1998–99 Houston Rockets season

1998–99 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
General managerCarroll Dawson
OwnerLeslie Alexander
ArenaCompaq Center
Results
Record31–19 (.620)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Lakers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKHWB
Fox Sports Southwest
RadioKTRH

The 1998–99 Houston Rockets season was the 32nd season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association and their 28th season in Houston, Texas.[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.[2]

The Rockets had three first-round draft picks in the 1998 NBA draft, selecting shooting guard Michael Dickerson from the University of Arizona with the 14th overall pick, point guard Bryce Drew out of Valparaiso University with the 16th overall pick, and power forward, and Turkish basketball star Mirsad Türkcan with the 18th overall pick; the team also drafted shooting guard Cuttino Mobley from the University of Rhode Island with the 41st overall pick in the second round.[3][4][5] However, Türkcan never played for the Rockets, and was later on traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[6][7]

After the retirement of All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward, and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen from the Chicago Bulls,[8][9][10] and signed free agent Antoine Carr, who previous had two NBA Finals appearances with the Utah Jazz.[11][12] Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley had previously played together on the U.S. Men's basketball team in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.[13]

With the addition of Pippen, the Rockets got off to a 6–2 start to the regular season, but then lost five of their next seven games. At mid-season, the team traded second-year guard Rodrick Rhodes to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for three-point specialist, and former Rockets guard Sam Mack.[14][15][16] The Rockets played solid basketball posting a nine-game winning streak in March, and finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 31–19 record, earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.[17] The Rockets also had the fifth best team offensive rating in the NBA.

Olajuwon averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Barkley averaged 16.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, and Pippen provided the team with 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and also led them with 72 three-point field goals. In addition, Dickerson provided with 10.9 points per game and 71 three-point field goals, while Mobley contributed 9.9 points per game, as both players were named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Off the bench, Othella Harrington averaged 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while Mack contributed 9.2 points per game in 25 games after the trade, and Brent Price provided with 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game.[18] Three-point specialist Matt Maloney only played just 15 games this season due to an elbow injury.[19][20] Olajuwon finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting,[21] while he and Pippen both finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[21] and Harrington finished tied in tenth place in Most Improved Player voting.[21]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 4th–seeded Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the All-Star trio of Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice. Despite both teams finishing with the same regular-season record, the Lakers had home-court advantage in the series. The Rockets lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 102–88 at the Compaq Center. However, the Rockets lost Game 4 to the Lakers at home, 98–88, thus losing the series in four games.[22][23][24] The Rockets would not return to the NBA playoffs again until the 2003–04 season.

The Rockets finished 18th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 407,125 at the Compaq Center during the regular season.[18][25] Pippen spent only one season with the Rockets, as he and Barkley had trouble getting along as teammates.[26][27][28] Following the season, Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,[29][30][31] while Dickerson, Harrington, Carr and Price were all traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies,[32][33][34] Mack and Maloney were both released to free agency, as Maloney signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls midway through the next season,[35][36] and Eddie Johnson retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1998 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 14 Michael Dickerson SG  United States Arizona
1 16 Bryce Drew PG  United States Valparaiso
1 18 Mirsad Türkcan PF  Turkey Efes Pilsen
2 41 Cuttino Mobley SG  United States Rhode Island

Roster

1998–99 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 4 Charles Barkley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1963–02–20 Auburn
F/C 50 Matt Bullard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa
F/C 55 Antoine Carr 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–07–23 Wichita State
G 3 Michael Dickerson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1975–06–25 Arizona
G 11 Bryce Drew 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1974–09–21 Valparaiso
F/C 32 Othella Harrington 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–01–31 Georgetown
F 8 Eddie Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–05–01 Illinois
G/F 7 Sam Mack 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1970–05–26 California
G 12 Matt Maloney 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1971–12–06 Penn
F/C 2 Anthony Miller 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–10–22 Michigan State
G 5 Cuttino Mobley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1975–09–01 Rhode Island
C 34 Hakeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
F 33 Scottie Pippen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas
G 20 Brent Price 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1968–12–09 Oklahoma
C 53 Stanley Roberts 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1970–02–07 LSU
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: March 11, 1999

