1994 Houston Rockets

The Rockets opened 15-0 and never let go of the Midwest Division, finishing 58-24 in Olajuwon's tenth season. He was the only player left from Houston's 1986 Finals team, and now the franchise belonged to him: 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks a game.

The playoffs nearly ended early. Houston blew big fourth-quarter leads at home against Phoenix and fell behind 2-0, drawing the nickname Choke City from the local paper. They recovered, beat the Suns in seven, and swept past Utah to reach the Finals.

The series against New York was a defensive slog, two great centers and two stubborn teams. The Knicks led 3-2, but Houston won Games 6 and 7 at The Summit. Olajuwon's fingertip block of Starks in the closing seconds of Game 6 saved the season, and rookie Sam Cassell hit the big shots a 24-year-old should not have been calm enough to take.

It was the first major sports championship for the city of Houston. Olajuwon's three-award season has been matched only by Michael Jordan and Giannis Antetokounmpo since.

Looking back, houston won its first title in 1994, going 58-24 and beating the New York Knicks in seven low-scoring games. Hakeem Olajuwon swept the major awards, becoming the first player to win regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season. He sealed Game 6 by blocking John Starks at the buzzer.

The starting five was Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, Otis Thorpe, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Rudy Tomjanovich coached the group with Mario Elie as the primary bench scorer.

This was title number 2 in a Houston Rockets run that stretched across consecutive or near-consecutive seasons. Repeat winners carried continuity from one year to the next.

The full roster ran deeper than the headline names. Role players who mattered included Sam Cassell (rookie who hit clutch shots throughout the run).

The 1994 champion had to survive four playoff rounds in a 30-team league. Depth and matchups mattered as much as star power, especially on the road in the conference finals.

The Houston Rockets share a lineage with other banners from 1995. Compare those seasons on the franchise hub to see how the roster and style changed between title runs.

Looking back, houston won its first title in 1994, going 58-24 and beating the New York Knicks in seven low-scoring games. Hakeem Olajuwon swept the major awards, becoming the first player to win regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season. He sealed Game 6 by blocking John Starks at the buzzer.

For the full roster beyond the featured starters, see the table on this page. For other Houston Rockets titles, use the franchise hub linked below.