1995–96 Houston Rockets season explained

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in Houston.[1] In the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents Mark Bryant and Eldridge Recasner.[2] [3] After two straight NBA championships, the team changed their primary logo, which showed a light blue rocket flying past a red basketball with the team name "Rockets",[4] and added new pinstripe uniforms adding dark navy blue to their color scheme.[5] [6] The Rockets got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games. However, injuries would be an issue all year, with Clyde Drexler only playing 52 games due to knee and ankle injuries,[7] [8] [9] [10] Sam Cassell only playing 61 games due to elbow and foot injuries,[11] [12] and Mario Elie only playing just 45 games due to wrist and arm injuries.[13] [11] At midseason, the Rockets signed free agent Sam Mack, who previously played in the Continental Basketball Association,[14] as the team held a 31–18 record at the All-Star break.[15] Despite the injuries and a 7-game losing streak in March, the Rockets finished third in the Midwest Division with a 48–34 record.[16]

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 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Drexler averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Olajuwon and Drexler were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.[17] [18] [19] [20] 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, 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.[21] Olajuwon also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[22] and in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Cassell finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[23] [24] and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich finished in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.[25] [26]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the 4th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in four games;[27] [28] [29] [30] All-Star guard Magic Johnson had come out of his retirement midway through the season, and would retire again after the Lakers' loss to the Rockets.[31] [32] [33] [34] [35] However, the Rockets would be swept in the Western Conference Semi-finals by the Seattle SuperSonics in four straight games.[36] [37] [38] [39] The Sonics would reach the NBA Finals, but eventually fell in six games to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.[40] [41] [42] [43] [44]

Following the season, Cassell, Horry, Brown and Bryant were all traded to the Phoenix Suns,[45] [46] [47] [48] while Smith signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[49] [50] [51] and Recasner signed with the Atlanta Hawks.[52] The Rockets' new primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2003.

Draft picks

See main article: 1995 NBA draft.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
— 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
0–4 — 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
1–3 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
4–0 3–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 — 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 — 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 — 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 — 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 — 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 3–1
1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 — 4–0 1–1
0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 — 0–2
Washington3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 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|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 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|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 30| L.A. Lakers| W 104–98| Hakeem Olajuwon (30)| Robert Horry (10)| Clyde Drexler (11)| The Summit
16,285| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 2| L.A. Lakers| W 102–94| Hakeem Olajuwon (25)| Hakeem Olajuwon (11)| Olajuwon, Drexler (7)| The Summit
16,285| 3–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 4| @ Seattle| L 75–108| Robert Horry (18)| Clyde Drexler (9)| Kenny Smith (5)| KeyArena
17,072| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 6| @ Seattle| L 101–105| Clyde Drexler (19)| Hakeem Olajuwon (16)| Kenny Smith (7)| KeyArena
17,072| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 10| Seattle| L 112–115| Clyde Drexler (28)| Hakeem Olajuwon (13)| Kenny Smith (11)| The Summit
16,285| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 12| Seattle| L 107–114 (OT)| Hakeem Olajuwon (26)| Clyde Drexler (15)| Drexler, Cassell (6)| The Summit
16,611| 0–4|-

Player statistics

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
11 0 11.9 .320 .158 .818 .8 1.9 .5 .1 4.0
54 4 10.6 .366 .326 .622 1.1 .4 .2 .1 3.0
82 82 24.6 .541 .125 .693 5.4 1.1 .6 .5 8.6
71 9 22.4 .543 .000 .718 4.9 .7 .4 .3 8.6
61 0 27.6 .439 .348 .825 3.1 4.6 .9 .1 14.5
74 0 8.8 .408 .378 .654 2.1 .4 .3 .2 2.7
52 51 38.4 .433 .332 .784 7.2 5.8 2.0 .5 19.3
45 16 30.8 .504 .323 .852 3.4 3.1 1.0 .2 11.1
4 0 3.5 .600 .667 .5 .0 .0 .0 2.0
71 71 37.1 .410 .366 .776 5.8 4.0 1.6 1.5 12.0
4 0 8.3 .000 .000 .800 .8 .0 .3 .0 2.0
7 0 8.3 .417 .333 1.000 .9 .3 .0 .0 4.3
46 0 6.5 .316 .308 1.6 .3 .1 .5 .3
31 20 28.0 .422 .400 .848 3.2 2.5 .7 .3 10.8
8 2 23.8 .395 .433 .947 2.8 .8 .3 .0 11.4
72 72 38.8 .514 .214 .724 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 26.9
63 27 20.2 .415 .424 .864 2.3 2.7 .4 .1 6.9
68 56 23.8 .433 .382 .821 1.4 3.6 .7 .0 8.5

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
8 8 21.0 .556 .833 3.0 .6 .4 .0 8.1
8 0 18.1 .600 .800 3.4 .5 .1 .3 6.8
8 0 25.8 .321 .276 .793 2.1 4.3 .8 .1 10.4
1 0 10.0 .250 .000 .000 3.0 .0 .0 .0 2.0
8 8 36.5 .415 .265 .765 7.8 5.0 2.6 .5 16.6
8 0 29.1 .439 .375 .917 2.8 1.8 .9 .4 9.8
8 8 38.5 .407 .396 .435 7.1 3.0 2.6 1.6 13.1
3 0 2.7 .000 .3 .0 .0 .0 .0
6 0 7.8 .333 .222 .000 1.5 .2 .2 .0 2.0
8 8 41.1 .510 .000 .725 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 22.4
1 0 8.0 .000 .000 1.0 2.0 .0 .0 .0
8 8 23.9 .434 .387 1.000 1.5 4.8 .6 .0 8.9

