The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The Rockets play in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before moving to Houston, Texas.
In the Rockets' debut season, their win–loss record was 15–67. After drafting Elvin Hayes first overall in the 1968 NBA draft, they made their first appearance in the playoffs in 1969. After Hayes was traded, Moses Malone replaced him. Malone won two Most Valuable Player awards during his time in Houston, and led the Rockets to the Eastern Conference finals in his first year with the Rockets. He also led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, but they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics. Two years after advancing to the finals, the Rockets won a franchise-low 14 games.
In 1984, the Rockets drafted future Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, who led them to the 1986 Finals in his second year, in which they lost again to Boston. In the next seven seasons, they lost in the first round of the playoffs four times. They did not win their first championship until , when Olajuwon led them to a franchise-best 58 wins, and the championship. The Rockets repeated the feat in , but have not advanced to the finals since. They missed the playoffs from to , and did not reach the playoffs until after they drafted Yao Ming in 2003. They did not advance past the first round of the playoffs for 13 years, until the 2008–09 NBA season. After the arrival of James Harden in 2012 and Dwight Howard the following year, the Rockets had their best seasons since the Olajuwon days, culminating in the Southwest Division title and a return to the Western Conference finals in . The 2017–18 Rockets made franchise history by becoming the first Houston team ever to win 60 or more games in a regular season, finishing at 65–17.
The Rockets have played 54 seasons, and advanced to the playoffs in 34 of those seasons. They also have regular season records of .500 or better in 38 of their 54 seasons, placing them well into the upper third of NBA franchises in overall win–loss records. They have won eight division titles, and have been conference champions four times. Their overall record is 2,444 wins and 2,328 losses.
Table key ASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable PlayerCOYCoach of the YearDPOYDefensive Player of the YearEOYExecutive of the YearFinishFinal position in league or division standingsFMVPFinals Most Valuable PlayerGBGames behind first-place team in divisionLNumber of regular-season lossesJWKCJ. Walter Kennedy CitizenshipMVPMost Valuable PlayerROYRookie of the YearWNumber of regular-season wins
Seasons Note: Statistics are correct as of the . NBA championsConference championsDivision championsPlayoff berthPlay-in berth
SeasonLeagueConferenceFinishDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPlayoffsAwardsHead coachSan Diego RocketsNBA——Western6th156741— Jack McMahonNBA——Western4th 374518Lost Division semifinals (Hawks) 4–2—NBA——Western7th275521—Jack McMahonAlex HannumNBAWestern7thPacific3rd40428—Alex HannumHouston RocketsNBAWestern7thPacific4th344835—Tex WinterNBAEastern5thCentral3rd334919—Tex WinterJohnny EganNBAEastern6thCentral3rd325015— Johnny EganNBAEastern4thCentral2nd414119Won First round (Knicks) 2–1Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–1—NBAEastern6thCentral3rd40429—NBAEastern2ndCentral1st4933—Won conference semifinals (Bullets) 4–2Lost conference finals (76ers) 4–2Tom Nissalke (COY)Ray Patterson (EOY) Tom NissalkeNBAEastern9thCentral6th285424—NBAEastern4thCentral2nd47351Lost First round (Hawks) 2–0Moses Malone (MVP)Calvin Murphy (JWKC)NBAEastern4thCentral2nd41419Won First round (Spurs) 2–1Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–0— Del HarrisNBAWestern6thMidwest3rd404212Won First round (Lakers) 2–1Won conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–3Won conference finals (Kings) 4–1Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2—NBAWestern6thMidwest3rd46362Lost First round (SuperSonics) 2–1Moses Malone (MVP)NBAWestern12thMidwest6th146839—NBAWestern12thMidwest6th295316Ralph Sampson (ROY) Bill FitchNBAWestern3rdMidwest2nd48344Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2Ralph