In 1967, the Houston Rockets were known as the San Diego Rockets and were introduced as an expansion team that would end up winning just 15 games during their inaugural season. One year later, they were awarded the No. 1 overall pick, and with the selection of Elvin Hayes, the history of the franchise truly began. The Rockets would make the move to Houston in 1971 but did not experience their first winning season until 1977, when they traded for superstar Moses Malone. They are the winners of four Conference Finals and two NBA championships in their 71-year history, winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
Just as we have done with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets recently, the discussion will be about the greatest NBA players in Houston Rockets history and placing them into tiers in our latest installment of the “GOAT Pyramid” series. The placement is solidified for these 30 players who, at one time or another in their careers, represented the Houston Rockets on the basketball court. We have placed these players in the perfect spots relative to their place in Houston Rockets history. Players can be elevated or moved down the slightest margin if readers wish, but these rankings are the definition of consistency.
Here is the Houston Rockets All-Time GOAT Pyramid
Tier 5
Mike Newlin, Robert Reid, Chris Paul, Cuttino Mobley, John Lucas, Stu Lantz, Luis Scola, Sleepy Floyd, Sam Cassell, Shane Battier, Dikembe Mutombo, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Mario Elie
Tier 5 gets started off with Mike Newlin, who played with the Rockets from 1972 thru 1979 as the team’s shooting guard. He helped them reach the postseason on three different occasions. Newlin was never selected to be an All-Star but was a solid option for the Rockets peaking at 18.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, and 1.3 SPG in 1976. Overall in Newlin’s career, he scored the ninth-most career points with the team and is fifth all-time in assists. In his eight seasons with the team, Newlin averaged 14.0 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG.
Robert Reid played 11 seasons for the Rockets from 1978 thru 1988, appearing in 762 total games and scoring over 8,800 career points with them. Reid was a guard/forward hybrid who played incredible perimeter defense and was exceptional on the glass. Reid was also never selected to be an All-Star but still put up decent numbers over his career there and helped the team reach two NBA Finals in 1981 and 1986. In his 11 seasons with the team, Reid averaged 14.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.5 SPG overall.
Chris Paul is known as a consensus Top 10 point guard to ever play the game. Among the many stops he has made in his career, Paul played for two seasons with the Rockets in 2018 and 2019. During his time with the Rockets, Paul was still among the elite assists men and leading perimeter defenders in the NBA. He averaged 17.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, and 1.8 SPG. He helped the Rockets take the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, and had he not been injured, Houston probably would have won the series. Paul never was an All-Star with the Rockets, but his impact was felt immensely.
One of the best lefty basketball players to ever grace the court was Cuttino Mobley. He made Houston his home for the first six seasons of his career, where he and another player on this list formed one of the most exciting backcourts in the NBA. Mobley ended up as a 21.7 PPG scorer during the 2002 season and was always a consistent scorer and defender. In his six years with the Rockets, Mobley averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.2 SPG while helping them reach the playoffs in 1999 and 2004.
Stu Lantz debuted with the San Diego Rockets in the 1968-69 season, which was their third in existence. Lance would stay with the Rockets for four seasons, never making an All-Star appearance but certainly leaving his mark on the franchise. Lantz became a 20.6 PPG scorer in the 1971 season as well as an 18.5 PPG scorer in 1972, their inaugural season in Houston. In Lantz’s four seasons with the Rockets, the team made one postseason appearance in 1969.
Luis Scola was a big part of the late 2000s Postseason teams for the Houston Rockets, as he spent five seasons with the team from 2008 thru 2012. Scola was a big body for the Rockets in the paint who fought hard for rebounds and could get his fair share of buckets as well. Scola peaked with the Rockets in 2011 when he averaged 18.3 PPG and 8.2 RPG in 74 games with the team. He is not Top 10 in franchise history in any major categories but was still an integral part of their success on some of their most exciting teams.
Sleepy Floyd is another player who spent five seasons with the Houston Rockets from 1989 thru 1993. Floyd made a significant impact on the team during his short time there, as he ranks 10th in steals and 8th in assists in franchise history. He played all 82 games for Houston for four straight seasons, half as a starter and half off the bench. During his time there, he averaged 11.5 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG. Floyd and the Rockets advanced to the playoffs all five years that he was on the team but never made it out of the first round.
Sam Cassell began his career with the Rockets in the 1994 season and would remain there for the next two seasons after that. Cassell was not who he would eventually be at his peak, but he was a solid option for them off the bench on both of their championship teams during the 1990s. Cassell’s best regular season came in 1996 when he averaged 14.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 4.6 APG. Cassell definitely played a role in the two NBA title runs in 1994 and 1995, but as a young man with a minimal impact.
