1995–96 Houston Rockets season

1995–96 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
General managerBob Weinhauer
OwnerLeslie Alexander
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to SuperSonics 0–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioKTRH

The 1995–96 Houston Rockets season was the 29th season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 25th season in Houston, Texas.[1] The Rockets entered the regular season as the 2-time defending NBA champions, having defeated the Orlando Magic in a four-game sweep in the 1995 NBA Finals, and winning their second consecutive NBA championship. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Mark Bryant and Eldridge Recasner.[2][3]

With the addition of Bryant and Recasner, the Rockets got off to a fast start by winning ten of their first eleven games of the regular season, and later on held a 31–18 record at the All-Star break.[4] However, injuries were an issue all season long, as Clyde Drexler only played 52 games due to knee and ankle injuries,[5][6][7] while Sam Cassell only played 61 games due to elbow and foot injuries,[8][9] and Mario Elie only appeared in just 45 games due to wrist and arm injuries.[10][8] At mid-season, the team signed free agent Sam Mack, who previously played in the Continental Basketball Association.[11] Despite the injuries and a seven-game losing streak in March, the Rockets finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 48–34 record, and earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference.[12]

Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 26.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.9 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Drexler averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. In addition, Cassell played a sixth man role, averaging 14.5 points and 4.6 assists per game off the bench, while Robert Horry provided the team with 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and also led them with 142 three-point field goals, Elie provided with 11.1 points per game, and Mack contributed 10.8 points per game. Chucky Brown averaged 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while Bryant provided with 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game off the bench, three-point specialist Kenny Smith contributed 8.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, and Recasner contributed 6.9 points and 2.7 assists per game.[13]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Olajuwon and Drexler were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team.[14][15][16] Olajuwon finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[17][18] and also finished in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[18] while Cassell finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[18] and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich finished in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.[19][18]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1996 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 4th–seeded Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by Cedric Ceballos, Nick Van Exel, and All-Star guard Magic Johnson, who came out of his retirement midway through the regular season. The Rockets won Game 1 over the Lakers on the road, 87–83 at the Great Western Forum, but then lost Game 2 on the road, 104–94 as the Lakers evened the series. The Rockets won the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 win over the Lakers at The Summit, 102–94 to win the series in four games;[20][21][22] after the Lakers' loss to the Rockets, Johnson retired for the second and final time.[23][24][25]

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Rockets faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Seattle SuperSonics, who were led by the All-Star trio of Shawn Kemp, Defensive Player of the Year, Gary Payton, and Detlef Schrempf. The Rockets lost the first two games to the SuperSonics on the road at the KeyArena at Seattle Center, and then lost their next two home games, including a Game 4 loss to the SuperSonics at The Summit in overtime, 114–107, thus losing the series in a four-game sweep.[26][27][28] The SuperSonics would advance to the 1996 NBA Finals, but would eventually lose in six games to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.[29][30][31]

The Rockets finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 667,840 at The Summit during the regular season.[13][32] Following the season, Cassell, Horry, Brown and Bryant were all traded to the Phoenix Suns,[33][34][35] while Smith signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[36][37][38] Recasner signed with the Atlanta Hawks,[39] and Chilcutt signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies.

For the season, the Rockets changed their primary logo and uniforms, adding dark navy blue, light blue, and silver to their color scheme of red; the team's new logo featured a light blue rocket flying past a red basketball with the team name "Rockets",[40] while their new uniforms featured pinstripes with the team's new logo on the front of their jerseys, and red side panels to their shorts.[41][42] However, the new pinstriped uniforms were criticized, and disliked by both the Rockets players and fans, and were considered "ugly"; it was also considered a poor choice, after the Rockets recently won back-to-back NBA championships, in which they wore their previous uniforms of their traditional red and gold color scheme.[43][44]

The team's new primary logo, and new uniforms would both remain in use until 2003.

