Record 57–25 (.695) Period 1996 – 1997 | Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich | |
Place Division: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 3rd (Western) Playoff finish West Conference Finals
(eliminated by Jazz 2-4) Arena Lakewood Church Central Campus Televisions Fox Sports Southwest, KTXH Similar 1994–95 Houston Rockets s, 1996–97 Chicago Bulls sea, 2003–04 Los Angeles, 1996–97 NBA season, 1997–98 Chicago Bulls sea | ||
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Rockets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns while signing free agents Kevin Willis and Brent Price. The Rockets blasted off to a 21–2 start, but later on struggled posting a six-game losing streak between January and February. Their players would once again struggle with injuries as Barkley appeared in just 53 games. At midseason, the Rockets signed free agents Eddie Johnson and Sedale Threatt as they finished second in the Midwest Division with a 57–25 record. Three members of the team, Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were all selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. However, Barkley and Drexler did not play due to injuries.
Contents
- Offseason
- Regular season
- Season standings
- West First Round
- West Conference Semifinals
- West Conference Finals
- Awards
- References
In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in three straight games. In the semifinals, they jumped out to a 3–1 lead over the Seattle SuperSonics. However, the Sonics would win the next two games to even the series at three games a piece. The Rockets would win Game 7 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose in six games to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Threatt retired and Sam Mack was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.
After the departures of Barkley, Olajuwon and Drexler, the Rockets did not reach the Conference Finals again until 2015.
Offseason
During the 1996 offseason, Charles Barkley was traded from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown. Barkley chose Houston specifically because he hoped to win an NBA Championship with the team.
Regular season
In his first game with the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley would get thirty three rebounds, a career high.
Season standings
c – clinched conference title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spotWest First Round
(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
West Conference Semifinals
(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-0)
West Conference Finals
(1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-2)