Shane Battier is another player for the Rockets whose impact is not going to come up on the stat sheet. Battier was a gritty player who was reliable in big moments and a tough defender for opponents to deal with on the perimeter. He could shoot from the outside and always seemed to hit timely shots when Houston needed them. In his four-and-a-half-seasons with the team, Battier averaged 8.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.9 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. With Battier’s help, the Rockets went to the playoffs three times, advancing to the second round in 2009.
Dikembe Mutombo was a defensive juggernaut during the 90s and 200s. He was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most feared shot-blockers in any era. Mutombo played out the final five seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets from 2005 thru 2009, and although he missed a lot of time due to age and injury, he was still a solid defender for a team that needed him. In his time with the Rockets, Mutombo averaged just 3.2 PPG but added a solid 5.4 RPG and 1.1 BPG at 40 years old.
Eric Gordon has been a member of the Rockets since 2017 and still wears the uniform today as he helps guide them through an extended rebuild. As the Rockets starting wing, Gordon has been effective for the team averaging 15.6 PPG on 42.0% shooting and 36.0% from three. Gordon has been a nice veteran presence for Houston but will soon be wearing another uniform in the coming months if all goes to plan. It’s only right he be honored for the last seven seasons of service.
P.J. Tucker also gave three and a half seasons to the Rockets as one of their best defenders on the court. As a member of the 2018 thru 2020 Rockets teams, Tucker’s job was to lead the charge on the defensive side of the ball, which allowed Their scorers to operate freely as they wished. Tucker’s efforts in the playoffs on some of the game’s best offensive players led to three playoff berths, including a trip to the Conference Finals in 2018.
The final member of Tier 5 is another small forward wing player who Helped the team on their way to two NBA titles in the 1990s. Elie was a starter through most of his time with Houston as they fought their way through the 1990s. Elie was a decent contributor to these teams averaging 9.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG over four and a half seasons. Elie would add one more NBA title with the Spurs down the lines in his career.
Tier 4
Charles Barkley, Steve Francis, Otis Thorpe, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, Calvin Murphy
Tier 4 gets started off with an NBA legend who spent the twilight of his career with the Rockets after a Hall Of Fame career elsewhere. Charles Barkley played the final four seasons of his career with Houston from 1997 thru 2000. He became a one-time All-Star with them in 1997 and helped them reach the playoffs three seasons out of four. In those four years, Barkley averaged 16.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and 1.1 SPG. Barkley would retire with Houston after the 2000 seasons at the age of 37.
The next member of Tier 4 is Steve Francis, or as he was known then, Stevie Franchise. The first five seasons of Francis’ career began in Houston back in 1999-00 when he won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award averaging 18.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.5 SPG. He would be selected to three straight All-Star games from 2002 thru 2004 and, over that time, averaged 19.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1.6 SPG.
Otis Thorpe is another Rockets legend who has a case to be higher than Tier 4. Thorpe played with the Rockets from 1989 thru midway through the 1995 season. In 1992, he made the only All-Star game of his career with the Rockets averaging 17.3 PPG and 10.5 RPG. In 1994, he helped the Rockets win their first NBA championship averaging 11.3 PPG and 9.9 RPG throughout the playoffs. Thorpe ranks 10th in points and 5th in rebounds in Rockets history for his career.
Kenny Smith, yes the one from TNT, was a member of the Rockets from 1991 thru 1996 and was the starting point guard for both NBA championship teams in 1994 and 1995. Over those two seasons, Smith averaged 11.0 PPG and 4.1 APG for the Rockets but served a much higher purpose on the team than that. He was their floor general and kept his team in line when things began to break down. Smith was never an All-Star, but his contributions to the Rockets are unmatched by many other point guards in their team’s history.
Vernon Maxwell is another member of the 1994 and 1995 championship squads who was the Rockets’ enforcer and bad boy on the floor. Maxwell would routinely battle with Michael Jordan and other stars, getting so physical they wanted to fight him by the end of the night. In Houston’s championship seasons, Maxwell averaged 13.5 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Maxwell is one of Houston’s greatest players despite the lack of statistical dominance that others possess below him.
The final member of Tier 4 is the man they call Big Shot Bob and one of the greatest winners as a role player in NBA history. Robert Horry spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rockets, also helping them win two NBA championships in the 90s. Horry enjoyed the best two scoring seasons of his career with Houston and was their starting forward for both championship runs. Horry was not an All-Star at all in his career, yet was one of the most clutch players ever.
