Houston Rockets Basketball Team, commonly referred to as Houston Rockets or simply Rockets, is one of the most iconic and successful basketball teams in the world. Founded in 1967 as San Diego Rockets, it changed its name to Houston Rockets in 1971. The team is based in Houston, Texas, United States, and plays its home matches at the famous Toyota Center, which has a seating capacity of over 18,000.
Houston Rockets has a rich history, boasting 4 conference titles, 2 NBA Championships, and numerous other domestic and international recognitions. The team enjoyed its most successful era under legendary coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who led the Rockets to 2 NBA Championships victories between 1994 and 1995.
Known for its aggressive style of play, the team has nurtured some of basketball’s greatest talents, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Yao Ming, James Harden, and Tracy McGrady. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Tomjanovich, Houston Rockets remains one of the world’s most valuable basketball teams, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world basketball.
Houston Rockets is one of the most popular basketball teams in the world, with a significant average home attendances in the NBA. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes multiple officially recognised branches of the Houston Rockets Fan Club, in several countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Houston Rockets has millions of fans worldwide. The club has a significant social media following in the world among sports teams, with over 4.3 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Houston Rockets had one of the most engaged fans in the NBA.
Houston Rockets was formed in 1967 and was a part of the Western division. The team initially played games against other NBA teams, but their journey was marked with several ups and downs. The colors of the team are red and silver and they have had numerous memorable matches over the years.
In 1992, the appointment of Rudy Tomjanovich as the head coach brought a significant change in the team's performance and dynamics. He demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Tomjanovich led the team to consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
After the retirement of Tracy McGrady, the team has gone through several changes including the appointment of different managers. Kevin McHale took over as the coach in 2011, and under his tenure, the team saw some success. However, he was fired in 2015 after a poor start to the season. The team's performance has been inconsistent since then with a few successful seasons under different coaches. Despite the struggles, the Houston Rockets remain a popular team with a strong global fanbase.
Originally funded by the Houston Sports Association, the club became a limited company in 1967 and sold shares to local supporters for $1 via an application form. In 1971, majority ownership passed to four local businessmen who invested $500,000 to save the club from bankruptcy, including future club president Roy Hofheinz. After his death in 1982, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in December 1983 by Charlie Thomas, who assumed control of the club after an investment of $20,000. Thomas promoted his son, John, to the board in 1985, but died three years later; the Thomas family retained ownership of the club through Charlie's wife, Jane, but the position of chairman passed to former player Les Alexander.
Promoted to the board a few days after the Houston Rockets financial crisis, Les Alexander, a friend of Rudy Tomjanovich, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately $40,000, he accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in July 1993. When Jane Thomas died in January 1995, her shares passed to John Thomas, who sold a percentage of his shares to Les Alexander's son, Daniel, in 1998; Daniel Alexander went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 1999. Media tycoon Tilman Fertitta attempted to buy the club in 2003, but did not meet Alexander's asking price. In 2006, chairman Daniel Alexander attempted to sell the club to Chris Cohan for $20 million, but the sale fell through and Cohan joined the board of directors instead.
Houston Rockets is one of the most successful clubs in the NBA in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the NBA Championship, which they won in 1994. In 1995, the club won their second NBA Championship. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 4 Conference titles—including a record 2 NBA titles—and their total of 5 Division titles is impressive as well. Those titles have meant the club has appeared multiple times in the NBA Playoffs; of those appearances, Houston Rockets have showed phenomenal performances.
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Worldwide
Despite the lack of international and worldwide championships, the Houston Rockets have maintained a solid reputation in the NBA. Their players, such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Yao Ming, have left a significant impact on the sport. The team's consistent appearances in the playoffs demonstrate their competitiveness. Their two consecutive NBA Championships in the mid-90s are a testament to their ability to perform at the highest level. The club's history is filled with periods of success and they continue to strive for excellence in the present day, aiming to add more trophies to their collection.
History of Houston Rockets: A comprehensive history of the Houston Rockets, including information about their formation, early years, significant periods, and notable players. https://www.nba.com/rockets/history
Houston Rockets Team Facts: Facts about the Houston Rockets, including their founding, changes in ownership, team colors, and venue. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston-Rockets
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