Best draft picks in Houston Rockets history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, 麻豆原创 compiled a list of the best draft picks in Houston Rockets history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 麻豆原创 score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. E.C. Coleman
- 麻豆原创 score: 1.6
- 51st overall pick in 1973
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 6.0 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.8 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All-Defensive
#49. Kenyon Martin
- 麻豆原创 score: 1.7
- 52nd overall pick in 2020
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.0 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 1.1 VORP
#48. Michael Dickerson
- 麻豆原创 score: 1.7
- 14th overall pick in 1998
- Played one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 2.9 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.6 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#47. Alperen 艦eng眉n
- 麻豆原创 score: 1.7
- 16th overall pick in 2021
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 7.3 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.3 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 2.3 VORP
#46. John Trapp
- 麻豆原创 score: 1.9
- 15th overall pick in 1968
- Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 6.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1972 NBA Champ
#45. Anthony Bowie
- 麻豆原创 score: 2.1
- 66th overall pick in 1986
- Played one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 2.2 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.3 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#44. Popeye Jones
- 麻豆原创 score: 2.1
- 41st overall pick in 1992
- Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 7.4 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.0 win shares, -2.7 box plus/minus, -2.1 VORP
#43. Eddie Griffin
- 麻豆原创 score: 2.4
- Seventh overall pick in 2001
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 5.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.9 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 2.8 VORP
#42. Isaiah Hartenstein
- 麻豆原创 score: 2.7
- 43rd overall pick in 2017
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 5.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.1 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
#41. Chase Budinger
- 麻豆原创 score: 2.8
- 44th overall pick in 2009
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 7.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.9 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
#40. Rick Adelman
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.0
- 79th overall pick in 1968
- Played two seasons with San Diego Rockets
- Career averages: 7.7 PTS, 2.4 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.0 win shares
- Accolade
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#39. Terrence Jones
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.1
- 18th overall pick in 2012
- Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 5.7 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.7 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 3.6 VORP
#38. Don Adams
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.2
- 120th overall pick in 1970
- Played one season with San Diego Rockets and one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.6 win shares
#37. Steve Novak
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.2
- 32nd overall pick in 2006
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 4.7 PTS, 1.3 REB, 0.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.5 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 4.0 VORP
#36. Buck Johnson
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.3
- 20th overall pick in 1986
- Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.7 VORP
#35. Luther Head
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.3
- 24th overall pick in 2005
- Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 2.4 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.7 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#34. Aaron Brooks
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.4
- 26th overall pick in 2007
- Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 1.7 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 2.7 VORP
#33. Ed Ratleff
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.6
- Sixth overall pick in 1973
- Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.8 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
#32. Joe Meriweather
- 麻豆原创 score: 3.9
- 11th overall pick in 1975
- Played one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.6 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
#31. Sam Mitchell
- 麻豆原创 score: 4.3
- 54th overall pick in 1985
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 41.7 win shares, -2.5 box plus/minus, -3.1 VORP
#30. Ralph Sampson
- 麻豆原创 score: 4.3
- First overall pick in 1983
- Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.1 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1983-84 ROY
--- 1984-85 All-NBA
--- 1984-85 AS MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#29. Kenny Thomas
- 麻豆原创 score: 5.1
- 22nd overall pick in 1999
- Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.2 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 3.1 VORP
#28. Carl Landry
- 麻豆原创 score: 6.3
- 31st overall pick in 2007
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.9 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
#27. James Silas
- 麻豆原创 score: 6.6
- 70th overall pick in 1972
- Career averages: 16.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#26. Patrick Patterson
- 麻豆原创 score: 6.6
- 14th overall pick in 2010
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 3.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.9 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 7.4 VORP
#25. John Gianelli
- 麻豆原创 score: 6.9
- 20th overall pick in 1972
- Career averages: 7.8 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1973 NBA Champ
#24. Allen Leavell
- 麻豆原创 score: 7.2
- 104th overall pick in 1979
- Played 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 1.7 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.9 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.8 VORP
