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Best draft picks in Houston Rockets history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete’s life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it’s easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city’s downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Houston Rockets history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com‘s Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player’s win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score. Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
– 15th overall pick in 1968
– Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets
– Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 6.2 win shares
– 66th overall pick in 1986
– Played one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 2.2 REB, 1.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 12.3 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
– 41st overall pick in 1992
– Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 7.4 REB, 1.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 22.0 win shares, -2.7 box plus/minus, -2.1 VORP
– Second overall pick in 2021
– Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 19.9 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 11.0 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
– Seventh overall pick in 2001
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 5.8 REB, 0.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 10.9 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 2.8 VORP
– 17th overall pick in 2022
– Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 11.8 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 2.8 VORP
– 44th overall pick in 2009
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 7.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.2 AST
– Advanced statistics: 13.9 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
– Third overall pick in 2022
– Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 13.7 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 18.3 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
– 79th overall pick in 1968
– Played two seasons with San Diego Rockets
– Career averages: 7.7 PTS, 2.4 REB, 3.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 10.0 win shares
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– 18th overall pick in 2012
– Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 5.7 REB, 1.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 14.7 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 3.6 VORP
– 120th overall pick in 1970
– Played one season with San Diego Rockets
– Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.9 AST
– Advanced statistics: 10.6 win shares
– 32nd overall pick in 2006
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 4.7 PTS, 1.3 REB, 0.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 14.5 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 4.0 VORP
– 20th overall pick in 1986
– Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.7 VORP
– 24th overall pick in 2005
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 2.4 REB, 2.1 AST
– Advanced statistics: 14.7 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
– 26th overall pick in 2007
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 1.7 REB, 3.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 19.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 2.7 VORP
– Sixth overall pick in 1973
– Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 13.8 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
– 11th overall pick in 1975
– Played one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 8.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 0.9 AST
– Advanced statistics: 27.6 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
– 54th overall pick in 1985
– Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.1 AST
– Advanced statistics: 41.7 win shares, -2.5 box plus/minus, -3.1 VORP
– First overall pick in 1983
– Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 20.1 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– 22nd overall pick in 1999
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 31.2 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 3.1 VORP
– Fourth overall pick in 2023
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 14.3 PTS, 7.6 REB, 4.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 22.6 win shares, 2.9 box plus/minus, 8.2 VORP
— 2024-25 All-Defensive
– 31st overall pick in 2007
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 35.9 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
– 70th overall pick in 1972
– Career averages: 16.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 22.0 win shares
– 14th overall pick in 2010
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 3.9 REB, 1.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 31.9 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 7.4 VORP
– 20th overall pick in 1972
– Career averages: 7.8 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 23.0 win shares
– 104th overall pick in 1979
– Played 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 1.7 REB, 4.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 29.9 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.8 VORP
– 14th overall pick in 2011
– Played one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 39.4 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 6.7 VORP
– 43rd overall pick in 2017
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 7.1 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.2 AST
– Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares, 2.4 box plus/minus, 9.4 VORP
– Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
– 40th overall pick in 1977
– Played 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 40.3 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 8.2 VORP
– 16th overall pick in 2021
– Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 16.9 PTS, 8.6 REB, 4.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 30.5 win shares, 3.1 box plus/minus, 13.4 VORP
– 35th overall pick in 1970
– Played one season with San Diego Rockets
– Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 8.8 REB, 1.9 AST
– Advanced statistics: 29.6 win shares
– 32nd overall pick in 2015
– Played two seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 12.1 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.3 AST
– Advanced statistics: 42.9 win shares, 2.6 box plus/minus, 12.2 VORP
– 23rd overall pick in 1968
– Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets and one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.9 AST
– Advanced statistics: 32.5 win shares
– 58th overall pick in 1971
– Played one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 11.3 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 32.9 win shares
– Sixth overall pick in 1969
– Played one season with San Diego Rockets
– Career averages: 12.6 PTS, 4.2 REB, 2.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares
– 48th overall pick in 1983
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 3.6 REB, 2.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 41.2 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 14.1 VORP
– 41st overall pick in 1998
– Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 16.0 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.7 AST
– Advanced statistics: 52.2 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 12.9 VORP
– 24th overall pick in 1972
– Played one season with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 8.4 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.9 AST
– Advanced statistics: 37.1 win shares
– Third overall pick in 1983
– Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 11.7 PTS, 6.6 REB, 3.6 AST
– Advanced statistics: 56.0 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.1 VORP
– First overall pick in 1976
– Played five seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 10.7 PTS, 2.3 REB, 7.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 53.7 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 21.1 VORP
– 25th overall pick in 2014
– Played seven seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 9.9 REB, 1.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 72.6 win shares, 1.6 box plus/minus, 16.5 VORP
– Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
– 24th overall pick in 1971
– Played eight seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 4.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 50.4 win shares
– Second overall pick in 1999
– Played six seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 18.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 6.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 54.1 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 22.7 VORP
– Hall of Fame probability: 8.9%
– 11th overall pick in 1992
– Played four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.1 AST
– Advanced statistics: 66.3 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 26.4 VORP
– Hall of Fame probability: 3.4%
– 24th overall pick in 1993
– Played three seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 15.7 PTS, 3.2 REB, 6.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 87.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 28.8 VORP
– Hall of Fame probability: 11.2%
– 18th overall pick in 1970
– Played one season with San Diego Rockets and 12 seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 17.9 PTS, 2.1 REB, 4.4 AST
– Advanced statistics: 84.1 win shares
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– First overall pick in 2002
– Played eight seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 19.0 PTS, 9.2 REB, 1.6 AST
– Advanced statistics: 65.9 win shares, 3.2 box plus/minus, 20.7 VORP
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– Second overall pick in 1970
– Played one season with San Diego Rockets and 10 seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 17.4 PTS, 8.1 REB, 2.0 AST
– Advanced statistics: 70.4 win shares
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– First overall pick in 1968
– Played three seasons with San Diego Rockets and four seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 21.0 PTS, 12.5 REB, 1.8 AST
– Advanced statistics: 120.8 win shares
— 1968-69 Scoring Champ
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
– First overall pick in 1984
– Played 17 seasons with Houston Rockets
– Career averages: 21.8 PTS, 11.1 REB, 2.5 AST
– Advanced statistics: 162.8 win shares, 4.6 box plus/minus, 74.2 VORP
— Basketball Hall of Fame inductee