Houston Rockets
From Hoopedia
Contents |
Franchise Name History
On January 11, 1967, San Diego became the 12th member of the National Basketball Association. To select a name for their new NBA club, the basketball fans of San Diego were asked to choose a nickname for the team.
Out of 10,000 entries, more than 1,000 different names were submitted. After careful deliberation, a group of leading citizens chose Rockets because it fit in with San Diego's theme of a "City in Motion"; while reflecting the outstanding growth of space-age industries in San Diego.
After the 1970-71 season, the San Diego Rockets moved to Houston, Texas, and became the Houston Rockets. The Rockets name is still a valid name today because the NASA space program is located in Houston.
Franchise History
The history of the Houston Rockets organization dates back to their entry into the NBA as the San Diego Rockets in 1967. The highlight of the team's history came when they won back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 behind the play of legend Hakeem Olajuwon. (Read more...)
Franchise Arenas
| Arena | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Sports Arena | 1967-1971 | as San Diego |
| Hofheinz Pavilion | 1971-1975 | |
| HemisFair Arena | 1972-1973 | in San Antonio |
| Compaq Center | 1975-2003 | formerly The Summit |
| Toyota Center | 2003-present |
Franchise Personnel
Leslie L. Alexander - Owner
Tad Brown - CEO
Daryl Morey - General Manager
Rick Adelman - Head Coach
Retired Numbers
| Number | Player |
|---|---|
| 22 | Clyde Drexler |
| 23 | Calvin Murphy |
| 24 | Moses Malone |
| 34 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 45 | Rudy Tomjanovich |
| CD | Carroll Dawson (former Assistant Coach and General Manager) |
