Each Team’s All-NBA First Team- A 30 Part Series: Part 16- The San Diego/Houston Rockets

With the hype of the offseason coming to an end, I have decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to examine each team’s specific All-NBA First Team. What I mean by this is- following the criteria set by the NBA for the All-NBA Team rules, I will examine and elaborate on my picks for each team’s specific All-NBA First Team.

G- James Harden: 2012-Present

Since being acquired a few days before the start of the 2012 season James Harden has been nothing short of fantastic. In his four seasons with the team he is averaging 27 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. He’s appeared on three All-NBA Teams (2x First Team, 1x Second Team, 1x Third Team) and four All-Star Teams. His best season was the 2014–2015 season, in which he led the league in scoring and finished second in the MVP voting.

The Rockets have made the playoffs in all four of Harden’s seasons, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2015. Since joining the Rockets, Harden leads the entire NBA in points scored. His 24.6 PER rating is among the highest in the NBA since 2012.

Harden’s 27 points per game is the most in Rockets history. He holds the Rockets single-season record for made-three point field goals.

He’s been the face of the franchise for the last four years, and after signing an extension this past off-season, it appears that he will remain the face for years to come.

G- Calvin Murphy: 1970–1983

Calvin Murphy spent his entire hall of fame career with the Rockets, averaging 17.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game. Murphy was a crucial player in transitioning the Rockets from an expansion team into a perennial playoff contender.

In his 13 seasons, the Rockets made six playoff appearances, reaching the NBA finals in 1981. He led the NBA in free throw percentage twice.

His best season came during the 1973–1974 season, in which he averaged a career high 20.4 points and a career high 7.4 assists per game.

Murphy is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists.

F- Elvin Hayes: 1968–1972, 1981–1984

From day one Elvin Hayes was not only a prolific scorer, but he also was a tenacious rebounder.

After being drafted with the first overall pick in 1968, Hayes immediately became the Rockets’ best player, averaging a career high 28.4 points per game (a Rockets’ franchise record) and an astounding 17.1 rebounds per game as a rookie. In his first stint with the Rockets, Hayes never averaged fewer than 27.5 points and 16.6 rebounds. He made the All-Star team in all four of those seasons. He also helped the Rockets qualify for the playoffs in just the team’s third year of existence.

Even in his second stint with the team, when he was a shell of his former self, Hayes still produced, averaging 11 points and eight rebounds per game.

F- Rudy Tomjanovich: 1970–1981

Rudy Tomjanovich is best known for coaching the Rockets to their back-to-back championships in the 90s, but that doesn’t mean we should overlook his career as a player. Tomjanovich played his entire 11-year career with the Rockets, averaging 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He appeared on five All-Star teams and helped the Rockets make five playoff appearances.

After the departure of Hayes in 1972, Tomjanovich became the face of the franchise, leading the team in points and rebounds during his tenure with the team.

Tomjanovich’s best season came during the 1973–1974 season, in which he averaged a career high 24.5 points, nine rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He made his first All-Star appearance that season.

He is the ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time rebounding list, and is third on the all-time leading scorers’ list.

His coaching career might have surpassed his playing career, but nonetheless, Tomjanovich had a magnificent career as a player.

C- Hakeem Olajuwon: 1984–2001

Hakeem Olajuwon is not only the best player in Rockets’ history, but he is also one of the best players in NBA history. Olajuwon spent all but one year in Houston; and during that time he had himself one hell of a career. He’s the franchise leader in almost every major statistical category including, games played, points scored, made field goals, blocked shots, minutes played, steals, and made free throws. He holds the franchise’s 10 highest single season averages for blocks per game.

In his 17 years with the Rockets, Olajuwon was a 12x All-Star, a member of 12 All-NBA Teams (6x First Team, 3x Second Team, 3x Third Team), a 2x Finals MVP, a 2x Defensive Player Of The Year, and the 1993–1994 NBA MVP. He led the NBA in blocked shots and rebounds twice. His 3,830 career blocks are the most in NBA history.

Olajuwon and the Rockets played in three NBA finals, winning two of them. The Rockets made the playoffs in all but three of Olajuwon’s seasons.

His best stretch came during the mid 90s. From 1992 until 1996, Olajuwon’s single season averages never dipped below 26 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.

He’s the most talented and successful player to ever play for the franchise.