Clyde Drexler consistently demonstrated confidence in his abilities throughout his 15-year career in the league. That certainty still shone decades later, as one remark on the 30th anniversary of his February 1995 trade to the Houston Rockets revealed.
Back then, speaking to the Houston Chronicle, Drexler discussed the team he was about to join, emphasized his perfect fit and explained why Houston’s front office pursuing him was an absolute “no-brainer.”
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The missing piece
Contending teams often need just one player to push them over the edge. That was certainly true for the Rockets in the mid-1990s, who were poised to add that missing piece when Drexler, a multiple-time All-Star, requested a trade.
Since joining the Portland Trail Blazers in 1983 as the 14th overall pick, Drexler had established himself as an elite player. However, as the high-flying swingman approached the twilight of his storied career, the ultimate prize — an NBA title — had still eluded him.
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With a few months left in the 1994-95 regular season, the Rockets were closing in on a strong record and plotting a deep playoff run. Before the trade deadline, they moved to acquire Drexler — a choice so obvious that he likely would have done the same if he, rather than executive Bob Weinhauer, were running the team.
“If you can get one of the top guys in the league who had taken his team to the Finals and he’s still in his early 30s? That’s a no-brainer, I believe,”emphasized Drexler, per the Houston Chronicle.
Clyde’s arrival
Drexler was right. That season, he had been voted to the NBA All-Third Team — proof he was “a top guy” in the league. He had also taken the Blazers to the Finals in 1990 and 1992 and was indeed still only in his early 30s.
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There were still doubts about Houston acquiring the future Hall of Famer. After all, the Rockets were giving up Otis Thorpe, who was well-liked within the team, as part of their trade package for Drexler.
“Clyde the Glide,” however, defended the move. He called Thorpe a “magnificent player” but emphasized that getting him and parting with Thorpe was necessary for the betterment of the roster.
And what a roster it was. Drexler certainly thought so as well. The New Orleans native later recalled that when the idea of moving to Houston first came up, he immediately recognized just how strong the team was.
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“They had great players like Sam Cassell, who was underrated. I knew Mario Elie was a premier defender. Robert Horry was very underrated. Kenny Smith was one of the best three-point shooters in the league,” he pointed out.
Drexler also singled out Hakeem Olajuwon as “one of the top players in the league” and praised Rudy Tomjanovich, leading from the sidelines, as a “good coach.”
Ultimately, moving to H-Town offered “Clyde the Glide” a bright opportunity: a championship chance, a return to the city where he went to college, a reunion with former Cougars teammate Olajuwon and a chance to play with a loaded roster of “great players,” as he put it.
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Adding Drexler proved a recipe for success. Less than half a year after joining, the Rockets won the championship title by sweeping the Orlando Magic. “Clyde the Glide” played a pivotal role, averaging 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per contest in the series.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.