The best way to meet the team's prehistoric superstar is to let him take advantage of the excitement and defeat, and this game is like this rocket against Harden. The Rockets left the victory in Space City, while the pre-game tribute video tells the story of Harden's glorious past in the Rockets. So, how does Harden rank among rocket all-time superstars? If you give the Rockets a superstar ranking, who will be in the top 10?
This is not Harden's first visit to Space City since the trade. The last time was on March 4 of this year, Harden had a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists on 10-of-15 shooting, leading the Nets to a 132-114 road victory. Durant was also absent from the game, but Harden was also on Irving's side (24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 4-of-9 shooting). Today, Owen is "only aware of the deep embroidered birds".
The Rocket salutes before the soldiers. The Rockets played a tribute video before the game, and Harden responded with a heart. For a time, Harden wore the No. 13 red trench coat to lead the team to "resist the courage" is still vividly remembered. From 2012 to the beginning of this year, Harden led the Rockets to break into the Western Conference Finals twice, with a total win rate of 63.9%. His partnership with D'Antoni bore the same fruit as the sun. Here, Harden was elected MVP, scored three points, won one assist, and the only 60-win season in Rockets history was due to him (2017-18).
The Rockets' highest single-game score was created by Harden (61 points, 2 games). So far, Harden is still the Rockets' three-point king, triple-double king, assist king, and second in the overall scoring list. The high-level data highlights Harden's status: the efficiency value during Harden's time with the Rockets so far, the victory contribution value every 48 minutes, the offensive victory contribution value, the true plus-minus value and the true plus-minus value of the offense are the first in the history of the Rockets.
It can be seen that it should not be an exaggeration to rank Harden in the rocket team's top three in history. Rockets have produced three MVPs in their history, including Olajuwon and Moses Malone in addition to Harden. Olajuwon's position is unshakable, while Harden's data is dominant, and Malone's victory is 2 MVP and Finals experience, and the two can be said to be in between Bo Zhong.
Because of Yao Ming, the Rockets were once regarded as the home team by domestic fans. In the history of the NBA, the Rockets are also a team with distinctive characteristics, with endless superstars, tough and tenacious style once dubbed the "Texas Cockroaches", as well as the tradition of high school forwards. If the top 10 superstars in rocket history are ranked, the ranking should be as follows:
1. Olajuwon
Big Dreams is to the Rockets what Jordan is to bulls. He brought the Rockets the only 2 championships in team history, where he was named an All-Star 12 times, the Best Team 12 times, the Best Defensive Team nine times, the Defensive Player of the Year twice, and the Finals MVP twice. In addition, he was also elected block king three times and rebound king twice.
Today, in the rocket history of the total number of appearances, total playing time, total shots and hits, total points, total rebounds, total blocks and total steals and other statistics, he is at the top of the team history, undisputed the first person in team history.
2. Harden
Although he never led the team to the Finals, Harden's 8 years in the Rockets are undoubtedly a glorious period in team history. When "Cosmic Courage" swept the NBA, Harden also played the role of "anti-courage" vanguard, one of the closest candidates to "pull the emperor off the horse", and one of the warriors' strongest opponents.
In addition, in the Rockets, Harden also played the culmination of personal offensive performances in NBA history, is one of the spokesmen for the three-point and small-ball trend, and is also full of controversy because of "touching porcelain". In terms of stats, achievements and topicality, Harden is worthy of the second person in team history.
3. Moses-Malone
Another reason why Malone is "relegated" to third is that when Malone is mentioned today, his glory period is more in the 76ers. The Rockets are Malone's second stop from ABA to the NBA. In more than 5 seasons, Malone was named MVP twice, all-Star five times, rebounding king three times (still the first rebounding per game in Rockets history), four times in the Best Team, and one time in the Best Defensive Team. In 1981, Malone led the Rockets to the Finals, the first time in team history.
4. Rudy TomJanovic
He is Yao Ming's first mentor after joining the NBA, and he is also well known by domestic fans. He dedicated 11 years of his career to the Rockets, where he was named an All-Star five times. He was also the victim of one of the most notorious court violence incidents in NBA history. After ending his playing career, he went on to coaching and spent 21 seasons with the Rockets, including 12 seasons as manager, leading the team to two championships, and leaving behind the famous saying "Never underestimate a champion's heart".
5. Drexler
He was the pride of the University of Houston. But after being selected by the Blazers in 1983, the Glider flew back to Space City 12 years later to reunite with college teammate Olajuwon. As a result, in the 1994-95 season, the Rockets, who were no. 6 in the West Division, unexpectedly won the championship after losing home advantage in all rounds of the playoffs. Although he came to the Rockets late in his career, spent just over 3 seasons here, and was only selected as an All-Star twice, Drexler should be in the top 5 as one of the most classic duo in Rockets history.
6. Yao Ming
Eight All-Stars, five All-Team, and four playoff trips are not enough to explain Yao's all for the Rockets. If it weren't for injuries, Yao Ming would have achieved more. From the 2002-03 season to the NBA, except for the 2009-10 season when he was reimbursed for injury, Yao Ming never missed an All-Star. He built a bridge between East and West, opened a window for domestic fans to look out to the NBA, and thus left an imprint on the Hall of Fame.
7. Ralph Sampson
In 1983 and 1984 , the Rockets won back-to-back titles , with Olajuwon previously Sampson. After playing for the Rockets for more than 4 seasons, Sampson has had a lamentable experience from the first 2 seasons of labor model to the later Glassman. He was selected as an All-Star four times, was selected for the Best Second Team once, and formed the famous "Twin Towers" with Olajuwon. In 1986, under the leadership of the "Twin Towers", the Rockets reached the Finals for the second time in team history, which was also the peak of Sampson's NBA career.
8. Maddy
If you had to choose, would you like to remember which Jersey Maddy is wearing, is it raptors, magic, or rocket? In the 2004-05 season, the 2nd scoring champion Maddy came to Space City to join Hands with Yao Ming, who has since entered the vision of domestic fans. But the Yao Mai combination has never met the expectations of the fans, and the injury has destroyed everything. In more than five seasons with the Rockets, Maddy was selected as an All-Star three times and to the All-Team team three times, leaving a miracle of 35.13 seconds. He is still a vivid memory of fans.
9. Elvin Hayes
"Big E" is the first superstar in Rockets history. He is the proud of the University of Houston and is the senior of Olajuwon and Drexler. In the second year of the Rockets, he joined the team and was named an All-Star, and moved with the team from San Diego to Houston. Here, he was selected as an All-Star four times, taking the top scorer and the top rebounder, leaving an average of 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, shooting 44.5% of the record card. In the final three seasons of his career, Hayes returned to Houston.
But Hayes' greater glory came during nine seasons with the Bullets (the wizard's predecessor), where he won his only championship of his career.
10. Kelvin Murphy
When Harden broke the Rockets' all-time scoring record, the original record holder Murphy applauded the juniors in the stands. From the second round in 1970 to his farewell in 1983, Murphy's 13-year NBA career was dedicated to the Rockets. Here he was named an All-Star and is still the No. 3 scorer in Rockets history, with second-highest total assists and total steals. He was one of the symbols of the Rockets' early years, reaching the Finals with the team in 1981.
Of course, there are other stars in Rockets history to remember, including Otis Thorp, Kenny Smith, Horry, Mario Ellie, Barkley, Pippen, Francis, Mutombo, Howard and Paul. But they either spent too little time with the Rockets or were relatively poor in their achievements to find a place in the top 10. (Supine Braces/Hairy)