Calvin Murphy is a Rockets legend that should be perhaps further up on this list for his contributions to the franchise. Murphy played his entire 13-year career with the Rockets from 1971 thru 1983 and ranks Top 3 in points, assists, and steals in Rockets history. He helped them reach the NBA Finals in 1981 and made his only All-Star appearance in 1979 when he averaged 20.2 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.4 SPG.
Tier 3
Elvin Hayes, Ralph Sampson, Tracy McGrady, Rudy Tomjanovich, Clyde Drexler
The four seasons that Elvin Hayes spent in Houston were some of the best first four seasons in any player’s career. Hayes won the scoring title as a rookie and was also an All-Star averaging 28.4 PPG and 17.1 RPG. In fact, Hayes was an All-Star each of the first four seasons, with the Rockets averaging 27.4 PPG and 16.3 RPG over that span. Hayes added a rebounding title in 1970 and ranked 5th in points and 2nd in rebounds in Rockets history.
Ralph Sampson was supposed to be the next big thing, literally, coming out of college to the Rockets in 1983. Sampson made four straight All-Star games in the first four seasons of his career, with the Rockets averaging 19.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.9 BPG. He helped the Rockets advance to the 1986 NBA Finals alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and helped form one of the most feared frontcourts in the NBA during the 1980s.
Tracy McGrady was an electric superstar with the Houston Rockets from 2005 thru the midway point of the 2010 season. McGrady made All-Star appearances in each of his first three seasons with Houston, as well as three All-NBA Teams. Over that time, McGrady averaged 25.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.5 SPG. He helped the Rockets reach the playoffs three times, but they failed to advance past the first round each time.
Rudy Tomjanovich needs to be on the Houston Rockets’ GOAT Pyramid both as a player and a coach. Rudy T was the coach of both the 1994 and 1995 NBA championship teams and played with the franchise for the entirety of his 11-year career. Tomjanovic made five All-Star appearances in six seasons, with the Rockets averaging 21.4 PPG and 8.2 RPG over that span. Rudy T is also one of the few players to have his jersey retired by the Rockets.
Many may feel that Clyde Drexler doesn’t belong this high on the Rockets GOAT Pyramid, but he earned it in 1995. After being dealt to the Rockets during the 1995 season, Drexler averaged 21.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.8 SPG to help them make the playoffs. In the playoffs, he averaged 20.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 1.5 SPG to help them capture the NBA championship. He would make two All-Star appearances with the Rockets moving forward and an All-NBA Team with the team as well.
Tier 2
James Harden, Moses Malone, Yao Ming
With the Houston Rockets during the 2010s, James Harden went on one of the most historic stretches that any player has ever had with one team. Harden was an All-Star all eight full seasons he played with the team, as well as a seven-time All-NBA Team member. He won three scoring titles as well as an assists title in 2017. He won the 2018 MVP award averaging 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, and 1.8 SPG. Harden would peak at 36.1 PPG with the Rockets for one of the highest-scoring single seasons ever.
Moses Malone is also one of the most dominant players in the Rockets’ history. Malone spent five and a half seasons with the Rockets from 1977 thru 1982. He made five straight All-Star games with Houston in the late 70s and early 80s, as well as four All-NBA Teams and an All-Defensive Team. He won three rebounding titles with them as well. Hope won the 1979 MVP award averaging 24.8 PPG, 17.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.5 BPG. He would win a second MVP as a Rocket in 1982, averaging 31.1 PPG, 14.7 RPG, and 1.5 BPG.
If injuries never occurred, there is a good chance Yao Ming could have led the Rockets to more than one NBA championship. In his first seven seasons with Houston, Yao was a seven-time All-Star and averaged 19.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 1.9 BPG. The issue with him was that he always seemed to be hurt come playoff time, missing the team’s most important games over that span. He earned five All-NBA Team selections and peaked in 2007 with 25.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, and 2.0 BPG in 48 games played.
Tier 1
Hakeem Olajuwon
There is no greater player in Houston Rockets history than Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon. Hakeem is the Rockets’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals and even ranks fourth in assists. Olajuwon was the leader of the Rockets’ two NBA title runs in 1994 and 1995, claiming both Finals MVP awards on both runs. He won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and an MVP award in 1994. He was named an All-Star 12 times, 12 All-NBA Teams, and nine All-Defensive Teams. Olajuwon is widely considered the greatest interior defender to ever play the game and stands alone atop this GOAT Pyramid as the greatest player in Houston Rockets history.
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