1995–96 Houston Rockets season

1995–96 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Rudy Tomjanovich
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	48–34 (.585)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finish	West Conference Semifinals (eliminated 0-4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

The 1995-96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the NBA, and 25th season in Houston. After two straight NBA championships, the Rockets got new colors, uniforms, and a new logo which was actually unveiled aboard the Space Shuttle. However, injuries would be an issue all year for the Rockets, who finished third in the Midwest Division with a 48-34 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the fourth seed Los Angeles Lakers in four games. However, they would be swept in the semifinals by the Seattle SuperSonics in four straight games. Following the season, Robert Horry and Sam Cassell were traded to the Phoenix Suns.

For the season, the Rockets donned new pinstripe uniforms which remained until 2003. The new uniforms and logo have often been criticized.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	41	Erik Meek	Center	United States	Duke

Roster

Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PG 9 Booker, Melvin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Missouri SF 15 Breaux, Tim 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Wyoming PF 52 Brown, Chucky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) NC State PF 2 Bryant, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Seton Hall PG 10 Cassell, Sam 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Florida State PF 32 Chilcutt, Pete 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina SG 22 Drexler, Clyde 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Houston SF 17 Elie, Mario 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) American International SF 25 Horry, Robert 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Alabama SG 12 Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgetown SF 21 James, Henry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Saint Mary's PF 27 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Albany State SF 4 Mack, Sam 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Houston SG 20 Moore, Tracy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Tulsa C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Houston SG 3 Recasner, Eldridge 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Washington PG 2 Threatt, Sedale 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Virginia Tech PG 30 Smith, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) North Carolina

Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich 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

Playoffs

West First Round

(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-0)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (LAL-HOU)	Venue	Recap	Television
1	April 25	Los Angeles	83	Houston	87	0-1	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	1	TNT 10:30et
2	April 27	Los Angeles	104	Houston	94	1-1	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	2	NBC 3:30et
3	April 30	Houston	104	Los Angeles	98	1-2	The Summit, Houston, Texas	3	TBS 9:00et
4	May 2	Houston	102	Los Angeles	94	1-3	The Summit, Houston, Texas	4	TNT 9:30et
Houston wins series 3–1

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-3)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (SEA-HOU)	Venue	Recap	Television
1	May 4	Seattle	108	Houston	75	1-0	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	1	NBC 3:30et
2	May 6	Seattle	105	Houston	101	2-0	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	2	TNT 9:00et
3	May 10	Houston	112	Seattle	115	3-0	The Summit, Houston, Texas	3	TNT 9:30et
4*	May 12	Houston	107	Seattle	114	4-0	The Summit, Houston, Texas	4	NBC 3:00et
Seattle wins series 4–0

*Required overtime

Player statistics

Legend

3

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Awards and records

Awards

• Hakeem Olajuwon, All-NBA Second Team
• Hakeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

Free Agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team

See also

• 1995-96 NBA season