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Mic'd Up With McIlvoy - Relive The Rockets' 1994 NBA Finals Run 30 Years Later - Click2Houston
The year was 1994, and on June 22, the Houston Rockets hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time in franchise history after taking down the New York Knicks in a dramatic seven-game NBA Finals series. 30 years later, KPRC 2 is celebrating the Rockets' unforgettable run that gave our city its first major league sports championship.
Houston finished the 1993-94 regular season with a 58-24 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the Midwest Division. Hakeem Olajuwon led the way with 27.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, a stat-line that earned him both the 1994 NBA MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year award.
Thursday night, exclusively on the KPRC 2+ livestream, KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy sits down with Rockets coaching great Rudy Tomjanovich and former player and color analyst Matt Bullard to relive some of the best moments from that season, on the debut of a new show we're calling 'Mic'd up with McIlvoy.'
The PlayoffsIn the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers, led by Olajuwon's former University of Houston teammate Clyde Drexler. The Rockets took the first two games of the series by double digits, and Olajuwon went off for 49 points in the Game 2 victory.
A strong fourth quarter earned Portland a win in Game 3, but Houston was able to take care of business and advance following a Game 4 win.
Editor's note: First-round series were best-of-5 rather than best-of-7 until the rules were changed in 2003.
In the second round, the Rockets took on the Phoenix Suns, who were led by All-Stars Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson. Despite two 30+ point performances from Olajuwon, the Rockets dropped the first two games of the series at home.
With their backs against the wall, Houston won back-to-back games in Phoenix and took the lead in the series after winning Game 5 at home. The Rockets dropped Game 6 in an uncharacteristically poor shooting night but finished things off at The Summit with a 104-94 win in Game 7. In that contest, rookie guard Sam Cassell scored 22 points and dished out seven assists off the bench.
The Rockets advanced to take on the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 1, Olajuwon and Kenny "The Jet" Smith scored 31 and 27, respectively, and Houston cruised to a 12-point victory. Game 2 came down to the wire, but Olajuwon led all scorers with 41 points in the Rockets 104-99 win.
The Jazz got on the board with a win in Game 3, but a late comeback fell just short in Game 4, giving Houston a 3-1 series lead. The Rockets completely smothered the Jazz in Game 5, heading into the half with a commanding 53-35 lead. The Jazz's comeback came up short, and the Rockets comfortably wrapped up the series in five games.
The FinalsGame 1 of the 1994 Finals was a defensive slugfest, with the Rockets squeaking out an 85-78 victory at home. The most notable takeaway from this game was Olajuwon's defense on Knicks' star center Patrick Ewing. The Rockets out-rebounded the Knicks, and Ewing finished with 23 points on just 10-of-26 from the field.
The Knicks exacted revenge in Game 2, as a strong third quarter made the difference in another tightly contested game. It was the definition of a team win for New York, as all five starters scored double digits. John Starks led the way with 19 points for the Knicks (more on him later).
Houston regained the series advantage in Game 3 with a 93-89 win. It was a neck-and-neck duel between the teams' star centers, but sharpshooting from Houston's role players—including 15 points of the bench from Cassell—made the difference for the Rockets.
With a chance to take a commanding lead in Game 4, the Rockets cooled off a bit. Olajuwon did his job, scoring an efficient 32 points and forcing Ewing to shoot a ghastly 8-for-28 from the field, but no other Rocket scored more than 12 points. The Knicks took full advantage of this off night, with Starks, Derek Harper and Charles Oakley each having solid performances. The Knicks evened the series with a 91-82 dub.
Game 5 is more remembered for what happened away from the court as the game was happening, as many television stations cut away from the action to follow the infamous O.J. Simpson police chase as it transpired live. On the court however, Ewing put up his most efficient performance in the Finals thus far, scoring 25 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The Rockets trailed by 11 points at halftime, but they had climbed back to tie it heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, the Rockets ran out of steam and the Knicks took the pivotal game with a 91-84 win.
Game 6 was win-or-go-home for the Rockets, and they delivered when they needed to most. After taking a 46-36 lead into the locker room, Houston held off a late surge from New York to eke out an 86-84 win. Olajuwon led all scorers with 30 points, and power forward Carl Herrera went a perfect 6-of-6 with 12 points off the bench.
Game 7 at The Summit was for all the marbles. It was extremely close all the way through, but the Rockets quietly outscored the Knicks in every quarter, taking home a 90-84 victory to clinch the championship. Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell led the Rockets offense to a combined 46 points, but it was Starks' nightmarish 2-of-18 shooting performance that truly stifled the Knicks.
Hakeem Olajuwon took home Finals MVP in a landslide, averaging 26.9 points and 9.1 boards across the seven games. Maxwell, Cassell and Robert Horry also made their mark across the series, averaging double digits in points.
The series capped of the very first championship in Rockets' history and put a bow on one of the best seasons by an individual player in NBA history. Hakeem Olajuwon remains one of only three players to win NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season, along with Michael Jordan and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Houston Rockets' NBA Championships
The Houston Rockets won back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
The Houston Rockets have made 35 trips to the playoffs in their franchise history. They have won two titles along the way. Let's highlight both of their championship teams and the routes they took to win a title.
1994 NBA ChampionshipThe Rockets went 58-24 during the 1993-94 regular season. They received a dominant campaign from Hakeem Olajuwon, who averaged 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.7 blocks per game. Those gaudy stats helped him win the Defensive Player of the Year Award and be named NBA MVP.
