The Houston Rockets kick off a new season tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder! Since 1971, Houstonians have been cheering on our beloved basketball team. So, how did the Rockets get started? Here’s more history on our favorite team 🏀
The Start of the Rockets
You might think the Houston Rockets got their name because of the city’s proximity to NASA. However, the team was founded in San Diego in 1967. Basketball fans chose the name the Rockets for the San Diego team because of the city’s space-age industries. The team’s owner, Robert Breitbard, began searching for a new home for the team after fan attendance slowed down. In August 1971, Texas Sports Investments paid $5.6 million to bring the team to Houston, which was the most ever paid for a Houston sports franchise. The team kept their name and kicked off their inaugural season the same year.
The Rockets Championship Years
During their first season in Houston, the Rockets did not have a permanent stadium, so they used different venues within the city and other cities such as Waco, San Antonio, and even San Diego. Finally, in 1975, the team began playing all of their home games at the Summit, which had just opened and now is home to Lakewood Church. In 1981, the Rockets went to their first NBA finals against the Boston Celtics, but lost. However, their luck would turn around. In 1984, they signed the 7-foot powerhouse Hakeem Olujawon. Olujawon, who was originally born in Nigeria, led the Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995. The Rockets would later sign Yao Ming in 2002, who is considered one of the franchise’s greatest players.
The Present Day
The Houston Rockets had a killer season last year, winning more than 50 games during the regular season. This season, many are psyched to see star player Kevin Durant, who just signed a $90 million contract extension, take the basketball court. The Rockets acquired the NBA star earlier this summer. So, could Durant joining the team lead the Rockets to snagging another NBA Championship? Let’s see what happens 🏀
