Team:
Houston Rockets
Sport: NBA Basketball
Background: The Houston Rockets
are a National Basketball Association team
based in Houston, Texas.
Founded: 1967
Formerly known as: San Diego
Rockets (1967-71)
Home Arena: Toyota Center
(new for 2003)
Uniform colors: Blood Red,
White, and Silver
Logo design: A gothic-style
R, appearing to move upwards, with a ring
around the bottom of it; one version of the
logo includes "HOUSTON" at the left
and "ROCKETS" at the right.
NBA Championships: 1994,
1995
They formerly were at the Compaq Center, once
"The Summit", but pressured the
city for a new stadium, which was granted
to them.
Franchise History
Houston Has Been Home Of The Big Man-From
Moses To Ralph To Hakeem
The Houston Rockets were introduced to the
NBA as the San Diego Rockets in 1967, the
same year that the American Basketball Association
launched itself as a rival league. Despite
boasting the great Elvin Hayes through the
early years, the Rockets never caught on in
San Diego and moved to Houston after only
four seasons. The franchise stumbled through
its first five years in Houston before acquiring
Moses Malone early in the 1976-77 campaign.
Malone put the club on his hulking shoulders
and carried the Rockets to respectability.
Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon bore the
big-man banner in the 1980s and into the 1990s,
posting impressive seasons. Eventually Olajuwon
would lead the Rockets to back-to-back championship
banners in 1994 and 1995.
