1995–96 Houston Rockets season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in Houston. After two straight NBA championships, the Rockets got new colors, new uniforms, and a new logo which was actually unveiled aboard the Space Shuttle. The Rockets got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games. However, injuries would be an issue all year as Clyde Drexler, Sam Cassell and Mario Elie were all out for long stretches. Midway through the season, the team signed free agent Sam Mack, who previously played in the Continental Basketball Association. Despite the injuries and a 7-game losing streak in March, the Rockets finished third in the Midwest Division with a 48–34 record, with Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon both being selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the 4th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in four games. However, they would be swept in the semifinals by the Seattle SuperSonics in four straight games. Following the season, Cassell and Robert Horry were both traded to the Phoenix Suns, and Kenny Smith signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons.

The new logo and uniforms remained until 2003.

Offseason

Draft picks

Roster

Roster listing

Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Height	Weight	DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
PG	9	Booker, Melvin	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Missouri
SF	15	Breaux, Tim	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Wyoming
PF	52	Brown, Chucky	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	North Carolina State
PF	2	Bryant, Mark	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Seton Hall
PG	10	Cassell, Sam	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Florida State
PF	32	Chilcutt, Pete	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	North Carolina
SG	22	Drexler, Clyde	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Houston
SG	17	Elie, Mario	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	American International
SF	25	Horry, Robert	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Alabama
PF	27	Jones, Charles	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Albany State
SF	4	Mack, Sam	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Houston
SG	20	Moore, Tracy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Tulsa
C	34	Olajuwon, Hakeem	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	Houston
SG	3	Recasner, Eldridge	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Washington
PG	30	Smith, Kenny	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	North Carolina