Draft picks

Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 41 Erik Meek Center  United States Duke

Roster

1995–96 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 9 Melvin Booker 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1972–08–20 Missouri
F 15 Tim Breaux 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–09–19 Wyoming
F 52 Chucky Brown 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1968–02–29 NC State
F 2 Mark Bryant 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall
G 10 Sam Cassell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–11–18 Florida State
F 32 Pete Chilcutt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–14 North Carolina
G 22 Clyde Drexler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston
G/F 17 Mario Elie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–11–26 American International
F 25 Robert Horry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
F/C 27 Charles Jones 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State
F 4 Sam Mack 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–05–26 Houston
G 20 Tracy Moore 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965–12–28 Tulsa
C 34 Hakeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
G 3 Eldridge Recasner 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–12–14 Washington
G 30 Kenny Smith 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 – 33–8 26–15 19–5
x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 4 34–7 21–20 14–10
x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 11 27–14 21–20 15–9
Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 24 24–17 11–30 13–11
Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 33 17–24 9–32 10–14
Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 33 16–25 10–31 10–14
Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 44 10–31 5–36 3–21
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics * 64 18 .780 – 82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs * 59 23 .720 5 82
3 x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 9 82
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646 11 82
5 x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 16 82
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 44 38 .537 20 82
7 x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 23 82
8 x-Sacramento Kings 39 43 .476 25 82
9 Golden State Warriors 36 46 .439 28 82
10 Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 29 82
11 Los Angeles Clippers 29 53 .354 35 82
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 38 82
13 Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 38 82
14 Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 49 82
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Playoffs

1996 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 @ L.A. Lakers W 87–83 Hakeem Olajuwon (33) Horry, Olajuwon (7) Drexler, Smith (4) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 27 @ L.A. Lakers L 94–104 Sam Cassell (22) Horry, Olajuwon (8) Sam Cassell (8) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 April 30 L.A. Lakers W 104–98 Hakeem Olajuwon (30) Robert Horry (10) Clyde Drexler (11) The Summit
16,285 		2–1
4 May 2 L.A. Lakers W 102–94 Hakeem Olajuwon (25) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) Olajuwon, Drexler (7) The Summit
16,285 		3–1
Conference semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 4 @ Seattle L 75–108 Robert Horry (18) Clyde Drexler (9) Kenny Smith (5) KeyArena
17,072 		0–1
2 May 6 @ Seattle L 101–105 Clyde Drexler (19) Hakeem Olajuwon (16) Kenny Smith (7) KeyArena
17,072 		0–2
3 May 10 Seattle L 112–115 Clyde Drexler (28) Hakeem Olajuwon (13) Kenny Smith (11) The Summit
16,285 		0–3
4 May 12 Seattle L 107–114 (OT) Hakeem Olajuwon (26) Clyde Drexler (15) Drexler, Cassell (6) The Summit
16,611 		0–4
1996 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Melvin Booker 11 0 11.9 .320 .158 .818 .8 1.9 .5 .1 4.0
Tim Breaux 54 4 10.6 .366 .326 .622 1.1 .4 .2 .1 3.0
Chucky Brown 82 82 24.6 .541 .125 .693 5.4 1.1 .6 .5 8.6
Mark Bryant 71 9 22.4 .543 .000 .718 4.9 .7 .4 .3 8.6
Sam Cassell 61 0 27.6 .439 .348 .825 3.1 4.6 .9 .1 14.5
Pete Chilcutt 74 0 8.8 .408 .378 .654 2.1 .4 .3 .2 2.7
Clyde Drexler 52 51 38.4 .433 .332 .784 7.2 5.8 2.0 .5 19.3
Mario Elie 45 16 30.8 .504 .323 .852 3.4 3.1 1.0 .2 11.1
Alvin Heggs 4 0 3.5 .600 .667 .5 .0 .0 .0 2.0
Robert Horry 71 71 37.1 .410 .366 .776 5.8 4.0 1.6 1.5 12.0
Jaren Jackson 4 0 8.3 .000 .000 .800 .8 .0 .3 .0 2.0
Henry James 7 0 8.3 .417 .333 1.000 .9 .3 .0 .0 4.3
Charles Jones 46 0 6.5 .316 .308 1.6 .3 .1 .5 .3
Sam Mack 31 20 28.0 .422 .400 .848 3.2 2.5 .7 .3 10.8
Tracy Moore 8 2 23.8 .395 .433 .947 2.8 .8 .3 .0 11.4
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 72 38.8 .514 .214 .724 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 26.9
Eldridge Recasner 63 27 20.2 .415 .424 .864 2.3 2.7 .4 .1 6.9
Kenny Smith 68 56 23.8 .433 .382 .821 1.4 3.6 .7 .0 8.5

