That's a tough call. I love Max, but Kenny and Cassell had a solid body of work for 2 championship seasons, not just one. Why don't we just go top 8: Hakeem Thorpe Horry Elie Drexler Maxwell Smith Cassell
The top three in this order is not debatable—the only three Rockets to ever win an MVP: 1. Hakeem Olajuwon 2. James Harden 3. Moses Malone Harden gets the edge over Moses due to a stronger and longer peak in Houston. After that is debatable, but I'd probably go with: 4. Yao Ming 5. Calvin Murphy or Rudy Tomjanovich Yao at 4 still feels pretty easy for me, but he's clearly a tier below the first three. His career in Houston wasn't as long as some others, but his peak was easily the fourth strongest, and he played his whole career in Houston. I have a hard time picking between Calvin and Rudy at No. 5. Calvin had the longer career and is higher on most of the career stats lists than Rudy. His overall career numbers, averages and advanced stats are a little better. But Rudy—who made five All-Star teams to Calvin's one—was probably better at his peak. I think it depends on if you add in Rudy T's coaching impact in Houston. If so, the answer has to be him. If not, I can see a strong case to be made for Calvin. Clyde, CP3 and Barkley all had some great seasons in Houston, but didn't play here long enough. Neither did McGrady, who barely topped 300 career games in Houston. And none of their peaks in Houston were so strong as to overcome the massive edge Yao, Calvin and Rudy have over them in longevity with the franchise. Hayes gets overrated in these kinds of conversations, IMO, and I never really considered him. Yes, he has 572 games played with the franchise and 4 All-Star appearances at the start of his career. But they were terrible Rockets teams those first four years, with one playoff appearance and zero winning seasons. Then he peaked in Washington and won a title, came back for one decent season in 81-82 only for him and the franchise to fall off a cliff the last two seasons of his career. Dude played nine total playoff games in a Rockets jersey.
You make good points, but I think Clyde should get some extra consideration at #4 or #5, as he was a strong #2 superstar on a championship team. They don't win that second ring without him. He is also a UH grad, native Houstonian, which gives him bonus points. IMO Clyde should rank way higher than Barkley or CP3. Yao was great, but that team's lack of playoff success is a major ding on his resume. Calvin and Rudy, hard to argue with, but their success did not translate to a lot of winning.
1- Hakeem The Dream 2- Hakeem The Dream 3- Hakeem The Dream 4- Hakeem The Dream 5- Gerald “H-Town” Green
Cannot Argue that list Closest I come is Sampson and Calvin Calvin gets the edge for longevity Rocket River
Harden played 621 games as a Rocket. Yao played 476. Harden appeared in 85 playoff games. Yao appeared in 28. Harden won seven playoff series. Yao won one. Harden made 8 All-Star appearances and 7 All-NBA teams. Yao made 8 All-Star appearances and 5 All-NBA teams. Harden finished top 10 in MVP voting all eight seasons (including a win and five top 3 finishes). Yao did that zero times. Harden dominates Yao in every single basic and advanced statistic of value (regular season and playoffs), aside from blocks and rebounds. There's the "difference." I love Yao, and he's an easier guy to like, both based on his personality and in light of how Harden left the franchise. I get that. But don't let those useless intangibles, nostalgia and anger cloud your judgment, dude. Harden is a top 25 all-time player, and he peaked in this city. Yao was a Hall of Famer, but he's a borderline top 75-100 guy.
The 5 best Rockets of all time are 1. Hakeem 2. Moses & Harden 4. Hayes 5. Yao But favourites Hakeem Horry Battier Hayes Maxwell
