1983–84 Houston Rockets season
The 1983–84 Houston Rockets season featured the NBA debut of Ralph Sampson, whom the Rockets had selected as the first pick of the 1983 NBA draft.Under head coach Bill Fitch, the team finished with a 29–53 record, although Sampson won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.The team has been cited as an example of a "tanking", by deciding to play more bench players after starting the season with a 20–26 record, in order to fall in the standings and get higher in the draft order for the following season.[1] The Rockets finished last in the Western Conference and later won a coin flip that gave them the first section in the 1984 NBA draft, with which they selected Hakeem Olajuwon.Roster
1983–84Houston RocketsBill FitchThe SummitMidwestWesternHome Sports Entertainment< 1982–83 1984–85 >Ralph Sampson1983 NBA draftNBA Rookie of the Year AwardtankingWestern Conference1984 NBA draftHakeem OlajuwonVirginiaRodney McCrayLouisvilleCraig EhloWashington StateOklahomaJim StackNorthwesternBrian KellermanArkansas StateOklahoma CityBailey, JamesRutgersEhlo, CraigFord, PhilNorth CarolinaHayes, ElvinHoustonJones, CaldwellAlbany StateJones, MajorLeavell, AllenLloyd, LewisMcCray, RodneyReid, RobertSaint Mary'sSampson, RalphTeagle, TerryBaylorWalker, WallyMidwest DivisionUtah JazzDallas MavericksDenver NuggetsKansas City KingsSan Antonio SpursLos Angeles LakersPortland Trail BlazersSeattle SuperSonicsPhoenix SunsGolden State WarriorsSan Diego ClippersAtlantaBostonChicagoClevelandDallasDenverDetroitGolden StateIndianaKansas CityLos AngelesMilwaukeeNew JerseyNew YorkPhiladelphiaPhoenixPortlandSan AntonioSan DiegoSeattleWashingtonPontiac SilverdomeKemper ArenaMcNichols Sports ArenaThe OmniReunion ArenaMadison Square GardenMECCA ArenaSalt Palace Acord ArenaKingdomeMemorial ColiseumArizona Veterans Memorial ColiseumLas Vegas, NevadaThomas & Mack CenterThe ForumAll-Star BreakCapital CentreThe SpectrumBoston GardenBrendan Byrne ArenaTacoma, WashingtonTacoma DomeMinutesField-goal3-point field-goalFree-throwReboundsAssistsStealsBlocksPointsAll-NBA Second TeamNBA All-Rookie Team1983–84 NBA seasonAll-Star GamePlayoffsFinalsEasternAtlanticCentralPacificHouston, TexasHistoryAll-time rosterDraft historyRecordsHead coachesSeasons