Houston Rockets Articles - Page 85

While some players and coaches are concerned about the absence of fans in the NBA’s return in July, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni wonders whether it might be a blessing in disguise. D’Antoni stated his belief that some players might actually perform better without fans in the seats, adding there are guys who could […]

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook helped lead the protest against racial injustice in Compton, California. Westbrook, who was born in Long Beach, CA, told protesters “Protect your team. Protect your family. In times like this we need to stick together.” He also asked for a moment of silence. .@russwest44 spoke at a protest in Compton. […]

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is explicitly standing up for his once-embattled general manager with regards to the latter’s controversial tweet about supporting the Hong Kong protests last year. In a Q&A with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Fertitta had this to say about his thoughts on Morey’s previous tweet, which was actually deleted […]

James Harden of the Houston Rockets is one of the best players in the NBA, and according to his head coach Mike D’Antoni, once the NBA returns to action in July, Harden will be ready for the challenge: “Probably the worst thing you can do is take basketball away from him. He has used this […]

James Harden’s Houston Rockets jersey will one day be immortalized high above the rafters of the Toyota Center. However, although he is still an active player at the moment, it looks like his number 13 has already been commemorated outside the basketball court. In a hilarious revelation by Mal (real name Jamil Clay) in the […]

With the 2019-20 NBA campaign on the verge of returning, the usual suspects still remain the favorites to win a championship: the two Los Angeles teams and the Milwaukee Bucks. While there are obvious reasons as to why the Clippers, Lakers and Bucks are the top dogs, there are other clubs who could end up […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni has been hit hard by the recent chain of events stemming from the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American who died of asphyxia after a Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck. Floyd’s death opened the floodgates to nationwide protests in search of racial equality and eliminating police brutality […]

Houston Rockets swingman Robert Covington has fired back at the protesters that decided to vandalize both public and private properties as part of their protesting efforts. Covington took to social media to denounce the act of vandalism while also explaining why he believes that it is not the proper avenue to voice out one’s grievances. […]

The Houston Rockets brass has been in trouble for speaking out on social issues before, particularly when GM Daryl Morey expressed support to Hong Kong protesters last year. Still, team owner Tilman Fertitta claims that the Rockets will not remain silent amid the country-wide protests following the unjust killing of George Floyd. Appearing on CNBC’s […]

Houston Rockets swingman Thabo Sefolosha spoke to the Associated Press in the wake of George Floyd’s death on Monday in Minneapolis. Sefolosha said he was “horrified” by the video which showed a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck, with Floyd complaining about the inability to breathe. The incident has also brought back some scary personal […]

The Houston Rockets have been home to some of the best players in NBA history. That’s why the franchise has retired six jersey numbers. It will be seven whenever superstar shooting guard James Harden decides to end his Hall of Fame career. For this piece, we’ll be taking a look at the legendary Houston players […]

The world was introduced to “Skinny” James Harden last week when the eight-time All-Star shooting guard for the Houston Rockets emerged from COVID-19 lockdown as a new man — or at least a scraggly looking man appearing to drop several pounds. Now, according to Harden’s former teammate on the Oklahoma City Thunder, retired NBA center-turned-ESPN […]

Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks doesn’t think Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls would have beaten the Houston Rockets if the two teams played in the 1994 NBA Finals. Jordan retired before the start of the 1993-94 season to go play baseball. This was after MJ won three straight rings with the Bulls. Brooks […]

The NBA is still establishing competitive formats in the hopes of finishing the 2019-20 season. These formats range from play-in tournaments and the eradication of conference brackets to a World Cup-style of group play. But while those formats have yet to be established, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey said his team’s goal is clear: winning […]

The NBA has explored a plethora of potential options to restart the 2019-20 season, including going straight to playoffs with the reseeding of all 16 playoff teams into one big conference-less bracket. While it’s only one of the very many scenarios the league has spitballed in hopes to crown a champion at the end of […]

With the NBA seemingly on the brink of announcing a plan on how it intends to resume the current season, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has signed off on his preferred playoff format. According to Morey, his Rockets would have a considerable advantage if the league opts to adapt a “conference-less” playoff bracket, which […]

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden is one of the most skilled scorers in the NBA. He is also one of the smartest. Harden’s physicality allows him to attack the rim and draw fouls, resulting in the highest volume of free throws in the league at nearly 12 attempts per game. But “The Beard” has […]

For former NBA player Kendrick Perkins, Houston Rockets star James Harden is way better than Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry. Via Twitter, Perkins replied to a fan who commented on the First Take debate regarding Curry and Harden. Perkins doubled-down on his case, noting that Harden is the “better all-around player.” Again the only […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni knows what he’s going to get from superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook on a nightly basis. Most pundits, however, believe the team is lacking a third consistent scorer alongside the two MVPs to seriously contend for a title. For his part though, D’Antoni thinks the Rockets already have […]

The seemingly never-ending quarantine period hasn’t been kind to Houston Rockets superstar James Harden. Social media, of course, had something to say after a rather unflattering photo of the one-time NBA MVP began circulating online. The 30-year-old Rockets shooting guard appeared to shake off months of inactivity by going on a trail run with his crew. […]

