Feb. 7, 2026, 8:00 p.m. CT
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today’s article, we will continue with the seventh of 17 players who wore the No. 7, guard alum Mike James. After ending his college career at Duquesne, James went unselected in the 1998 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until he signed with the Miami Heat in 2001.
The Copiague, New York native played the first two seasons of his pro career with Miami. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks before he was dealt to Houston for his first stint with the Rockets. In between, he also played for the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves before he was dealt to the (then) New Orleans Hornets (now, Pelicans) in 2008.
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During his time suiting up for the Rockets, James wore only jersey Nos. 13 and 7 and put up 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
