The 1993-94 Houston Rockets season was a landmark campaign in franchise history, marking their first NBA championship victory. Under the guidance of head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, securing the second seed in the Western Conference. The team was anchored by Hakeem Olajuwon, who delivered an MVP-winning performance, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.
In the playoffs, the Rockets demonstrated resilience and dominance. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round with a 3-1 series victory. In the Conference Semifinals, the Rockets faced a tough challenge from the Phoenix Suns, coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win the series in seven games. The Conference Finals saw Houston overpower the Utah Jazz in five games, securing their place in the NBA Finals.
The NBA Finals pitted the Rockets against the New York Knicks. It was a tightly contested series, extending to a decisive Game 7. Hakeem Olajuwon’s stellar play was crucial, as he averaged 26.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in the Finals, and his defensive prowess helped secure a narrow 90-84 victory in the final game. The Rockets’ triumph in the 1993-94 season was their first NBA championship, and Olajuwon’s Finals MVP award underscored his pivotal role in their success.
- Regular Season Record: 58-24
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Western Conference Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-3
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1993-94 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 80 | 27.3 | 11.9 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 42.1 | 23 | 28.9 | 11.0 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 50.0 |
| Otis Thorpe | 82 | 14.0 | 10.6 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 23 | 11.3 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 50.0 |
| Vernon Maxwell | 75 | 13.6 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 29.8 | 23 | 13.8 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 32.6 |
| Kenny Smith | 78 | 11.6 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 40.5 | 23 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 44.7 |
| Chris Jent | 3 | 10.3 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 11 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 23.1 |
| Robert Horry | 81 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 32.4 | 23 | 11.7 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 38.2 |
| Mario Elie | 67 | 9.3 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.5 | 23 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 31.3 |
| Sam Cassell | 66 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 29.5 | 22 | 9.4 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 37.8 |
| Scott Brooks | 73 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 37.7 | 5 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Carl Herrera | 75 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 16 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Larry Robinson | 6 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Matt Bullard | 65 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 32.5 | 10 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 20.0 |
| Richard Petruška | 22 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 46.7 | |||||||
| Earl Cureton | 2 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Eric Riley | 47 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1994 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, faced the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets dominated the series, sweeping Portland 3-0, with Olajuwon showcasing his MVP-caliber play and laying the groundwork for Houston's eventual championship run. This series highlighted the team's defensive prowess and depth, setting the tone for their historic postseason.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1994 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-104 | |
| May 01, 1994 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-104 | |
| May 03, 1994 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-115 | |
| May 06, 1994 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 92-89 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Phoenix Suns in a dramatic second-round matchup. Despite trailing 0-2 after losing the first two games at home, the Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon's stellar performances, mounted a remarkable comeback to win the series in seven games. This pivotal victory showcased their resilience and set the stage for their eventual championship run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 08, 1994 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 91-87 | |
| May 11, 1994 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 124-117 | |
| May 13, 1994 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 118-102 | |
| May 15, 1994 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-96 | |
| May 17, 1994 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-86 | |
| May 19, 1994 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 103-89 | |
| May 21, 1994 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 104-94 |
1994 Conference Championship vs. Utah Jazz
In the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets showcased their resilience and determination during the Western Conference Finals against the Utah Jazz. Led by Hakeem Olajuwon’s dominant performances, the Rockets triumphed in a hard-fought series, winning 4-1, and secured their place in the NBA Finals. This victory set the stage for Houston's first NBA Championship, highlighting Olajuwon's crucial role and the team's defensive prowess.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-88 | |
| May 25, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 104-99 | |
| May 27, 1994 | @ Utah Jazz | L 95-86 | |
| May 29, 1994 | @ Utah Jazz | W 80-78 | |
| May 31, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 94-83 |
1994 NBA Finals vs. New York Knicks
In the 1994 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, defeated the New York Knicks in a thrilling seven-game series to capture their first NBA championship. Olajuwon was instrumental, showcasing his dominance on both ends of the court, and earned the Finals MVP honors. The series was marked by intense defense and clutch performances, ultimately concluding with a narrow 90-84 victory in Game 7 at The Summit in Houston.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 08, 1994 | vs. New York Knicks | W 85-78 | |
