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NBA 75: Our all-time roster for the Houston Rockets

As part of a celebration of its 75th anniversary, the NBA is releasing what it calls the NBA 75 — a list of the greatest players in league history.

With that in mind, we’re looking back at the greats over that same time period who played for the Rockets. Founded in 1967 in San Diego before moving to Houston in 1971, the Rockets are clearly one of the league’s flagship clubs. With 2,286 wins and 2,074 losses, the .529 winning clip by the Rockets ranks eighth among the league’s 30 active franchises, and they are one of only 11 teams with multiple championships (1994, 1995).

Some ground rules: Since this exercise is to determine an overall roster, this list contains position biases. For example, even though the Rockets have a long history of elite centers, a team wouldn’t be likely to carry six centers on a 15-man roster. Thus, some greats did not make the cut.

Also, this roster defers to each player’s specific contributions in Houston. In other words, even though Scottie Pippen is a Hall of Famer and an all-time NBA legend, he played just one season with the Rockets and was past his prime at that time — which makes him not a fit for an all-time Houston list. Similar logic holds true with Russell Westbrook.

Without any further delay, here’s our all-time Rockets roster, and be sure to check out our other NBA Wire sites for rival comparisons.

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James Harden (starting guard)

Photo by Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Career statistics in Houston (8+ seasons, 2012-21): 29.6 points (44.3% FG, 36.2% on 3-pointers), 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds in 37.0 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Not applicable, active player

Why: Harden is one of the best scorers and playmakers in NBA history, and he’s one of only three Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winners (Olajuwon, Malone) in Rockets franchise history. Easy call.

Calvin Murphy (starting guard)

Calvin Murphy Houston Rockets
Calvin Murphy Houston Rockets

Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

Career statistics for Rockets (13 seasons, 1970-83): 17.9 points (48.2% FG), 4.4 assists in 30.5 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Despite being 5-foot-9, Murphy was more scorer than facilitator. But given Harden’s playmaking abilities, Murphy’s limitations with size and passing wouldn’t be an issue in this backcourt. Murphy ranks No. 3 all-time in points with the Rockets, trailing only Harden and Olajuwon.

Tracy McGrady (starting forward)

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Career statistics in Houston (5+ seasons, 2004-10): 22.7 points (42.0% FG, 32.2% on 3-pointers), 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds in 36.7 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: When healthy, McGrady was a two-way force who could score and create on offense while also taking the responsibility of covering elite perimeter players on the other end. Given Murphy’s lack of size and Harden’s defensive inconsistency early in his Houston career, McGrady’s versatility could be the glue that holds this unit together.

Moses Malone (starting forward)

Moses Malone Houston Rockets
Moses Malone Houston Rockets

Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images

Career statistics in Houston (6 seasons, 1976-82): 24.0 points (51.4% FG), 15.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks in 38.3 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Malone was agile enough to play at power forward early in his career before filling out his frame and becoming a center. Since he was with Houston in the first half of his distinguished career, we’re assuming he’d have enough athleticism to join Olajuwon in a dual-big frontcourt.

Malone was a rebounding force and is one of only three players in Rockets history (alongside Olajuwon and Harden) to have won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Thus, his inclusion in the starting lineup is a no-brainer. He was also the starter for the 1980-81 Rockets, which became the first team in franchise history to reach the NBA Finals.

Hakeem Olajuwon (starting center)

Hakeem Olajuwon Clyde Drexler
Hakeem Olajuwon Clyde Drexler

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Career statistics in Houston (17 seasons, 1984-2001): 21.8 points (51.2% FG), 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks in 35.7 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Does it really need to be explained? “The Dream” is one of the NBA’s greatest players of all-time. He’s one of only three MVP winners in franchise history, and most importantly, he has two NBA Finals MVP awards, as well. Those represent the two championships that Houston won in 1994 and 1995 with Olajuwon as the clear focal point on offense and defense. To this day, they remain the lone titles in Rockets history.

Clyde Drexler (reserve guard)

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Career statistics in Houston (3+ seasons, 1995-1998): 19.0 points (44.5% FG, 33.9% on 3-pointers), 6.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists in 36.7 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: “Clyde the Glide” concluded his NBA career in Houston and didn’t have quite the same athleticism, relative to his Portland days. Nonetheless, Drexler remained quite valuable as a scorer and playmaker while also offering plenty of defensive versatility, and his midseason acquisition (by trade) in 1995 helped spark the Rockets to a historic playoff run that resulted in their second consecutive championship.

Chris Paul (reserve guard)

Photo by Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Career statistics in Houston (2 seasons, 2017-19): 17.1 points (44.1% FG, 36.9% on 3-pointers), 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds in 31.9 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Not applicable, active player

Why: CP3 only played two seasons in Houston, but he lived up to his “Point God” nickname as a passer, playmaker, and leader. He started next to Harden on the 2017-18 squad that finished with by far the best regular-season record (65-17) in franchise history, and it likely would have resulted in Houston’s third NBA championship if not for an ill-timed hamstring injury late in Game 5 of the 2018 Western Conference finals.

Charles Barkley (reserve forward)

Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Career statistics in Houston (4 seasons, 1996-2000): 16.5 points (48.2% FG), 12.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists in 35.0 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Barkley was at the end of his Hall of Fame career upon joining the Rockets, but he still provided clear value as a rebounder and as a post presence and facilitator on offense.