Sampson (ASG MVP)NBAWestern2ndMidwest1st5131—Won First round (Kings) 3–0Won conference semifinals (Nuggets) 4–2Won conference finals (Lakers) 4–1Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2—NBAWestern6thMidwest3rd424013Won First round (Trail Blazers) 3–1Lost conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–2—NBAWestern6thMidwest4th46368Lost First round (Mavericks) 3–1—NBAWestern5thMidwest2nd45376Lost First round (SuperSonics) 3–1— Don ChaneyNBAWestern8thMidwest5th414115Lost First round (Lakers) 3–1—NBAWestern6thMidwest3rd52303Lost First round (Lakers) 3–0Don Chaney (COY)NBAWestern9thMidwest3rd424013—Don ChaneyRudy TomjanovichNBAWestern2ndMidwest1st5527—Won First round (Clippers) 3–2Lost conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–3Hakeem Olajuwon (DPOY) Rudy TomjanovichNBAWestern2ndMidwest1st5824—Won First round (Trail Blazers) 3–1Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3Won conference finals (Jazz) 4–1Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–3Hakeem Olajuwon (MVP, FMVP, DPOY)NBAWestern6thMidwest3rd473515Won First round (Jazz) 3–2Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3Won conference finals (Spurs) 4–2Won NBA Finals (Magic) 4–0Hakeem Olajuwon (FMVP)NBAWestern5thMidwest3rd483411Won First round (Lakers) 3–1Lost conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–0—NBAWestern3rdMidwest2nd57257Won First round (Timberwolves) 3–0Won conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–3Lost conference finals (Jazz) 4–2—NBAWestern8thMidwest4th414121Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2—NBAWestern5thMidwest3rd31196Lost First round (Lakers) 3–1—NBAWestern11thMidwest6th344821Steve Francis (ROY)NBAWestern9thMidwest5th453713—NBAWestern11thMidwest5th285430—NBAWestern9thMidwest5th433917—NBAWestern7thMidwest5th453713Lost First round (Lakers) 4–1— Jeff Van GundyNBAWestern5thSouthwest3rd51318Lost First round (Mavericks) 4–3—NBAWestern12thSouthwest5th344829—NBAWestern5thSouthwest3rd523015Lost First round (Jazz) 4–3—NBAWestern5thSouthwest3rd55271Lost First round (Jazz) 4–2— Rick AdelmanNBAWestern5thSouthwest2nd53291Won First round (Trail Blazers) 4–2Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–3Dikembe Mutombo (JWKC)NBAWestern9thSouthwest3rd424013Aaron Brooks (MIP)NBAWestern9thSouthwest5th433918—NBAWestern9thSouthwest4th343216— Kevin McHaleNBAWestern8thSouthwest3rd453715Lost First round (Thunder) 4–2—NBAWestern4thSouthwest2nd54288Lost First round (Trail Blazers) 4–2—NBAWestern2ndSouthwest1st5626— Won First round (Mavericks) 4–1Won conference semifinals (Clippers) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Warriors) 4–1—NBAWestern8th Southwest4th414126Lost First round (Warriors) 4–1—Kevin McHaleJ. B. BickerstaffNBAWestern3rd Southwest2nd55276 Won First round (Thunder) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–2Eric Gordon (SIX) Mike D'Antoni (COY) Mike D'AntoniNBAWestern1stSouthwest1st6517—Won First round (Timberwolves) 4–1 Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–1 Lost conference finals (Warriors) 4–3James Harden (MVP)Daryl Morey (EOY)NBAWestern4thSouthwest1st5329—Won First round (Jazz) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–2—NBAWestern4thSouthwest1st4428—Won First round (Thunder) 4–3Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–1—NBAWestern15thSouthwest5th175525— Stephen SilasNBAWestern15thSouthwest5th206244—NBAWestern14thSouthwest4th226030.5—NBAWestern11thSouthwest3rd41419— Ime UdokaNBAWestern2ndSouthwest1st5230—Lost First round (Warriors) 4–3—NBAWestern5thSouthwest2nd523010Lost First round (Lakers) 4–2—Total (59 seasons) 2,473 2,297 2 NBA Championships 16 Head Coaches
All-time records Complete through the 2025–26 NBA season.
StatisticWinsLossesWin%San Diego Rockets regular season record (1968–1971)119209Houston Rockets regular season record (1971–present)2,3542,088All-time regular season record (1968–present)2,4732,297San Diego Rockets post-season record (1969)24Houston Rockets post-season record (1975–present)161168All-time post-season record (1969–present)163172All-time regular and post-season record2,6362,469
Notes
References General
Citations