Houston's two championships and four trips to the Finals were built by Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and later James Harden, each era closing out against a different wall. The current core enters 2026-27 still chasing what none of them finished: a playoff series won over the Lakers.
Oct. 9, 1973
On this date, the Rockets lost 105-107 at Buffalo, two years after the franchise relocated from San Diego to Houston. Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and the two championship banners were all still ahead of this roster — the franchise was just finding its footing in Texas.
1994-95
Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and briefly Charles Barkley delivered back-to-back titles, beating the Knicks in 1994 and sweeping Orlando in 1995 under coach Rudy Tomjanovich. It remains the only championship stretch in franchise history, and the standard every Houston core since has been measured against.
2012-2024
James Harden arrived in a 2012 trade and went nine seasons without a losing record, leading two trips to the Western Conference finals — both losses to Golden State, including one lost after Chris Paul tore his hamstring up 3-2. The Warriors beat Houston again in a seven-game first-round series the year before the Durant trade.
Last season
Kevin Durant arrived July 6, 2025, in a seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix. Houston went 52-30, sixth in the league by scoring margin, then trailed the Lakers 3-0 in the playoffs before becoming only the sixth team in NBA history to force a Game 6 — winning both comeback games without Durant on the floor, then losing Game 6 anyway.
This week
Houston opened the preseason with a win over Dallas and returns to face the Mavericks again Sunday, this time at home. The roster sits at eighteen after Rafael Castro's October 1 release, with Durant day-to-day for a non-injury reason. Sengun, Thompson and VanVleet remain the core the front office is paying well above the tax line to keep together, with last spring's Lakers series still the measuring stick.
Have the Rockets beaten the Lakers in a full playoff series recently?
Not yet. Last season Houston became only the sixth team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after trailing 3-0, winning twice without Durant, but still lost that Game 6 and the series.
How many championships have the Rockets won?
Two, in 1994 and 1995, both under coach Rudy Tomjanovich with Hakeem Olajuwon leading the way.
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