#23. Chandler Parsons
- 麻豆原创 score: 7.2
- 38th overall pick in 2011
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.7 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.9 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 10.2 VORP
#22. Marcus Morris
- 麻豆原创 score: 7.4
- 14th overall pick in 2011
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#21. Robert Reid
- 麻豆原创 score: 8.0
- 40th overall pick in 1977
- Played 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 40.3 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 8.2 VORP
#20. Curtis Perry
- 麻豆原创 score: 8.9
- 35th overall pick in 1970
- Played one season with San Diego Rockets and one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 8.8 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.6 win shares
#19. Montrezl Harrell
- 麻豆原创 score: 9.7
- 32nd overall pick in 2015
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.1 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.9 win shares, 2.6 box plus/minus, 12.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#18. Stu Lantz
- 麻豆原创 score: 9.8
- 23rd overall pick in 1968
- Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets and one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.5 win shares
#17. Tom Owens
- 麻豆原创 score: 9.9
- 58th overall pick in 1971
- Played one season with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 11.3 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.9 win shares
#16. Bingo Smith
- 麻豆原创 score: 10.0
- Sixth overall pick in 1969
- Played one season with San Diego Rockets
- Career averages: 12.6 PTS, 4.2 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares
#15. Craig Ehlo
- 麻豆原创 score: 10.2
- 48th overall pick in 1983
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 3.6 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 41.2 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 14.1 VORP
#14. Cuttino Mobley
- 麻豆原创 score: 11.1
- 41st overall pick in 1998
- Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 16.0 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.2 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 12.9 VORP
#13. Steve Hawes
- 麻豆原创 score: 11.2
- 24th overall pick in 1972
- Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 8.4 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.1 win shares
#12. Clint Capela
- 麻豆原创 score: 12.8
- 25th overall pick in 2014
- Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 10.7 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 60.1 win shares, 2.1 box plus/minus, 14.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2020-21 TRB Champ
#11. Rodney McCray
- 麻豆原创 score: 13.8
- Third overall pick in 1983
- Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 11.7 PTS, 6.6 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.0 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1993 NBA Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
#10. John Lucas
- 麻豆原创 score: 14.2
- First overall pick in 1976
- Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 10.7 PTS, 2.3 REB, 7.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 53.7 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 21.1 VORP
#9. Mike Newlin
- 麻豆原创 score: 15.2
- 24th overall pick in 1971
- Played eight seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.4 win shares
#8. Steve Francis
- 麻豆原创 score: 16.3
- Second overall pick in 1999
- Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 18.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 6.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 54.1 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 22.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 8.9%
- Accolades
--- 1999-00 ROY
--- 3x All Star
#7. Robert Horry
- 麻豆原创 score: 18.2
- 11th overall pick in 1992
- Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 66.3 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 26.4 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 3.4%
- Accolades
--- 7x NBA Champ
#6. Sam Cassell
- 麻豆原创 score: 23.0
- 24th overall pick in 1993
- Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 15.7 PTS, 3.2 REB, 6.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 87.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 28.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 11.2%
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 All-NBA
--- 1x All Star
#5. Calvin Murphy
- 麻豆原创 score: 25.3
- 18th overall pick in 1970
- Played one season with San Diego Rockets and 12 seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 17.9 PTS, 2.1 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 84.1 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#4. Yao Ming
- 麻豆原创 score: 25.6
- First overall pick in 2002
- Played eight seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 19.0 PTS, 9.2 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.9 win shares, 3.2 box plus/minus, 20.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 8x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#3. Rudy Tomjanovich
- 麻豆原创 score: 31.2
- Second overall pick in 1970
- Played one season with San Diego Rockets and 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 17.4 PTS, 8.1 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 70.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 5x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Elvin Hayes
- 麻豆原创 score: 53.0
- First overall pick in 1968
- Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets and four seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 21.0 PTS, 12.5 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 120.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1978 NBA Champ
--- 1968-69 Scoring Champ
--- 6x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Hakeem Olajuwon
- 麻豆原创 score: 63.1
- First overall pick in 1984
- Played 17 seasons with Houston Rockets
- Career averages: 21.8 PTS, 11.1 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 162.8 win shares, 4.6 box plus/minus, 74.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1993-94 MVP
--- 2x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
