record but lose a first round series to the Lakers
Another new low
For the first and only time in Hakeem Olajuwon’s career, the Rockets finish with a losing record, going 34-48 in ’99-’00. Olajuwon missed almost half the season after hernia surgery while Charles Barkley suffered a career-ending quadriceps tear
End of the dream
Hakeem Olajuwon is traded to the Raptors in exchange for a first round pick and a second round pick. He closes out his career with one quiet season in Toronto before retiring
Tomjanovich retires
After announcing that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer (from which he eventually made a full recovery), Rudy Tomjanovich steps down as Rockets coach, ending a 33-year association with the franchise