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Brown 8 8 21.0 .556 .833 3.0 .6 .4 .0 8.1
Mark Bryant 8 0 18.1 .600 .800 3.4 .5 .1 .3 6.8
Sam Cassell 8 0 25.8 .321 .276 .793 2.1 4.3 .8 .1 10.4
Pete Chilcutt 1 0 10.0 .250 .000 .000 3.0 .0 .0 .0 2.0
Clyde Drexler 8 8 36.5 .415 .265 .765 7.8 5.0 2.6 .5 16.6
Mario Elie 8 0 29.1 .439 .375 .917 2.8 1.8 .9 .4 9.8
Robert Horry 8 8 38.5 .407 .396 .435 7.1 3.0 2.6 1.6 13.1
Charles Jones 3 0 2.7 .000 .3 .0 .0 .0 .0
Sam Mack 6 0 7.8 .333 .222 .000 1.5 .2 .2 .0 2.0
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 8 41.1 .510 .000 .725 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 22.4
Eldridge Recasner 1 0 8.0 .000 .000 1.0 2.0 .0 .0 .0
Kenny Smith 8 8 23.9 .434 .387 1.000 1.5 4.8 .6 .0 8.9

Player statistics citation:[13]

Awards and records

Season

See also

References

  1. ^ 1995-96 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ "Blazers, Pistons Cut Deal". The Spokesman-Review. September 21, 1995. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Winderman, Ira (September 29, 1995). "Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Rockets' Drexler to Have Knee Surgery". Chicago Tribune. February 25, 1996. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Will Miss Five to Six Weeks". The New York Times. February 27, 1996. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 30, 1996). "Drexler Ankle Better Than His Attitude". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Globster, Rob (April 6, 1996). "Drexler and Elie Back, But Rockets Still Reeling". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 23, 1996). "Peeler May Be Missing for Game 1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Olajuwon Scores 51 in a Losing Effort". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 19, 1996. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. February 24, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  12. ^ "1995–96 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "1995–96 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1996). "NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Jordan Named NBA MVP". United Press International. May 20, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "Bulls' Jackson NBA Coach of Year". United Press International. May 7, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Friend, Tom (May 3, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; Rockets Move On. Magic Might, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  21. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 3, 1996). "Show's Over". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  23. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 15, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  24. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 15, 1996). "Pooof!: Johnson Retires on His Terms This Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Adande, J.A. (May 15, 1996). "Magic Retires from Lakers". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Friend, Tom (May 13, 1996). "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets' Furious Rally Makes Sweep Interesting". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "Fired-Up Rockets Go Out with Bang". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 13, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  28. ^ "1996 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Rockets vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  29. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 17, 1996). "N.B.A. FINALS; After a Few Anxious Days, Jordan and Bulls Get Their Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  30. ^ "Bulls Drown Out SuperSonics, 87-75". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 17, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  31. ^ "1996 NBA Finals: SuperSonics vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  32. ^ "1995–96 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  33. ^ "Barkley Confirms His Trade to Rockets". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 19, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  34. ^ "Suns Unload Barkley, Get Four Players from Rockets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 19, 1996. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  35. ^ "Barkley Traded to the Rockets". The Washington Post. August 19, 1996. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Pistons Get a Bargain in Smith". The New York Times. September 18, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  37. ^ "Stockton Will Stay in Utah for "Only" $5 Million a Year". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  38. ^ Thompson, Jack (September 18, 1996). "Stockton Agrees on Deal; Pistons Land Kenny Smith". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Johnson, K.C. (May 6, 1997). "Team of Cohesive Elements Pours from Hawks' Beaker". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  40. ^ "Houston Rockets Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  41. ^ "Houston Rockets Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  42. ^ "Houston Rockets Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  43. ^ Bourantas, John (November 17, 1995). "What's Up With Those New NBA Uniforms?". Portsmouth Daily Times. p. B. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  44. ^ Wolf, Scott (December 19, 1995). "Rockets Win "Ugliest" Title for Uniforms". Deseret News. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
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