The 1997-98 Houston Rockets season marked a significant era as the franchise aimed to reclaim its championship form from the mid-’90s. The team was led by the veteran trio of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Charles Barkley. However, the season fell short of expectations as the Rockets struggled with consistency and injuries throughout the year.
Under head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 41-41 record, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Despite the team’s depth and experience, they faced challenges integrating new players and maintaining the health of their star veterans. Olajuwon continued to be a dominant force, averaging 16.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while Drexler and Barkley contributed significantly when available.
The Rockets’ playoff run was brief, as they faced the top-seeded Utah Jazz in the first round. The Jazz, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, proved too strong for Houston, defeating them in a 3-2 series. This early exit marked the end of an era, with Clyde Drexler retiring after the season. It was a transitional period for the Rockets, as they looked to build around younger talent and navigate the evolving landscape of the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Clyde Drexler | 70 | 18.4 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 31.7 | 5 | 15.0 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 19.2 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 47 | 16.4 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 20.4 | 10.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Willis | 81 | 16.1 | 8.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 14.2 | 5 | 11.2 | 10.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Charles Barkley | 68 | 15.2 | 11.7 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 21.4 | 4 | 9.0 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Matt Maloney | 78 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 36.4 | 5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 25.0 |
| Eddie Johnson | 75 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 5 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Mario Elie | 73 | 8.4 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 29.1 | 5 | 6.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Matt Bullard | 67 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 41.6 | 5 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Othella Harrington | 58 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Rodrick Rhodes | 58 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brent Price | 72 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 39.0 | 5 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 38.5 |
| Emanual Davis | 45 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 37.5 | |||||||
| Joe Stephens | 7 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 30.0 | |||||||
| Charles Jones | 24 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Houston Rockets in the 1998 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the first round of the 1998 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Utah Jazz but were ultimately swept in a 3-0 series loss. Despite the efforts of their veteran trio of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Clyde Drexler, the Rockets struggled to keep pace with the Jazz's efficient execution and the standout performances of Karl Malone and John Stockton. This marked the end of an era for the Rockets, as Drexler retired following the playoff exit.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | W 103-90 | |
| Apr 25, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-90 | |
| Apr 29, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 89-85 | |
| May 01, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 93-71 | |
| May 03, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 84-70 |
Houston Rockets 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 94-86 | |
| Nov 02, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 93-77 | |
| Nov 04, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-94 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-110 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 86-85 | |
| Nov 12, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-100 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-103 | |
| Nov 16, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 96-94 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 95-84 | |
| Nov 20, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 127-97 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 90-84 | |
| Nov 28, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-89 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-101 | |
| Dec 04, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-87 | |
| Dec 06, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 108-106 | |
| Dec 09, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 108-78 | |
| Dec 12, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-102 | |
| Dec 14, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 110-105 | |
| Dec 16, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 118-91 | |
| Dec 19, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 116-98 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 100-87 | |
| Dec 22, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 94-83 | |
| Dec 25, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-103 | |
| Dec 27, 1997 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 111-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 120-101 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-115 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 120-96 | |
| Jan 06, 1998 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-70 | |
| Jan 08, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 87-80 | |
| Jan 10, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-84 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-87 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 116-115 | |
| Jan 18, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-100 | |
| Jan 19, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-80 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Jan 22, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 93-86 | |
| Jan 24, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-87 | |
| Jan 26, 1998 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-90 | |
| Jan 27, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-109 | |
| Jan 29, 1998 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 95-88 | |
| Jan 31, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-86 | |
| Feb 01, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 110-97 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-92 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-83 | |
| Feb 12, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 112-103 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-81 | |
| Feb 15, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 90-88 | |
| Feb 16, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-99 | |
| Feb 19, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-90 | |
| Feb 20, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 100-95 | |
| Feb 22, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 92-74 | |
| Feb 24, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | L 124-112 | |
| Feb 26, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 118-98 | |
| Mar 01, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 106-100 | |
| Mar 03, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-97 | |
| Mar 05, 1998 | vs. Miami Heat | L 117-93 | |
| Mar 07, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 108-89 | |
| Mar 09, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 100-93 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 97-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 115-104 | |
| Mar 14, 1998 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 89-86 | |
| Mar 17, 1998 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-91 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-96 | |
| Mar 21, 1998 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 103-95 | |
| Mar 24, 1998 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 86-81 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | L 100-75 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | L 109-77 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 97-86 | |
| Apr 02, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 104-94 | |
| Apr 03, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 107-87 | |
| Apr 05, 1998 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 109-94 | |
| Apr 07, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 104-87 | |
| Apr 09, 1998 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 93-89 | |
| Apr 10, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 97-85 | |
| Apr 12, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-95 | |
| Apr 14, 1998 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 94-88 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-95 | |
| Apr 19, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 123-93 |