Ranking the Greatest Legends in Rockets History

The Rockets are a truly historic franchise, ushering in some of the game's best since their inception as the San Diego Rockets in 1967 and their move to Houston in 1971.

How does one formulate a Mount Rushmore out of all these names? No matter what, some toes will be stepped on, and some legends will be left off.

For the purposes of this list, painful as it is, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming miss the cut. While McGrady had by far the greatest peak of the names listed above, his career is too shrouded in what-ifs due to injuries to put him on this list. Similarly, Ming brought global attention to the Rockets, but while he remains such a uniquely gifted player with his elite rebounding and finesse, his career was also cut short by injuries.

On the same angle, Rudy Tomjanovich's name is all over the Rockets' leaderboards, namely fourth all-time in points and third in field goals, but his legacy resides on the coaching side, with his intense approach guiding the team to two consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. Tomjanovich gets an honorable mention.

Without further ado, the Rockets' Mount Rushmore and the icons who came up just short.

Honorable Mentions

• Clyde Drexler (1995-1998)
• Tracy McGrady (2004-2010)
• Rudy Tomjanovich (1970-1981; 1992-2003 as head coach)
• Yao Ming (2002-2011)
• Elvin Hayes (1968-1972; 1981-1984)

4. Calvin Murphy (1970-1983)

Murphy takes the hotly contested fourth spot on this list as a name so integral to the Rockets' early years in Houston. A 5-foot-9, 165-pound guard, Murphy made the Hall of Fame in 1993 after a full 13-year career entirely spent with the Rockets franchise.

Murphy was a career 17.9 point-per-game player who led the franchise in assists and points for many years. Murphy made just one All-Star team, in 1979, but also made the 1971 All-Rookie Team, and averaged over one steal per game (1,165 in 1,002 career games) and surpassed 1,000 points in 11 of his 13 seasons.

His No. 23 hangs rightfully in the rafters at Toyota Center.

3. Moses Malone (1976-1982)

Playing often alongside Murphy was Moses Malone, who made a seven-year stop in Houston across a 21-year ABA/NBA career that included stops with the Utah Stars, Spirits of St. Louis, Buffalo Braves, Philadelphia 76ers (where he won his only title), Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and San Antonio Spurs.

While Malone's time in Houston was relatively short in the context of his whole career, he made a massive impact on the franchise during his tenure.

Malone began his peak in Houston, averaging more than 24.8 points per game and 14.5 rebounds in every season from 1978 to 1982 (making each All-Star team in that span), including a stellar 1982 MVP campaign that saw him post 31.1 points per game and 14.7 rebounds per game.

All in all, Malone won four MVPs while with Houston, made two NBA All-First Teams, and two NBA All-Second Teams. His great career really took off in Houston, giving him a well-earned place on the franchise Mount Rushmore.

2. James Harden (2012-2021)

While Harden's career has since been a whirlwind of trades and movement between Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Cleveland, "The Beard" etched much of his legacy in Houston.

Despite Harden playing a secondary role behind Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City, then-Rockets GM Daryl Morey called Harden a "foundational" player when he traded for the California native in the middle of the 2012 season following Harden's Sixth Man of the Year award.

Harden was that for the Rockets and then some. Following a nine-year tenure in Houston, Harden ranks as the franchise leader in triple-doubles and assists while ranking second in points and third in steals.

While with Houston, Harden made the All-Star team in each year from 2013 onward, made six All-NBA First Teams, led the league in scoring from 2018 to 2020 and won the 2018 MVP after signing a four-year, $160 million extension.

1. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-2001)