OT Viva Clutch City <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">ANIVERSÁRIO DO THORPE!<br><br>Otis Thorpe, jogador do Rockets na campanha vitoriosa de 94 completa 54 anos hoje.<br> <a href="https://t.co/zz7Jf2iFdE">pic.twitter.com/zz7Jf2iFdE</a></p>— Clutch City Brasil (@ClutchCityBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchCityBR/status/761597563422244864">August 5, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡Feliz cumpleaños Otis Thorpe! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStar?src=hash">#NBAAllStar</a> #33 <a href="https://t.co/TjuDPV95ug">pic.twitter.com/TjuDPV95ug</a></p>— Don Baloncesto (@DonBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonBaloncesto/status/761570134565720066">August 5, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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I tell this story all the time, but I was at OT's first game back in Houston after the Drexler trade. He came off the bench for the blazers and the whole place erupted. He got a standing O for what seemed like several minutes. The ref grabbed the ball from him and wouldn't let him inbound it until the standing O was over. Classy move by that ref. After the game, he said it was something he'd never forget.
The love was mutual, Houston was a hard working humble town and OT represented Houston well. He also played 542 consecutive games. That's real work
Happy birthday OT it's because of you getting traded that I became a Rockets fan. Nothing against you of course... It's just that when I was a kid I was a DOF.
Unsung hero of the first championship - battled Mason and Oakley to a standstill in the trenches. Obviously, Hakeem was the Man and a Force, but we don't win that series without OT doing the dirty work.
The fact that his number isn't retired is a travesty. Dude was the unsung hero for the Rockets and the undisputed 2nd team captain (arguably the team captain depending on what season) Dude played his heart out and was a complete professional. I was devastated that we traded him away, but in hindsight it all worked out. Everybody tends to remember Cassell, Horry, Smith and Ellie during the golden years. A lot have forgotten about OT though, which is a flat out shame. Dude was there for the good and the bad, all while never missing a single game. Those outlet passes down the court.... My goodness
OT played a man's game against the Knicks. An anchor. A rock. Just about any other forward and Dream would have been pounded into the ground that series. Happy Birthday OT! Thanks for the memories.
Happy birthday, OT! Still the best "long ball" passer at the 4 that I've ever seen. The basketball looked like an orange in your hand. OK, a large orange. I hated seeing you traded, but as an ardent Phi Slama Jama fan, getting Clyde and the second championship made it worthwhile. You always gave an all out effort, Otis, never taking a play off, something our guys could take a page from, in my opinion. How I wish we had you in "from back in the day" form on our team and starting. Enjoy your cake!
When Dream ascended in 92, no player took a bigger statistical hit than OT. He was basically an 18 and 10 guy in the years prior. A beast and a class act.
My favorite Rocket from back in those days. He started (baseball pass!) and finished the break like no other.