The 2003-04 Houston Rockets season marked a significant transition for the franchise as it featured the first year under head coach Jeff Van Gundy. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 45-37 record, placing them seventh in the Western Conference. This season was notable for seeing the continued development of Yao Ming, who was in his second year and solidifying his status as one of the league’s top centers.
Yao Ming averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, providing a strong presence in the paint. The team was led by veteran guard Steve Francis, who contributed 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. The Rockets’ defense improved under Van Gundy, becoming a hallmark of their play, with the team ranking fifth in the NBA in points allowed per game.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The series proved challenging as the Rockets were eliminated in five games by a Lakers team featuring stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Despite the early playoff exit, the season was considered a step forward for Houston, as they returned to the playoffs after a four-year absence. Yao Ming’s continued growth and the defensive identity established by Van Gundy were seen as positive indicators for the team’s future.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Yao Ming | 82 | 17.5 | 9.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 5 | 15.0 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Steve Francis | 79 | 16.6 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 29.2 | 5 | 19.2 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 41.2 |
| Cuttino Mobley | 80 | 15.8 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 39.0 | 5 | 14.4 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 28.6 |
| Jim Jackson | 80 | 12.9 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 40.0 | 5 | 14.8 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 27.6 |
| Maurice Taylor | 75 | 11.5 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Kelvin Cato | 69 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Clarence Weatherspoon | 37 | 5.6 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Piatkowski | 49 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 35.2 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Padgett | 58 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 43.1 | 4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 33.3 |
| Torraye Braggs | 11 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| BoĊĦtjan Nachbar | 45 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 36.5 | 5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Moochie Norris | 30 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 34.8 | |||||||
| Mark Jackson | 42 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 17.1 | 5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Wilks | 26 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alton Ford | 9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Charles Oakley | 7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Adrian Griffin | 19 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 50.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets, led by the dynamic duo of Yao Ming and Steve Francis, faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite their efforts, the Rockets were overpowered by the Lakers' star-studded lineup, featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, losing the series 4-1. The experience underscored the Rockets' need for more depth and playoff poise to advance further in future postseasons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 72-71 | |
| Apr 19, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 98-84 | |
| Apr 23, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-91 | |
| Apr 25, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-88 | |
| Apr 28, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-78 |
Houston Rockets 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 102-85 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 79-71 | |
| Nov 03, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 98-66 | |
| Nov 04, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 86-75 | |
| Nov 08, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 96-86 | |
| Nov 11, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 90-70 | |
| Nov 13, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 97-86 | |
| Nov 14, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 90-85 | |
| Nov 16, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 17, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 74-66 | |
| Nov 19, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 85-83 | |
| Nov 21, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 85-78 | |
| Nov 24, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-90 | |
| Nov 26, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | L 83-76 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 103-74 | |
| Nov 29, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-88 | |
| Dec 03, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 05, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 83-74 | |
| Dec 06, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 86-80 | |
| Dec 09, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-91 | |
| Dec 11, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 71-67 | |
| Dec 13, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 86-73 | |
| Dec 16, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-75 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 89-85 | |
| Dec 19, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-85 | |
| Dec 20, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 102-87 | |
| Dec 23, 2003 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 79-71 | |
| Dec 25, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-87 | |
| Dec 26, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 95-94 | |
| Dec 29, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 87-86 | |
| Dec 31, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 80-72 | |
| Jan 03, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 84-63 | |
| Jan 05, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 83-65 | |
| Jan 07, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 85-66 | |
| Jan 08, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-79 | |
| Jan 11, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 97-93 | |
| Jan 13, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 93-80 | |
| Jan 14, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 95-80 | |
| Jan 17, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 95-76 | |
| Jan 19, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 88-83 | |
| Jan 21, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | W 86-71 | |
| Jan 23, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 78-74 | |
| Jan 25, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 26, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 95-81 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 99-94 | |
| Jan 31, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 88-77 | |
| Feb 02, 2004 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 99-79 | |
| Feb 04, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-89 | |
| Feb 06, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 82-80 | |
| Feb 07, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 86-77 | |
| Feb 09, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 85-82 | |
| Feb 11, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-87 | |
| Feb 17, 2004 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 107-81 | |
| Feb 21, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 97-88 | |
| Feb 22, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 123-121 | |
| Feb 24, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 86-77 | |
| Feb 25, 2004 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 90-84 | |
| Feb 27, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 89-85 | |
| Feb 29, 2004 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-80 | |
| Mar 03, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-93 | |
| Mar 05, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 112-109 | |
| Mar 07, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-98 | |
| Mar 09, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 90-85 | |
| Mar 11, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 97-86 | |
| Mar 13, 2004 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 88-80 | |
| Mar 15, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 99-97 | |
| Mar 19, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 90-84 | |
| Mar 21, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 100-95 | |
| Mar 22, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-85 | |
| Mar 24, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 90-89 | |
| Mar 26, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 109-86 | |
| Mar 28, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-107 | |
| Mar 29, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-88 | |
| Apr 01, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 93-85 | |
| Apr 02, 2004 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 110-100 | |
| Apr 04, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 99-94 | |
| Apr 06, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 97-90 | |
| Apr 07, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-79 | |
| Apr 09, 2004 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 106-103 | |
| Apr 10, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | L 82-69 | |
| Apr 12, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-107 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 92-89 |