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Houston Rockets – The Early Years

The Rockets, along with the Seattle SuperSonics, entered the NBA in 1967 as an expansion team based in San Diego. They selected Pat Riley with their first draft choice in 1967. He then went on to produce an NBA record 67-loss season.

In 1968, the Rockets won the coin toss versus the Baltimore Bullets, giving them the first overall pick in NBA Draft 1968. They chose Elvin "The Big E" Hayes University of Houston. Hayes led the team to the first appearance ever franchise playoff in 1969. The Rockets lost in the semifinals of the Western Division final to the Atlanta Hawks two games to four in a best-of-seven series.

The NBA Draft 1970 brought Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich to Rockets – both important to the franchise after his playing years.

Coached by Jack McMahon and Alex Hannum, the Rockets added a 119-209 record over his mandate in San Diego.

In 1971, real estate agent Wayne Duddleston and banker Billy Goldberg bought the franchise for $ 5.6 million and moved the team from San Diego, where fans were more willing to Los Angeles Lakers for the Rockets. The Rockets had originally been appointed by the motto of San Diego, "a city in motion," but with the move to Houston their name took even greater significance. Houston is home to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, which received the attention national in the Apollo.

The Rockets began playing at various locations in Houston including the Astrodome, AstroHall, and Hofheinz Pavilion. They also played in HemisFair Arena in San Antonio and Waco. City, however, was weak support from the fans in football and baseball, dominated, and the Rockets averaged less than 5000 spectators per game during his first season in Houston. They reflected that the local churches in Waco drew more attendance than the Rockets.

Before the start of the 1971 season, coach Alex Hannum left for the Denver Nuggets of the American Basketball Association. Tex Winter was hired as the new coach shortly before he was sold the computer. Coach Winter applied a triple-post offensive system that contrasted with the offensive style to which Hayes was accustomed. Houston soon traded to the Baltimore Hayes Bullets for Jack Marin. The lack of success did little to catch the attention of the city, and in the spring of 1973, after the Rockets 10 straight loss, Winter was relieved of their duties.

In 1975, under the guidance of Coach Johnny Egan and Tomjanovich, Murphy and Mike Newlin in the lead, the Rockets made their first appearance in the playoffs since arriving in Houston. The Rockets defeated the New York Knicks (led by Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe) in the first round but lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

At the start of the 1977 season, the Rockets negotiated a trade with the Buffalo Braves acquiring Moses Malone, who as a star of school took the unprecedented action of college basketball without going to sign as a professional with the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974. The Rockets defeated the Washington Bullets in 1977 semi-final of the Eastern Conference but lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals. Malone made an impressive showing against Washington Elvin Hayes and waning star Wes Unseld.

On 9 December 1977 in a game against the Lakers, Kevin Kunnert got into a fight with the Lakers' Kermit Washington. As Tomjanovich approached the altercation, Washington turned and threw a punch, falling squarely in the face of an approaching Tomjanovich, causing structural damage his skull. The shocking scene became the turning point of the Rockets' season 1977-78, as well as the careers of Tomjanovich and Washington game. Tomjanovich spent the next five months in rehabilitation and reappeared in 1978 All-Star Game. A book by John Feinstein recording of the events surrounding this event and the different paths that Tomjanovich and Washington have taken since that day is called "The Punch".

Malone 1979 received the MVP award. Not exceptionally big or quick, he used foot and positioning to become a successful center in the NBA. Malone, Murphy, and Tomjanovich all played in the 1979 NBA All-Star Game. Rick Barry was signed for the 1979 season of the Golden State Warriors in exchange for John Lucas. Barry averaged a modest 13.5 points and set a new NBA record, recording a .947 free throw percentage of the season. He would play one more year for the Rockets before retiring in 1980.

The Rockets went 47-35, in 1978-79, Nissalke last season as coach. He finished second in the Central Division, losing two straight to Atlanta in a best of three first round.

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