Top 20 Greatest Houston Rockets and Player Ratings

Hakeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest centers ever to play the game. He was nicknamed "The Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream."

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon traveled from his home country to play for the University of Houston under head coach Guy Lewis. His college career for the Cougars included three trips to the Final Four. Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft, a draft that included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. He combined with the 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson to form a duo dubbed the "Twin Towers". The two led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. After Sampson was traded to the Warriors in 1988, Olajuwon became the Rockets' undisputed leader. He led the league in rebounding twice (1989, 1990) and blocks three times (1990, 1991, 1993).

Despite very nearly being traded during a bitter contract dispute before the 1992-93 season, he remained in Houston where in 1993-94, he became the only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. His Rockets won back-to-back championships against the New York Knicks (avenging his college championship loss to Patrick Ewing), and Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic. In 1996, Olajuwon was a member of the Olympic gold-medal-winning United States national team, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He ended his career as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830) and is one of four NBA players to record a quadruple-double.

James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989, Los Angeles, California) (age 29) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009.

Chris Paul is an NBA basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina native is an twelve-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Off the court, Paul has served as the President of the National Basketball Players Association since 2013. His business partnerships include the Jordan Brand, State Farm Insurance, Turner Impact Capital, Muzik, WTRMLN WTR, Beyond Meat, Uncharted Power, Calm, Fanatics, Panini Cards, and more. His production company, Ohh Dip!!! Productions, creates a wide range of projects across the spectrum of sports and entertainment for all platforms. Paul is part owner of the Winston-Salem Dash and is the co-founder of Go Hoop Day. His Chris Paul Family Foundation has given back to local communities since 2005.

Yao Ming was born on 12 September 1980 in Shanghai, China. He is an actor, known for Seola's Journal, Amazing (2013) and Yao Ming and Children Affected b HIV/AIDS (2005). He has been married to Ye Li since 6 August 2007. They have one child.

Clyde Drexler is an American former professional basketball player who was the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", Drexler played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team". He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004 for his individual career and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Drexler serves as a color commentator for Houston Rockets home games.

On February 13, 2009, Drexler participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game. Other celebrities participating included Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, National Football League wide receiver Terrell Owens, actor Chris Tucker and four Harlem Globetrotters.

Tracy McGrady was born on 24 May 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). He has been married to Clarenda Harris since 12 September 2006. They have four children.

Charles Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player who is an analyst on Inside the NBA (1988).

Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominant power forwards. An All-American power forward at Auburn University, he was drafted as a junior by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 5th pick of the 1984 NBA draft. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team five times, the All-NBA Second Team five times, and once to the All-NBA Third Team. He earned eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991. In 1993 with the Phoenix Suns, he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player, and during the NBA's 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States' "Dream Team". Barkley is a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2006 for his individual career, and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team".

Charles Barkley was popular with the fans and media and made the NBA's All-Interview Team for his last 13 seasons in the league. He was frequently involved in on- and off-court fights and sometimes stirred national controversy, in 1993 when he declared that sports figures should not be considered role models. Though shorter than the typical power forward, Barkley used his strength and aggressiveness to become one of the NBA's most dominant rebounders. He was a versatile player who had the ability to score, create plays, and defend. In 2000, he retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.

Since retiring as a player, Barkley has had a successful career as an NBA analyst. He works with Turner Network Television (TNT) alongside of Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson as a studio pundit for its coverage of NBA games. Barkley has written several books and has shown an interest in politics. In October 2008, he announced that he would run for Governor of Alabama in 2014, but he changed his mind.

Dwight Howard was born on 8 December 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Free Birds (2013), The Three Stooges (2012) and Percy Vs Goliath (2020).

Kenny Smith is an American sports commentator and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. He won two NBA championships with Houston.

Kenny Smith played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels, earning consensus first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1987. He was selected by Sacramento in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft with the sixth overall pick, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with the Kings. After retiring from playing, Smith became a basketball commentator, and has won several Emmys for his work on Inside the NBA (1988) on TNT. He also worked as an analyst for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

Smith represented the United States in the 1986 FIBA World Championship, on a team that included David Robinson, Tyrone Bogues and Steve Kerr. He was second on the team in scoring behind Charles Smith with 14.7 points per game. Smith scored 23 points to lead the US to an 87-85 win and the Gold Medal over a Soviet Union team that featured Arvydas Sabonis.

In his professional career, Smith scored 9,397 points (12.8 avg.), recorded 4,073 assists (5.5 avg) while shooting .480 from the field, .399 from three-point range, and .829 from the free throw line. He finished in the NBA top ten in three-point percentage three times (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95), and top ten in free throw percentage twice (1992-93 and 1993-94). In the 1988-89 season Smith was fifth in the league in minutes played, seventh in minutes per game, and tenth in total assists. Smith holds the Denver Nuggets franchise record for career three-point percentage (.425), and he continues to rank among the all-time leaders in several categories for the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets.

Steve Francis was born on 21 February 1977 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. He is an actor, known for Like Mike (2002), The Year of the Yao (2004) and Basketball County: In the Water (2020). He was previously married to Shelby.

Clint Capela is known for The Crossover (2023), NBA on NBA TV (1999) and NBA on ESPN (1982).

Robert Horry was born on 25 August 1970 in Andalusia, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for The Lincoln Lawyer (2022), Jack & Jill (1999) and Eve (2003). He has been married to Keva Develle since 5 July 1997. They have two children.

Sam Cassell was born on 18 November 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is a producer, known for Chain Letter (2010), Kid Edition (2009) and NBA on NBA TV (1999).

Mario Elie is known for In Gold We Trust (2010), NBA Hardwood Classics (1990) and NBA (1954).

Shane Battier was born on 9 September 1978 in Birmingham, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Business Dad with Alexis Ohanian (2024), Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story (2010) and The Chef's Classic (2015). He has been married to Heidi Ufer since 12 July 2004. They have one child.

Jim Jackson is known for NBA on NBA TV (1999), BIG3 Basketball (2017) and Hand Rolled (2019).

Cuttino Mobley was born on 1 September 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for Memes & Nightmares (2024), Ballin 2024 and Cal Scruby ft. Chris Brown: Aint Shit Change (2015).

Chandler Parsons is known for The Wager (2024), Run It Back (2022) and Up & Adams (2022).