1996–97 Houston Rockets season


The 1996–97 NBA season was the Rockets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns, and signed free agents Kevin Willis and Brent Price. The Rockets blasted off to a 21–2 start, but later on struggled posting a six-game losing streak between January and February. Barkley averaged 19.2 points per game, but appeared in just 53 games due to ankle and hip injuries. At midseason, the Rockets signed free agents Eddie Johnson and Sedale Threatt as they finished second in the Midwest Division with a 57–25 record. Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich represented the Western Conference during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. However, Barkley and Drexler did not play due to injuries.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in three straight games. In the semifinals, they jumped out to a 3–1 series lead over the Seattle SuperSonics. However, the Sonics would win the next two games to even the series at three games a piece. The Rockets would win Game 7 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose in six games to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Threatt retired and Sam Mack was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.
After the departures of Barkley, Olajuwon and Drexler, the Rockets did not reach the Conference Finals again until 2015, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in five games.

Offseason

During the 1996 offseason, Charles Barkley was traded from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown. Barkley chose Houston specifically because he hoped to win an NBA Championship with the team.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
230Othella HarringtonPF/CUnited StatesGeorgetown
242Randy LivingstonSG/PGUnited StatesLSU
250Terrell BellCUnited StatesGeorgia

Roster

Regular season

In his first game with the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley would get thirty three rebounds, a career high.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available

West Conference Semifinals

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Houston Rockets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals

West Conference Finals

Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team'

Subtractions