| Jun 10, 1994 | vs. New York Knicks | L 91-83 | |
| Jun 12, 1994 | @ New York Knicks | W 93-89 | |
| Jun 15, 1994 | @ New York Knicks | L 91-82 | |
| Jun 17, 1994 | @ New York Knicks | L 91-84 | |
| Jun 19, 1994 | vs. New York Knicks | W 86-84 | |
| Jun 22, 1994 | vs. New York Knicks | W 90-84 |
Houston Rockets 1993-94 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1993-94 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05, 1993 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 110-88 | |
| Nov 07, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-92 | |
| Nov 09, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 102-93 | |
| Nov 11, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-99 | |
| Nov 13, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-95 | |
| Nov 15, 1993 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 88-84 | |
| Nov 16, 1993 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-84 | |
| Nov 18, 1993 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 99-83 | |
| Nov 20, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-86 | |
| Nov 23, 1993 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 100-93 | |
| Nov 24, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | W 95-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 92-89 | |
| Nov 27, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 82-80 | |
| Nov 30, 1993 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-91 | |
| Dec 02, 1993 | @ New York Knicks | W 94-85 | |
| Dec 03, 1993 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 133-111 | |
| Dec 05, 1993 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-98 | |
| Dec 07, 1993 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 121-102 | |
| Dec 09, 1993 | vs. Miami Heat | W 115-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 82-75 | |
| Dec 14, 1993 | @ Miami Heat | W 97-88 | |
| Dec 18, 1993 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 104-93 | |
| Dec 21, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 90-88 | |
| Dec 23, 1993 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 106-93 | |
| Dec 25, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-91 | |
| Dec 26, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-93 | |
| Dec 28, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 30, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 110-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1994 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1994 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 114-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1994 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 10, 1994 | @ Orlando Magic | L 115-100 | |
| Jan 12, 1994 | @ Boston Celtics | W 94-84 | |
| Jan 13, 1994 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-102 | |
| Jan 15, 1994 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 82-76 | |
| Jan 18, 1994 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 95-83 | |
| Jan 20, 1994 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 111-106 | |
| Jan 22, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 106-101 | |
| Jan 25, 1994 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-93 | |
| Jan 27, 1994 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 113-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1994 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 119-108 | |
| Feb 01, 1994 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-88 | |
| Feb 03, 1994 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-88 | |
| Feb 06, 1994 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 101-90 | |
| Feb 08, 1994 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-98 | |
| Feb 10, 1994 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 104-81 | |
| Feb 15, 1994 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 103-99 | |
| Feb 16, 1994 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 102-97 | |
| Feb 19, 1994 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 106-88 | |
| Feb 22, 1994 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 98-97 | |
| Feb 24, 1994 | vs. New York Knicks | W 93-73 | |
| Feb 26, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 95-85 | |
| Feb 28, 1994 | @ Utah Jazz | L 89-85 | |
| Mar 01, 1994 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 97-85 | |
| Mar 05, 1994 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-107 | |
| Mar 08, 1994 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-99 | |
| Mar 10, 1994 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 87-82 | |
| Mar 12, 1994 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 109-98 | |
| Mar 13, 1994 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 100-93 | |
| Mar 15, 1994 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-99 | |
| Mar 17, 1994 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-99 | |
| Mar 19, 1994 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-88 | |
| Mar 21, 1994 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 128-112 | |
| Mar 22, 1994 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 83-81 | |
| Mar 24, 1994 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-107 | |
| Mar 26, 1994 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 98-83 | |
| Mar 27, 1994 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-98 | |
| Mar 29, 1994 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 122-101 | |
| Mar 30, 1994 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 114-104 | |
| Apr 01, 1994 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-88 | |
| Apr 03, 1994 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-98 | |
| Apr 07, 1994 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-102 | |
| Apr 09, 1994 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 100-89 | |
| Apr 10, 1994 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 93-92 | |
| Apr 12, 1994 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 98-89 | |
| Apr 14, 1994 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-99 | |
| Apr 16, 1994 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-97 | |
| Apr 17, 1994 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-110 | |
| Apr 19, 1994 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 90-80 | |
| Apr 21, 1994 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 126-100 | |
| Apr 22, 1994 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 107-95 | |
| Apr 24, 1994 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 115-107 |