What The Most Famous NBA Players From The 1990s Look Like Today

Houston Rockets Great Hakeem Olajuwon Has No Regrets Of Winning Titles In Michael Jordan-less Era

The 1993-1994 and 94-95 Houston Rockets are considered to have asterisks beside their NBA championships.

Some discredit them because they won in the A.J. Years. Or After Jordan. As in Michael Jordan.

The Rockets won their first title when Jordan retired after winning three straight championships with the Chicago Bulls. Houston then completed the repeat with a rusty Jordan returning in the second half of the season.

Still, the Rockets have no regrets about the circumstances. They feel they deserve their place in history with the other teams that won consecutive titles. Just ask Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, who was named regular season and Finals MVP after leading the Rockets past the New York Knicks in 1994.

He spoke of the two-year window recently with the Houston Chronicle.

"You don't win a championship by accident," Olajuwon said. "We had the best record in the league. Some people try to say, 'oh [Michael] Jordan was out those two years, that's why you won.' That really doesn't matter to us, we don't have to prove anything. ... That's one thing I really respect about Michael Jordan. He never say that. He has tremendous respect for our team."'

The Rockets never got to face Jordan in the Finals. In 1995, the Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by the Orlando Magic. The Rockets were eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1995-96 season, closing the window of the teams ever facing each other.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.Com

Today In Rockets History: Hakeem Olajuwon Wins League MVP Honors

Hakeem Olajuwon played 17 seasons for the Houston Rockets and established himself as the greatest player in franchise history. Olajuwon officially took the honor during the 1993-94 season, which included leading the Rockets to their first championship in team history.

Winning the 1994 Finals in a seven-game series against the New York Knicks is the pinnacle of Olajuwon's season. However, the second-best moment came on May 25. Ahead of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Utah Jazz, Olajuwon received his lone MVP award. 

He led the Rockets to a then-franchise-best 58-24 regular-season record, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 3.6 assists across 80 games. Olajuwon's play during the 93-94 season is regarded as one of the greatest in league history. He also took home his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year.

Olajuwon also received his first of two Finals MVP awards. The Rockets came back from a 3-2 deficit against the Knicks behind Olajuwon's play. He averaged 26.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks.

Olajuwon was the second player in franchise history to win the regular season MVP award. The late Moses Malone became the first in 1979. He remains the only player in Rockets' history to win the honor twice, taking home his second MVP trophy in 1982.

James Harden became the third player to win the award as a member of the Rockets. His MVP year came during the 2017-18 season, where he led the Rockets to a franchise-best 65 wins.

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