| The Rockets, along with the Seattle SuperSonics, | | | | the Spring of 1973, following the Rockets 10th |
| entered the NBA in 1967 as an expansion team | | | | straight loss, Winter was relieved of his duties. |
| based in San Diego. They selected Pat Riley with | | | | In 1975, with Coach Johnny Egan's guidance and |
| their first draft pick in 1967. They went on to | | | | Tomjanovich, Murphy, and Mike Newlin leading the |
| produce a then-NBA record 67-loss season. | | | | way, the Rockets made their first appearance in the |
| In 1968 the Rockets won the coin toss versus the | | | | playoffs since arriving in Houston. The Rockets |
| Baltimore Bullets, giving them the first overall pick in | | | | defeated the New York Knicks (led by Walt Frazier |
| the 1968 NBA Draft. They selected Elvin "the Big E" | | | | and Earl Monroe) in the first round, but lost to the |
| Hayes from the University of Houston. Hayes led the | | | | Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. |
| team to the franchise's first ever playoff appearance | | | | At the start of the 1977 season, the Rockets |
| in 1969. The Rockets lost in the Western divisional | | | | negotiated a trade with the Buffalo Braves to acquire |
| semi-final to the Atlanta Hawks two games to four in | | | | Moses Malone, who as a high school star made the |
| a best-of-seven series. | | | | unprecedented decision of bypassing college |
| The 1970 NBA Draft brought Calvin Murphy and Rudy | | | | basketball to sign on as a professional with the Utah |
| Tomjanovich to the Rockets - both significant to the | | | | Stars of the ABA in 1974. The Rockets defeated the |
| franchise after their playing careers were over. | | | | Washington Bullets in the 1977 Eastern Conference |
| Coached by Jack McMahon and Alex Hannum, the | | | | semi-final, but lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the |
| Rockets tallied a 119-209 record over their tenure in | | | | Conference Finals. Malone made an impressive |
| San Diego. | | | | showing against Washington's Elvin Hayes and waning |
| In 1971, real estate broker Wayne Duddleston and | | | | star Wes Unseld. |
| banker Billy Goldberg bought the franchise for $5.6 | | | | On December 9, 1977, in a game against the Los |
| million and relocated the team from San Diego, where | | | | Angeles Lakers, Kevin Kunnert got into a fight with |
| fans were more disposed to the Los Angeles Lakers | | | | the Lakers' Kermit Washington. As Tomjanovich |
| than the Rockets. The Rockets originally had been | | | | approached the altercation, Washington turned and |
| named for San Diego slogan, "A City in Motion," but | | | | threw a punch, landing squarely in the face of an |
| with the move to Houston their name took on even | | | | approaching Tomjanovich, causing extensive |
| greater relevance. Houston is home to the Lyndon B. | | | | structural damage to his cranium. The shocking scene |
| Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, which | | | | became the defining moment of the Rockets' |
| received national attention during Project Apollo. | | | | 1977-78 season as well as the playing careers of |
| The Rockets began playing at various venues in | | | | Tomjanovich and Washington. Tomjanovich spent the |
| Houston, including the Astrodome, AstroHall, and | | | | next five months in rehabilitation and returned to |
| Hofheinz Pavilion. They also played games at | | | | appear in the 1978 All-Star Game. A book by John |
| HemisFair Arena in San Antonio and in Waco. | | | | Feinstein recording the events surrounding this event |
| However, fan support was weak in the football and | | | | and the different paths that Tomjanovich and |
| baseball-dominated city, and the Rockets averaged | | | | Washington have taken since that day is entitled |
| less than 5000 fans per game during their first | | | | "The Punch." |
| Houston season. It was mused that the local | | | | Malone received the 1979 MVP Award. Not |
| churches in Waco drew more attendance than the | | | | exceptionally big or quick, he used footwork and |
| Rockets. | | | | positioning to become a successful center in the NBA. |
| Before the start of the 1971 season, Coach Alex | | | | Malone, Murphy, and Tomjanovich all played in the |
| Hannum left for the Denver Nuggets of the | | | | 1979 NBA All-Star Game. Rick Barry was signed for |
| American Basketball Association. Tex Winter was | | | | the 1979 season from the Golden State Warriors in |
| hired as the new coach shortly before the team was | | | | exchange for John Lucas. Barry averaged a modest |
| sold. Coach Winter applied a triple-post offensive | | | | 13.5 points and set a new NBA record, posting a .947 |
| system that contrasted with the offensive style to | | | | free-throw percentage for the season. He would play |
| which Hayes was accustomed. Houston soon traded | | | | one more year for the Rockets before retiring in |
| Hayes to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin. Lack of | | | | 1980. |
| success did little to capture the city's attention, and in | | | | |