Houston Rockets

The Rockets were founded in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets before relocating to Houston in 1971. The early Houston years were defined by the play of guards Calvin Murphy and Mike Newlin, who gave the franchise a competitive identity in the Western Conference. Murphy, the diminutive 5-foot-9 guard, became one of the most beloved players in franchise history and the team's all-time leading scorer at the time.

The Rockets reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 1981, led by Moses Malone - one of the most dominant rebounders and low-post scorers in NBA history. Malone won back-to-back MVP awards in 1979 and 1982, and his intensity and rebounding prowess carried a Rockets team that lacked the depth of the league's elite franchises. However, the Rockets fell to the Boston Celtics in six games in the 1981 Finals.

Malone was traded to Philadelphia in 1982, and the franchise entered a brief downturn. But the 1983 and 1984 drafts would deliver the franchise cornerstones - Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon - who would form one of the most fearsome frontcourts in NBA history.

The Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon first overall in 1984, pairing him with Ralph Sampson to form the "Twin Towers" - one of the most intimidating frontcourt duos in NBA history. The combination reached the 1986 NBA Finals, where Sampson's miraculous buzzer-beating shot against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals became an instant classic. The Rockets lost to the Celtics in the Finals, and injuries soon derailed Sampson's career.

Olajuwon emerged as the franchise's singular star - a center of incomparable skill whose footwork, shot-blocking, and versatility made him arguably the most complete big man ever to play the game. His signature "Dream Shake" move was virtually unguardable. With Michael Jordan retired and playing baseball, Olajuwon seized the moment and led the Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995.

The 1994 championship, won in seven games against the New York Knicks, saw Olajuwon win both the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP. The 1995 run was even more improbable - the Rockets entered the playoffs as the sixth seed and swept the Orlando Magic, who featured a young Shaquille O'Neal, in the Finals. Olajuwon's Dream Shake dismantled every defense he faced.

The Rockets entered a new era in 2002 when they selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick. The 7-foot-6 center from China was a skilled, intelligent player whose arrival in the NBA was a global event, opening basketball to the Chinese market in unprecedented fashion. Yao was paired with Tracy McGrady in 2004, creating a formidable duo, but injuries - particularly to Yao's feet - prevented them from ever making a deep playoff run.

After Yao's retirement in 2011, the Rockets rebuilt quickly, acquiring James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 2012 trade that would be widely regarded as one of the most lopsided in NBA history. Harden transformed into one of the most prolific scorers ever, averaging over 30 points per game in multiple seasons and winning the 2018 MVP award. His step-back three-pointer and ability to draw fouls made him nearly impossible to guard.

Under coach Mike D'Antoni, the Rockets went all-in on three-point shooting and small-ball basketball, taking the Kevin Durant-era Warriors to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals. But they could never get past Golden State, and after Harden's departure in 2021, the franchise entered another rebuilding cycle.