The 1984-85 Houston Rockets season marked a significant turning point for the franchise, primarily due to the arrival of Hakeem Olajuwon, the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Partnering with Ralph Sampson, the Rockets formed a formidable “Twin Towers” frontcourt that became the cornerstone of their strategy. Under head coach Bill Fitch, the team aimed to improve upon their previous seasons’ performances.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, securing the third spot in the Midwest Division. This was a notable improvement from their 29-53 record in the previous season. Hakeem Olajuwon made an immediate impact, averaging 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Ralph Sampson also had a standout season, averaging 22.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, and was selected for the All-Star Game.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Utah Jazz in the first round, defeating them in a five-game series. However, their postseason run was cut short in the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were overpowered by the Los Angeles Lakers in a five-game series. Despite the playoff exit, the season was considered a success due to the rapid development of Olajuwon and the potential shown by the team. This season laid the groundwork for future successes, as the Rockets would continue to build around their talented young core.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ralph Sampson | 82 | 22.1 | 10.4 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 21.2 | 16.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 100.0 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 82 | 20.6 | 11.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 5 | 21.2 | 13.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
| Rodney McCray | 82 | 14.4 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 5 | 10.6 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Lewis Lloyd | 82 | 13.1 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 5 | 17.2 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| John Lucas | 47 | 11.4 | 1.8 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 32.3 | 5 | 13.6 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Mitchell Wiggins | 82 | 9.0 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 26.1 | 5 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Reid | 82 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 5.9 | 5 | 7.6 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Lionel Hollins | 80 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 23.1 | 5 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Allen Leavell | 42 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 22.2 | 5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Micheaux | 39 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 5 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Jim Petersen | 60 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Craig Ehlo | 45 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Ford | 25 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Hank McDowell | 34 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Utah Jazz in a best-of-five series. Led by the dominant u0022Twin Towersu0022 of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, the Rockets secured a decisive 3-2 series victory, showcasing their formidable frontcourt presence. This win highlighted their potential as rising contenders in the Western Conference, setting the stage for future playoff successes.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 115-101 | |
| Apr 21, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 122-96 | |
| Apr 24, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 112-104 | |
| Apr 26, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 96-94 | |
| Apr 28, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 104-97 |
Houston Rockets 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-111 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-84 | |
| Nov 01, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 109-106 | |
| Nov 03, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-93 | |
| Nov 06, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 108-94 | |
| Nov 08, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-89 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-92 | |
| Nov 13, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-98 | |
| Nov 14, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 125-117 | |
| Nov 16, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-102 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 141-133 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 111-98 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-95 | |
| Nov 27, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 114-97 | |
| Nov 28, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-100 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 116-102 | |
| Dec 01, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-86 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 116-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-113 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-120 | |
| Dec 09, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-90 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-112 | |
| Dec 13, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 96-93 | |
| Dec 15, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-115 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-96 | |
| Dec 19, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-116 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 125-107 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 97-87 | |
| Dec 27, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 96-92 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-92 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 113-111 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 06, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 121-92 | |
| Jan 08, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 112-110 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-108 | |
| Jan 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 15, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 98-88 | |
| Jan 18, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 112-101 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 120-95 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 101-97 | |
| Jan 25, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 122-107 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-102 | |
| Jan 28, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 97-93 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 131-128 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-104 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-105 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 126-114 | |
| Feb 14, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-105 | |
| Feb 16, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 122-115 | |
| Feb 19, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 124-115 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 126-122 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 117-103 | |
| Feb 23, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 123-115 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-94 | |
| Feb 27, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-109 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 119-115 | |
| Mar 03, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 99-90 | |
| Mar 05, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 133-131 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 94-90 | |
| Mar 08, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 125-105 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 123-117 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 131-129 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-114 | |
| Mar 17, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 134-120 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 22, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 130-107 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 115-93 | |
| Mar 27, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-110 | |
| Mar 29, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 121-116 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 106-96 | |
| Apr 01, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-116 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 127-113 | |
| Apr 04, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-108 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 139-127 | |
| Apr 07, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 126-105 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-103 | |
| Apr 11, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 125-123 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 115-110 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-98 |