It’s no secret that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant modeled his game after Michael Jordan — down to every pump fake, pivot, and fade-away. According to one former teammate of Bryant’s, the comparisons apply off the court, too. On Wireside Chat with Houston Rockets broadcaster Craig Ackerman, seven-time champion Robert Horry said The Last […]

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook’s NSFW-filled words apparently stuck with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. While talking to Bill Murray in his “Flying Coach” podcast with Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Kerr recalled one of his favorite quotes of all time and it came from the 2016-17 NBA MVP. Via Drew Shiller of NBC […]

Houston Rockets superstar shooting guard James Harden has been training hard in Phoenix during the NBA hiatus. The former MVP says he’s been doing a lot of cardio, balance, stability and body control drills.  Kelly Iko of The Athletic details Harden’s regime here: “I’ve been doing a lot of cardio,” James Harden said. “I’ve got […]

Houston Rockets guard James Harden has been staying ready for a potential resumption of the NBA season, while also indulging on “The Last Dance,” though he has yet to finish the ESPN 10-part docuseries. The Rockets star admitted he is only halfway through the series and is hoping to digest and dissect every bit of […]

Yao Ming’s Hall of Fame NBA career saw him net $93,390,336 in NBA money, per Spotrac. Despite being only able to play in 486 games because of injury, Ming’s impact on and off the floor can’t be measured, particularly in China. Ming came over to America in 2002 after the Houston Rockets selected him with the […]

Some of the biggest moves in Houston Rockets franchise history have happened at the trade deadline. Some of those moves have helped carry the team to success while others have put the team in a hole. Either way, making a deal at the trade deadline can be pivotal for a team’s future, and throughout their […]

When Kyle Lowry’s current contract with the Toronto Raptors expires in the summer of 2021, the guard will have made $190,535,966 in NBA money, per Spotrac. Lowry entered the NBA in 2006 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He made $1,011,720 during his rookie season and finished the year with averages of 5.6 points and 3.2 assists […]

Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world during the 2018-19 season when the franchise traded for Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavs boss said that the trade was very similar to the Houston Rockets’ bold move of acquiring James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder before the start of the 2012-13 season. “Very [shocked]. […]

Boston Celtics legend and ESPN analyst Paul Pierce ruffled some weathers on Wednesday when he said that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is not a top-five player of all time. I’m going to be honest here: that is not a terrible take, because a legitimate argument can be made for James not being top […]

Last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that he needed a two-to-four-week window to make a decision on whether or not the NBA season would resume. As it appears, a new development has emerged involving the Houston Rockets’ home court as a potential venue for the NBA should the commissioner opt to resume the season. […]

What ifs are always an interesting game to play. They generally never lead anywhere, because what happened already happened, and there is no way to go back in time to change it. But sometimes, the what ifs are very interesting. Let’s take the 2009 NBA Draft, for example. The Los Angeles Clippers took Blake Griffin […]

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta met with restaurant-industry executives on Monday, asking President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to “add a category” to the Paycheck Protection Program to account for “larger private restaurateurs” and to “do something with lease terminations.” Those pledges were taken into consideration, but not before Trump continually interrupted Fertitta’s […]

The 2020 NBA Conference Finals were scheduled to start on May 19 (with a possible move up to May 17) had the league not suspended the 2019-20 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NBA has seen plenty of amazing conference finals series over the years. The stakes are even higher when it goes the […]

Russell Westbrook is an MVP on and off the floor. With that said, it is not surprising that his NBA career earnings will be at $338,048,478 once his current contract with the Houston Rockets expires, per Spotrac. The Seattle SuperSonics drafted Westbrook out of UCLA with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft. The […]

According to an excerpt from Jerry Krause’s unpublished memoir, the trade that sent Scottie Pippen to the Houston Rockets was a “going-away present” after Pippen’s years of championship-level play while on a laughably cheap contract. Krause recalls a meeting with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the team’s medical staff that July. It persuaded him that […]

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta fielded questions about his franchise and the NBA’s potential return from an unlikely source on Monday: President Donald Trump. During a meeting at the White House about the restaurant industry, Trump brought up Houston’s continued employment of general manager Daryl Morey after his tweet supporting the Hong Kong anti-government protests […]

Mike D’Antoni and the Houston Rockets were unable to reach an extension last summer, leaving many to wonder if he’ll be back with the team after this season. Some experts believe D’Antoni will be on his way out after this campaign, but team owner Daryl Morey is focusing on the here and now. D’Antoni’s contract […]

Ex-Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale’s decision to keep James Harden on the bench during Houston’s improbable comeback versus the L.A. Clippers in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Semifinals helped deliver a key playoff victory—but it may have eventually cost McHale his job. Former Rockets forward Josh Smith—who sparked Houston’s memorable comeback with […]

To celebrate 74 years of the NBA, ESPN recently ranked the top 74 players in league history, and like any list of the best players of all-time, there were controversial choices. Some of them were debatable — Kobe Bryant in the top 10 is probably a stretch, but it’s still hard to complain. Some of […]