NBA Tuesday migrates from one big state to another, as we travel from San Francisco to Houston: welcome to our examination of the 10 best players in Rockets history! The team has had some amazing players over the decades since its start in San Diego back during the late 1960s. That may be the question now: how many San Diego Rockets will we find on this list? Surprisingly, there were more (3) than we expected. Cool stuff …

No. 10: Elvin Hayes, C/PF—40.8 WS (1968-1972, 1981-1984)

The Big E was an All Star in his first 12 NBA seasons, and the initial 4 seasons came with the Rockets, in both San Diego and Houston. He later finished his career with the team, too, but he was well past his prime then. Overall, however, he put up 20.6 ppg and 12.2 rpg in 572 games with the franchise; in addition, Hayes contributed 21.9 ppg and 12.6 rpg in only 9 playoff games (1969 and 1982 postseasons combined). Shame.

No. 9: Robert Reid, SF/SG—40.9 WS (1977-1982, 1983-1988)

Never an All Star, he played 10 seasons with Houston, divided neatly into 2 periods with a year off in the middle when he retired to practice his Pentecostal faith. All context considered, we’re surprised he made the list with these combined numbers for the Rockets: 11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, and 1.2 spg. In 72 playoff games with the team, however, he improved to 14.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, and 1.5 spg. So there is that bonus.

No. 8: Steve Francis, PG—41.4 WS (1999-2004, 2007)

He was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, making 3 All-Star teams (2002-2004) before the Rockets traded him away; Francis later played the final 10 games of his career with the team, however, after suffering tough injuries. Was he a disappointment? Depends on your perspective: 19.0 ppg, 6.3 apg, 6.0 rpg, and 1.6 spg in 384 regular-season games … but only 5 playoff games in 2004 (19.2 ppg, 8.4 apg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 spg).

No. 7: Otis Thorpe, PF—54.5 WS (1988-1995)

The No. 9 overall pick in the 1984 Draft by the Kansas City Kings, he ended up making his single All-Star appearance with the Rockets in 1992. His best seasons came in Houston, actually: 15.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, and 2.6 apg over 518 regular-season games. He was a member of the 1994 champs before being shipped to Portland for Clyde Drexler in the title-defense campaign. In 46 playoff games? 13.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 2.4 apg. Solid.

No. 6: Yao Ming, C—65.9 WS (2002-2009, 2010)

Our pick for 2003 ROTY, the Great Wall was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 Draft and an 8-time All Star. He’s the rare player to be on the All-Star team in every season he played (he sat out 2009-2010 due to a foot injury). His stats? 19.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 1.9 bpg across 486 regular-season games (all with the Rockets) and 19.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 1.5 bpg over 28 playoff games with Houston as well. Injuries cut it all short, however.

No. 5: Moses Malone, C—70.0 WS (1976-1982)

The well-traveled Chairman of the Boards spent a career-high 6 seasons in Houston, making 5 All-Star teams after the Rockets acquired him from the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers organization). He was the 1982 MVP in his final season with the team, and overall, Malone put up 24.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg, and 1.6 bpg in 464 regular-season games with this club. In 45 playoff games, it was 24.2 ppg, 15.5 rpg, and 1.8 bpg. Damn.

No. 4: Rudy Tomjanovich, PF/SF—70.4 WS (1970-1981)

Probably more famous for this ugly incident or even his championship coaching achievements with the team, Rudy T was a 5-time All Star for the Rockets, too: 17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.0 apg over 768 regular-season games, although his effectiveness waned after suffering that sucker punch from Kermit Washington. In 20 playoff games with the team before the injury, Rudy T posted over 20 ppg. What tragedy.

No. 3: Calvin Murphy, PG/SG—84.1 WS (1970-1983)

Originally a San Diego Rocket, Cal oddly made just 1 All-Star team (1979) in his long career, despite setting some free-throw percentage records that would last for a long time (a category he topped the NBA in twice). His regular-season numbers (1.002 games): 17.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, and 1.5 spg. His postseason stats (51 games): 18.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, and 1.5 spg. Along with Malone, Reid, and Rudy T, he got the team to the 1981 NBA Finals.

No. 2: James Harden, SG/PG—115.0 WS (2012-2020)

The Beard takes a lot of crap for reasons we don’t understand, as he’s had an amazing career—including 8-plus seasons with Houston, where he posted 29.6 ppg, 7.7 apg, 6.0 rpg, and 1.8 spg over 621 regular-season games. Throw in the postseason numbers (28.4 ppg, 7.1 apg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 spg), and you know why he was an 8-time All Star here. He also topped the NBA in assists once (2017) and scoring thrice (2018-2020). Hot damn.

No. 1: Hakeem Olajuwon, C—160.6 WS (1984-2001)

It’s incredible to think he retired more than 20 years ago, but the Dream was just that for Houston: a 12-time All Star, 3-time DPOY (in our eyes), 2-time NBA champion, and the voted 1994 MVP. What more could one ask of him as the No. 1 overall pick? Here are the numbers: 22.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 2.5 apg, and 1.8 spg in 1,177 regular-season games and 26.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 3.3 apg, and 1.7 spg in 140 playoff games.