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 37 13 .740 – 21–4 16–9 17–4
x-Utah Jazz 37 13 .740 – 22–3 15–10 15–3
x-Houston Rockets 31 19 .620 6 19–6 12–13 12–9
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 25 25 .500 12 18–7 7–18 11–9
Dallas Mavericks 19 31 .380 18 15–10 4–21 8–12
Denver Nuggets 14 36 .280 23 12–13 2–23 5–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 8 42 .160 29 7–18 1–24 3–18
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs 37 13 .740 –
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers 35 15 .700 2
3 x-Utah Jazz 37 13 .740 –
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers 31 19 .620 6
5 x-Houston Rockets 31 19 .620 6
6 x-Sacramento Kings 27 23 .540 10
7 x-Phoenix Suns 27 23 .540 10
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 25 25 .500 12
9 Seattle SuperSonics 25 25 .500 12
10 Golden State Warriors 21 29 .420 16
11 Dallas Mavericks 19 31 .380 18
12 Denver Nuggets 14 36 .280 23
13 Los Angeles Clippers 9 41 .180 28
14 Vancouver Grizzlies 8 42 .160 29
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Date Opponent Score Result Record
February 5 @ LA Lakers 91–99 Loss 0–1
February 6 @ Golden State 86–84 Win 1–1
February 8 Denver 99–80 Win 2–1
February 10 Sacramento 92–82 Win 3–1
February 11 @ Dallas 105–95 Win 4–1
February 16 Phoenix 109–92 Win 5–1
February 17 @ Minnesota 102–116 Loss 5–2
February 18 @ New Jersey 93-92 (OT) Win 6–2
February 20 @ Miami 71–81 Loss 6–3
February 21 @ Orlando 83–109 Loss 6–4
February 23 Seattle 98–86 Win 7–4
February 25 Atlanta 87–93 Loss 7–5
February 27 @ Vancouver 86–74 Win 8–5
February 28 @ LA Lakers 90–106 Loss 8–6
March 2 San Antonio 82–99 Loss 8–7
March 4 LA Clippers 96–77 Win 9–7
March 6 @ Vancouver 107–92 Win 10–7
March 7 @ Portland 71–111 Loss 10–8
March 9 Denver 84–75 Win 11–8
March 11 Vancouver 102–91 Win 12–8
March 13 Cleveland 100–89 Win 13–8
March 14 @ Phoenix 90–104 Loss 13–9
March 16 Portland 101–93 Win 14–9
March 17 @ Denver 114–109 Win 15–9
March 20 Phoenix 103-93 (OT) Win 16–9
March 22 Sacramento 110–100 Win 17–9
March 24 @ Dallas 88–78 Win 18–9
March 25 Toronto 113–104 Win 19–9
March 27 @ Golden State 87–86 Win 20–9
March 28 @ Sacramento 107–93 Win 21–9
March 30 @ LA Clippers 104–95 Win 22–9
April 1 @ Utah 87–88 Loss 22–10
April 4 @ Seattle 84–101 Loss 22–11
April 6 Golden State 111–74 Win 23–11
April 8 San Antonio 83–92 Loss 23–12
April 11 @ Utah 76–85 Loss 23–13
April 12 @ Minnesota 95–90 Win 24–13
April 14 Vancouver 102–85 Win 25–13
April 15 Portland 86–76 Win 26–13
April 18 @ San Antonio 83–86 Loss 26–14
April 19 Seattle 120–113 Win 27–14
April 21 Dallas 95–109 Loss 27–15
April 23 @ LA Clippers 101-106 (OT) Loss 27–16
April 25 @ Phoenix 71–95 Loss 27–17
April 26 LA Lakers 102–80 Win 28–17
April 29 Dallas 81–91 Loss 28–18
April 30 Utah 78–91 Loss 28–19
May 2 LA Clippers 110–84 Win 29–19
May 4 Minnesota 100–83 Win 30–19
May 5 @ Denver 95–88 Win 31–19

Playoffs

1999 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 9 @ L.A. Lakers L 100–101 Charles Barkley (25) Barkley, Pippen (10) Scottie Pippen (8) Great Western Forum
17,505 		0–1
2 May 11 @ L.A. Lakers L 98–110 Sam Mack (20) Charles Barkley (13) Scottie Pippen (5) Great Western Forum
17,505 		0–2
3 May 13 L.A. Lakers W 102–88 Scottie Pippen (37) Charles Barkley (23) Brent Price (7) Compaq Center
16,285 		1–2
4 May 15 L.A. Lakers L 88–98 Charles Barkley (20) Scottie Pippen (17) Charles Barkley (6) Compaq Center
16,285 		1–3
1999 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
Charles Barkley 42 40 36.3 .478 .160 .719 12.3 4.6 1.0 .3 16.1
Matt Bullard 41 0 10.1 .377 .387 .700 1.0 .4 .3 .1 2.9
Antoine Carr 18 0 8.4 .404 .000 .714 1.7 .5 .1 .6 2.6
Michael Dickerson 50 50 31.2 .465 .433 .639 1.7 1.9 .5 .2 10.9
Bryce Drew 34 0 13.0 .364 .327 1.000 .9 1.5 .4 .1 3.5
Othella Harrington 41 10 22.0 .513 .721 6.0 .4 .1 .6 9.8
Eddie Johnson 3 0 6.0 .462 .000 .7 .3 .0 .0 4.0
Sam Mack† 25 0 20.2 .471 .405 .821 1.7 1.3 .6 .1 9.2
Matt Maloney 15 7 12.4 .179 .067 .909 .7 1.4 .3 .0 1.4
Anthony Miller 29 0 8.6 .467 .000 .636 2.3 .2 .2 .2 2.4
Cuttino Mobley 49 37 29.7 .425 .358 .818 2.3 2.5 .9 .5 9.9
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 50 35.7 .514 .308 .717 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 18.9
Scottie Pippen 50 50 40.2 .432 .340 .721 6.5 5.9 2.0 .7 14.5
Brent Price 40 6 20.2 .483 .411 .754 2.0 2.8 .8 .0 7.3
Rodrick Rhodes† 3 0 11.0 .250 .833 1.3 .3 .3 .0 3.0
Stanley Roberts 6 0 5.5 .385 .500 1.8 .0 .0 .2 2.3

