The team rise to the top was derailed by an incident that remains famous today. It was only four years later that they joined the Western Conference, playing in the Midwest Division rather than the Central Division. With 49 wins they reached the playoffs, eliminating the Bullets before losing to the Philadelphia Sixers in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Tomjanovich scorching the nets averaging 21.6 points per game and Malone controlling the boards with 13.4 rebounds per game, the Rockets enjoyed their best season ever. He never left the organization after his retirement in 1983, working in numerous roles, mainly as a television analyst.ĭuring the 1976-77 season he received the help of fellow guard John Lucas, the first overall pick of the draft out of Maryland, and center Moses Malone, already a star in the ABA. Known for his quickness, defensive ability and free-throw accuracy, his number 23 was retired by the franchise where he spent his whole career.
Standing at 5-9 Murphy is the shortest player inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame and a true Rockets’ legend. Much had to do with the stellar play of Calvin Murphy. Winter was fired soon after and some improvement was perceived with coach Johnny Egan. The two clashed, the Rockets won only 34 games and at the end of the season Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets. Tex Winter later became a legend as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls, but his philosophy did not seat well with Rockets star Elvin Hayes. In the NCAA he implemented a system he had learned as a player after World War II : the triangle offense. The franchise hired a new coach with no prior NBA experience. Owner Robert Breitbard sold the team to a group of investors from Texas and the team moved to Houston where the name Rockets fit perfectly with the city’s connection with the space industry. The following season he was the NBA’s leading rebounder but despite the addition of guard Calvin Murphy and forward Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets did not become a contender and failed to win over fans in San Diego. Although he remains the only rookie in history to lead the League in scoring, he was not named Rookie of the Year as center Wes Unseld, from Baltimore, won the trophy. As a rookie he was the first in scoring (28.4 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (17.1 boards). And it did not take him long to make an impact in the NBA.
6-foot-9 Elvin Hayes twice took Houston University to the NCAA Final Four. It gave them the opportunity to draft a power forward who ended up in the Naismith Hall of Fame and the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. It was no surprise that the Rockets finished last in the League in their inaugural season with only 15 wins. To build the roster, the Rockets chose veteran players during an expansion draft and their first ever draft pick : Pat Riley from Kentucky, who was drafted that same year as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. The fans chose the name Rockets as San Diego used the theme "a city in motion" to boost its image as a first class city, and the Rockets' name lent itself to that effort. San Diego was awarded an expansion franchise as Robert Breitbard paid 1.75 million dollars to join the League. When the NBA looked to expand in 1967, they chose a Californian city with a growing population and a strong economy.
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