The Houston Rockets do not have the worst start in NBA history. That honor goes to the 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers, who went on a 0-18 run. But they could turn out to be the worst NBA team of all time, with a 1-12 run so far with little hope of things getting better.
Since James Harden left midway through the 2020-21 season, the losses have been coming thick and fast. Injuries also played a significant role in that regard, and the Rockets have failed to figure things out ever since.
The Rockets are attempting a rebuild, one which has resulted in a terrible start to the 2021-22 season. They had zero first-round picks five years before the 2021 offseason but ended up with four ahead of the 2021 NBA draft.
With the second overall pick, they selected Jalen Green, who was one of the top prospects. But the shooting guard has been slow to get going and is averaging 13.8 points per game on 35.3% shooting from the field.
Scoring has been a significant problem for the Rockets as they have the worst offensive rating in the league so far. Their best scorer, Christian Wood, is averaging 16.9 points per game.
Nothing is going right for the Rockets this season, and it could continue for an extended period. Their free-throw shooting isn’t better either, as they are shooting only 68.9% which is the worst in the league.
The record to beat is that of the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats, who finished the shortened season with a 7-59 record (.106 win percentage). So far this season, the Rockets have a .077 win percentage.
They will take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday evening and might not stand a chance. Morant has promised to be better, following their disappointing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. It is hard to imagine a scenario where the Rockets will steal the win in this fixture.
The only hope the Rockets have at changing their fortune is to play John Wall. Both parties have agreed that the veteran sits out the rest of the season until they find a suitable trade deal for him. But if they hope to post a better record than the 2011-12 Bobcats, Wall might be the key for more wins.