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Charles Barkley 4 4 39.3 .529 .286 .667 13.8 3.8 1.5 .5 23.5
Matt Bullard 2 0 4.0 1.000 1.000 1.000 .0 .5 .0 .0 3.5
Antoine Carr 4 0 9.3 .364 1.8 1.0 .0 .3 2.0
Michael Dickerson 4 4 20.5 .273 .375 .500 1.0 .8 .5 .8 4.3
Bryce Drew 1 0 4.0 1.000 .000 3.0 2.0 .0 .0 2.0
Othella Harrington 4 0 10.5 .643 .667 3.5 .3 .0 .3 5.5
Sam Mack 4 0 30.8 .342 .385 .824 2.3 1.8 1.0 .0 12.5
Cuttino Mobley 4 4 23.5 .467 .571 .909 1.0 2.8 .5 .0 7.0
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 4 30.8 .426 .875 7.3 .5 1.3 .8 13.3
Scottie Pippen 4 4 43.0 .329 .273 .808 11.8 5.5 1.8 .8 18.3
Brent Price 4 0 24.5 .458 .357 1.000 2.0 3.5 1.0 .3 8.3
Stanley Roberts 3 0 6.7 .000 .500 1.0 .0 .0 1.3 .3

Player statistics citation:[18]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References

  1. ^ 1998-99 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Clippers Pick Olowokandi No. 1". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 24, 1998. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "1998 NBA Draft Selections". Deseret News. June 25, 1998. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Gardner, Kris (January 21, 1999). "Knicks Acquiring Sprewell Highlights Six-Deal Day". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Wise, Mike (July 21, 1999). "BASKETBALL; Knicks to Get First Look at First Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Pippen Headed to Houston". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 18, 1999. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Sheridan, Chris (January 19, 1999). "Sprewell, Pippen on the Move". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Broussard, Chris (January 20, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Ruining of Bulls Begins in Earnest". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Rockets Sign Antoine Carr". Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Dream Teamers Picked". The New York Times. April 13, 1996. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. March 12, 1999. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  15. ^ "Marbury Heads Home". Deseret News. March 12, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Rockets, Grizzlies Set to Make 10-Player Trade, Report Says". Deseret News. August 27, 1999. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  17. ^ "1998–99 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "1998–99 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "Hakeem Sends Rockets Over Kings". CBS News. Associated Press. March 22, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "Olajuwon Scores 32 for Rockets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 23, 1999. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "1998–99 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  22. ^ Kawakami, Tim (May 16, 1999). "Lakers Can Keep Spurs On". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  23. ^ Graczyk, Michael (May 15, 1999). "Lakers Silence Rockets, 98-88". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  24. ^ "1999 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "1998–99 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  26. ^ "Pippen Unloads on Barkley". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 30, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  27. ^ "Pippen Trash-Talks Barkley". CBS News. Associated Press. September 30, 1999. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Wise, Mike (October 3, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Pippen, on His Way to Portland, Takes a Parting Shot at Barkley". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  29. ^ Wise, Mike (October 2, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Are Sending Pippen to Trail Blazers for Six Players". The New York Times. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  30. ^ "Pippen to Go to Blazers for Six". The Washington Post. October 2, 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  31. ^ "Pippen Comes to Portland Blazing". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 5, 1999. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  32. ^ White, Lonnie (August 27, 1999). "Rockets Set to Get Francis in 10-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  33. ^ Wyche, Steve (August 27, 1999). "Ex-Terp Francis Is Headed to the Rockets". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP -- HOUSTON; Rockets Get Francis in 3-Team Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 28, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Bulls Sign Maloney". United Press International. January 7, 2000. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  36. ^ Mitchell, Fred (January 16, 2000). "Rudy T. "Very Happy" for Maloney". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
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