Awards and records

Season

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1996.html 1995-96 Houston Rockets
  2. News: Winderman . Ira . Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs . Sun Sentinel . September 29, 1995 . June 30, 2022.
  3. News: Blazers, Pistons Cut Deal . The Spokesman-Review . September 21, 1995 . December 19, 2022.
  4. News: Houston Rockets Logo . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net  . July 7, 2021.
  5. News: Houston Rockets Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . July 7, 2021.
  6. News: Houston Rockets Uniform  . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . July 7, 2021.
  7. News: Rockets' Drexler to Have Knee Surgery . Chicago Tribune . February 25, 1996 . January 1, 2023.
  8. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Will Miss Five to Six Weeks . The New York Times . February 27, 1996 . October 3, 2022.
  9. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Drexler Ankle Better Than His Attitude . Los Angeles Times . April 30, 1996 . October 3, 2022.
  10. News: MacMullan . Jack . Up in the Air, Both Teams Struggled as the Harrumphing Lakers Tried to Put an Early End to the Hobbling Rockets' Hopes of Three-Peating . Sports Illustrated Vault . May 6, 1996 . April 6, 2023.
  11. News: Globster . Rob . Drexler and Elie Back, But Rockets Still Reeling . Associated Press . April 6, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
  12. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Peeler May Be Missing for Game 1 . Los Angeles Times . April 23, 1996 . October 3, 2022.
  13. News: Associated Press . Olajuwon Scores 51 in a Losing Effort . Los Angeles Times . January 19, 1996 . October 3, 2022.
  14. News: Transactions . The New York Times . February 24, 1996 . July 21, 2017.
  15. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
  16. Web site: 1995–96 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  17. News: Bembry . Jerry . NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve . The Baltimore Sun . January 31, 1996 . April 19, 2023.
  18. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1996 . January 2, 2023.
  19. News: NBA.com Staff . 1996 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  20. Web site: 1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
  21. Web site: 1995–96 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  22. News: Jordan Named NBA MVP . United Press International . May 20, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  23. News: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
  24. News: 1995-96 Regular Season Award Winners . Eskimo.com . October 7, 2022.
  25. News: Bulls' Jackson NBA Coach of Year . United Press International . May 7, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  26. News: Isaacson . Melissa . Better Late Than Never: Jackson Selected Coach of the Year . Chicago Tribune . May 8, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  27. News: Friend . Tom . NBA PLAYOFFS; Rockets Move On. Magic Might, Too . The New York Times . May 3, 1996 . June 24, 2021 .
  28. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Show's Over . Los Angeles Times . May 3, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
  29. News: Cotton . Anthony . In Houston, No Magic Moment . The Washington Post . May 3, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
  30. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  31. News: Associated Press . Online Document: Magic Johnson Retires Again . Deseret News . May 14, 1996 . July 5, 2023.
  32. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again . The New York Times . May 15, 1996 . January 19, 2022.
  33. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Pooof!: Johnson Retires on His Terms This Time . Los Angeles Times . May 15, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
  34. News: Adande . J.A. . Magic Retires from Lakers . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
  35. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Magic: This Is for Good . Los Angeles Times . May 16, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
  36. News: Friend . Tom . N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets' Furious Rally Makes Sweep Interesting . The New York Times . May 13, 1996 . May 15, 2022.
  37. News: Associated Press . Fired-Up Rockets Go Out with Bang . Los Angeles Times . May 13, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
  38. News: Graczyk . Michael . Rockets Are Dethroned by SuperSonics in OT . The Washington Post . May 13, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
  39. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Rockets vs. SuperSonics . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  40. News: Brown . Clifton . N.B.A. FINALS; After a Few Anxious Days, Jordan and Bulls Get Their Title . The New York Times . June 17, 1996 . June 10, 2022.
  41. News: Associated Press . Bulls Drown Out SuperSonics, 87-75 . Los Angeles Times . June 17, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
  42. News: Hirsley . Michael . Game 6 Telecast Brings Happy Ending Home . Chicago Tribune . June 17, 1996 . June 10, 2022.
  43. News: Judd . Ron C. . Not This Time -- Sonic Hopes End 87-75 as Bulls Win Fourth Title . The Seattle Times . June 17, 1996 . December 13, 2022.
  44. News: 1996 NBA Finals: SuperSonics vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  45. News: Associated Press . Barkley Confirms His Trade to Rockets . The New York Times . August 19, 1996 . July 31, 2021.
  46. News: Associated Press . Suns Unload Barkley, Get Four Players from Rockets . Los Angeles Times . August 19, 1996 . May 15, 2022.
  47. News: Barkley Traded to the Rockets . The Washington Post . August 19, 1996 . December 3, 2022.
  48. News: Sharpio . Mark . Rockets to Trade 4 for Barkley . Chicago Tribune . August 19, 1996 . June 20, 2023.
  49. News: Pistons Get a Bargain in Smith . The New York Times . September 18, 1996 . January 18, 2022.
  50. News: Stockton Will Stay in Utah for 'Only' $5 Million a Year . Los Angeles Times . September 18, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
  51. News: Thompson . Jack . Stockton Agrees on Deal; Pistons Land Kenny Smith . Chicago Tribune . September 18, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  52. News: Johnson . K.C. . Team of Cohesive Elements Pours from Hawks' Beaker . Chicago Tribune . May 6, 1997 . January 28, 2023.

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