The Rockets began their 1994 playoff run by defeating the Trail Blazers in four games in the first round. The Western Conference Semifinals brought a tough foe in the Suns, who the Rockets finally knocked off in seven games. They then dispatched the Jazz in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
A trip to the NBA finals was met with a matchup against the Knicks. The Rockets won the first game, but the Knicks won three of the next four games. The Rockets then pulled out a close two-point win in Game 6, then defeated the Knicks 90-84 in Game 7 to win their first championship. Olajuwon was named Finals MVP, putting a cherry on top of his impressive season. During the playoffs, he averaged 28.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 4.0 blocks over 23 games.
1995 NBA ChampionshipAfter winning the title, the Rockets went 47-35 during the 1994-95 regular season. Olajuwon thrived again, averaging 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, which helped him finish third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and fifth in MVP voting. His top running mate was Clyde Drexler, who averaged 21.4 points over 35 games.
The Rockets did not have an easy run through the Western Conference. It took five games for them to eliminate the Jazz in the first round. They then defeated the Suns in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Finally, they put themselves in a spot to defend their title by beating the Spurs in six games in the Western Conference Finals.
While their path to the NBA Finals was difficult, the Rockets dominated once they got there. They swept the Magic, winning two of the four games by at least 11 points. Olajuwan was named Finals MVP again and averaged 33.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.8 blocks in the playoffs. Drexler also played well on the Rockets title run, averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals over 22 playoff games.
Who Was On The Houston Rockets Roster The Last Time They Won An NBA Championship? - FanSided
The Houston Rockets have fans in Clutch City believing once again. Their last championship run, during the 1994-95 NBA season stands as one of the most remarkable in basketball history. Against all odds, the Rockets became the lowest-seeded team (6th seed) to win an NBA championship. Their resilience, bold moves and standout performances solidified their place in NBA lore. Led by head coach Rudy Tomjanovich and anchored by all-time great, Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets demonstrated that grit and determination are what champions are made of.
Houston Rockets 1994-95 squadThe '94-95 regular season was a rollercoaster ride for the Rockets. They finished with a 47-35 record, placing them third in the Midwest Division, making them the sixth seed in the Western Conference. This was a far cry from the dominance they displayed during the previous year's title run. The Rockets definitely suffered from a bit of a championship hangover after the first title in '93-94.
Coach Rudy T guided the team with an eye toward playoff success. A pivotal mid-season trade brought Clyde Drexler from Portland to reunite with former University of Houston teammate Olajuwon. While Drexler had been in the NBA for over a decade, he was still averaging 22 ppg when he was traded to the Rockets.
Drexler's arrival gave the Rockets a boost of energy, particularly in scoring and leadership. Despite taking a step (or two) back from their previous championship campaign, Houston's roster was built for the postseason and the team's chemistry began to click at just the right time.
Key Players and contributionsHakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon was the heart and soul of this Rockets squad. His dominance on both ends of the court was unmatched, and his postseason performance is what cemented his place among the NBA's all-time greats. During the '94-95 regular season, Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game. His footwork in the post, famously dubbed "The Dream Shake," was smooth enough to leave the best NBA Centers baffled defensively.
Joining the team mid-season, Drexler seamlessly integrated into the lineup. Drexler averaged 21.4 points, 7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35 regular season games with the Rockets. His ability to slash to the basket, hit outside shots and defend added a new layer of versatility to the team.
Houston's supporting cast played a vital role in their success. Robert Horry, known for his clutch shooting, provided 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while hitting key shots throughout the run. Point guard, Kenny Smith, averaged 10.8 points and kept the offense flowing. Meanwhile, Mario Elie, Sam Cassell, Vernon Maxwell, and Otis Thorpe contributed timely scoring, rebounding and defensive energy, giving the Rockets depth that many teams lacked.
Rockets team depthWhat made the Rockets so dangerous was their balance of veteran leadership and young talent. They weren't the flashiest team, but they were efficient. Houston ranked 7th in offensive rating (110.4) and 12th in defensive rating (108.1) during the regular season. Their ability to adapt and execute game plans was crucial as they faced higher-seeded opponents throughout the playoffs.
Tomjanovich's strategy emphasized spacing, ball movement, and defensive consistency. By surrounding Olajuwon with capable shooters and defenders, Houston maximized their superstar's impact. The team relied on its ability to stay composed under pressure and the experience of having gone all the way during the '94 playoffs.
A historic playoff runH-Town's playoff journey in '95 was nothing short of legendary. They faced elimination multiple times but showed an uncanny ability to rally back.
First Round: Utah JazzThe Rockets edged out the Utah Jazz in a five-game series. Facing a 2-1 deficit, Olajuwon dominated the final two games, helping Houston advance.
Western Conference Semifinals: Phoenix SunsPerhaps the most dramatic series of their run, the Rockets fell behind 3-1 against a formidable Suns team led by Charles Barkley. They stormed back to win three straight games, capped by a thrilling one-point Game 7 victory in Phoenix.
Western Conference Finals: San Antonio SpursMatched up against MVP David Robinson and the Spurs, the Rockets won in six games. Olajuwon thoroughly outplayed Robinson, showing it didn't matter who'd won the MVP award that year.
NBA Finals: Orlando MagicFacing a young and talented Orlando Magic team featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, the Rockets swept the series 4-0. Houston's experience and confidence under pressure proved too much for the Magic to handle.
Hakeem Olajuwon: NBA Finals MVPIn the Finals, Olajuwon was unstoppable. He averaged 32.7 points and 14.2 rebounds per game earning his second consecutive Finals MVP award. His ability to neutralize O'Neal and dominate offensively was the defining factor in Houston's championship sweep.
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