After being swept by Seattle in the 1996 playoffs, Houston executed an offseason trade for Barkley, who proved pivotal in a series win during the 1997 playoffs over the Sonics. However, those Rockets fell just short in a six-game loss to Utah in the 1997 Western Conference finals.

Rudy Tomjanovich (reserve forward)

Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudy Tomjanovich

Photo by Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Career statistics for Rockets (11 seasons, 1970-81): 17.4 points (50.1% FG), 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 33.5 minutes per game

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Tomjanovich was a versatile forward who could play multiple positions while scoring and rebounding at a high level. “Rudy T” also earns high marks for his leadership and intangibles, which became evident during his long run as a head coach with the Rockets in the 1990s and early 2000s. He remains the winningest head coach in franchise history, and he led the only two championship teams (1994, 1995).

Elvin Hayes (reserve center)

Elvin Hayes Houston Rockets
Elvin Hayes Houston Rockets

Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

Career statistics for Rockets (7 seasons, 1968-72 and 1981-84): 20.6 points (44.5% FG), 12.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 36.3 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: In two different stints with the Rockets, Hayes became the first member of Houston’s storied “Legacy of Bigs,” which went on to include Malone, Ralph Sampson, Olajuwon, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, and more. Hayes was a two-way post presence and an elite rim protector.

Steve Francis (reserve guard)

AP Photo/Bob Galbraith

Career statistics in Houston (5+ seasons, 1999-2004 and 2007-08):
19.0 points (43.0% FG, 34.5% on 3-pointers), 6.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals in 39.1 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: No

Why: Francis was a bit too erratic with turnovers, but his early career athleticism was spectacular. As the NBA’s 1999-00 Rookie of the Year, “Stevie Franchise” was well rounded in a number of areas and provided clear value with his ability to drive inside and relentlessly attack the rim.

Kenny Smith (reserve guard)

AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

Career statistics in Houston (6 seasons, 1990-96): 12.6 points (49.0% FG, 40.7% on 3-pointers), 5.3 assists in 29.3 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: No

Why: Smith’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he was a steady starter at point guard for both of Houston’s title teams in 1994 and 1995. His reliable 3-point shooting ability was critical to Tomjanovich’s 3-point-heavy schemes and in spacing the floor for Olajuwon.

Otis Thorpe (reserve forward)

Otis Thorpe Houston Rockets
Otis Thorpe Houston Rockets

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Career statistics in Houston (6+ seasons, 1988-95): 15.8 points (55.9% FG, 9.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 36.0 minutes per game

Basketball Hall of Fame status: No

Why: Thorpe wasn’t a star, but he was a reliable rebounding force for years and an underrated post presence next to Olajuwon on the front line. Thorpe was a starter on Houston’s first title team in 1993-94, and he was the key trade piece that allowed them to acquire Drexler in 1995.

Ralph Sampson (reserve forward)

Ralph Sampson Larry Bird
Ralph Sampson Larry Bird

Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

Career statistics in Houston (4+ seasons, 1984-88): 19.7 points (49.9% FG), 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks in 35.0 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Even at 7-foot-4, Sampson was still athletic enough to play as a forward next to Olajuwon. His prime years were cut short by injuries, but the unanimous 1983-84 Rookie of the Year was an extremely valuable and versatile player during his early career seasons with the Rockets.

Yao Ming (reserve center)

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Career statistics in Houston (7+ seasons, 2002-10): 19.0 points (52.4% FG), 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks in 32.5 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: Yes

Why: Yao’s massive 7-foot-5 height was both a blessing and a curse, since it likely contribued to the sequence of foot injuries that cut short his career. Nonetheless, Yao was clearly a superstar player for much of the 2000s, and he was an interior anchor on both ends of the court.

Vernon Maxwell (honorable mention)

Photo by Allsport/ALLSPORT

Career statistics in Houston (5+ seasons, 1990-1995): 14.9 points (40.5% FG, 32.6% on 3-pointers), 4.3 assists in 33.1 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: No

Why: Consider these “honorable mention” recipients as our version of two-way contracts, if you will. In this case, it was a close call between “Mad Max” and Kenny Smith for the final reserve guard spot. Smith was the choice due to superior long-range shooting and spacing, but Maxwell was more valuable on defense — even against Michael Jordan. In the end, the choice would depend on which trait a given team needs most.

Maxwell was a starter on Houston’s first title team in 1993-94, and he was a major difference maker with wing defense and timely shooting.

Robert Horry (honorable mention)

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Career statistics in Houston (4 seasons, 1992-96): 10.5 points (44.7% FG, 35.6% on 3-pointers), 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists in 31.9 minutes

Basketball Hall of Fame status: No

Why: As with Maxwell and Smith, it was also a very close call between Horry and Thorpe. We ultimately gave the nod to Thorpe based on longevity, but there’s a strong case for Horry at his peak due to defensive versatility and 3-point shooting. Early in his career, Horry was agile enough to cover wings, if needed, and his 3-point shooting was critical to Tomjanovich’s philosophy of spacing the floor for Olajuwon with shooters at each of the other four positions (without compromising length).

Best of all, “Big Shot Bob” had a knack for timely shooting, and it should come as no surprise that he started for both title teams. In the 1996 offseason, Horry was part of the trade that brought Barkley to Houston.

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