Houston Rockets · Franchise era 4 of 8
Clutch City: the Houston Rockets story
Franchise era
1993–94—1996–97
Clutch City
Houston Rockets
The story in one sentence
Olajuwon became the league's defining two-way center. Houston survived elimination games, won back-to-back titles and added Drexler for the second run.
Two championships built through Hakeem
Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Robert Horry gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the bridge to a new backcourt.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1993–94
What came before
Houston paired Sampson with Olajuwon, reached the 1986 Finals and then reorganized around Hakeem as injuries dissolved the original Twin Towers plan.
1994
NBA Finals: Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks
1995
NBA Finals: Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic
1997
Western Conference Finals: Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz
After 1996–97
What came next
The aging contender took one last swing before a young, explosive backcourt gave the post-Hakeem Rockets a different personality.
The core
Faces of the chapter
Watch the history