1987–88 Houston Rockets season

1987–88 Houston Rockets season
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRay Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Mavericks 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 21st season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 17th season in Houston, Texas.[1] During the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents, former All-Star guard World B. Free and Lester Conner.[2] The Rockets also made two separate trades with the Golden State Warriors; shortly before the start of the regular season in early November, the team traded Dave Feitl to the Warriors in exchange for Purvis Short,[3][4] then in December traded All-Star center Ralph Sampson, and Steve Harris in exchange for All-Star guard Sleepy Floyd, and All-Star center Joe Barry Carroll; Sampson and head coach Bill Fitch both feuded with each other during the season, which resulted in the trade.[5][6][7]

The Rockets got off to a 7–6 start in November, and held a 25–17 record at the All-Star break.[8] The team won 9 of their 13 games in February, finished in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 46–36 record, and earned the sixth seed in the Western Conference.[9]

Akeem Olajuwon averaged 22.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.7 blocks per game,[10] and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was also selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago, Illinois;[11][12][13] he also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting.[14][15]

In addition, Short played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 14.3 points per game, while Floyd provided the team with 13.1 points and 6.2 assists per game in 59 games with the Rockets after the trade, Barry Carroll contributed 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game off the bench in 63 games, and Rodney McCray provided with 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Meanwhile, Allen Leavell averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game, Jim Petersen provided with 8.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, Free contributed 6.4 points per game, and Robert Reid contributed 6.3 points per game.[10]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Rockets lost in four games to the Dallas Mavericks.[16] Following the season, Fitch was fired as head coach,[17][18][19] while Barry Carroll and Conner were both traded to the New Jersey Nets,[20][21][22] McCray and Petersen were both traded to the Sacramento Kings,[23][24][25] Reid was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets expansion team,[26][27] and Free retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
2 35 Doug Lee SG/SF  United States Purdue
4 82 Josh Niego  United States Lewis
5 104 Andre LaFleur  United States Northeastern
6 129 Fred Jenkins  United States Tennessee
7 151 Clarence Grier  United States Campbell

Roster

Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 2 Joe Barry Carroll 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1958-07-24 Purdue
PG 7 Lester Conner 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1959-09-17 Oregon State
PG 11 Sleepy Floyd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960-03-06 Georgetown
SG 21 World B. Free 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1953-12-09 Guilford
SF 1 Buck Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964-01-03 Alabama
SG 30 Allen Leavell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957-05-27 Oklahoma City
SF 18 Cedric Maxwell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955-11-21 Charlotte
SF 22 Rodney McCray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961-08-29 Louisville
C 34 Akeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963-01-21 Houston
PF 43 Jim Petersen 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1962-02-22 Minnesota
SG 33 Robert Reid 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955-08-30 Saint Mary's
SF 10 Purvis Short 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957-07-02 Jackson State
PG 13 Andre Turner 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1964-12-13 Memphis
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: December 13, 1987

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 – 35–6 19–22 18–12
x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 1 33–8 20–21 20–10
x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 7 33–8 14–27 18–12
x- 46 36 .561 8 31–10 15–26 13–17
x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 23 23–18 8–33 12–18
Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 30 19–22 5–36 9–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 8
3 x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 9
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 53 29 .646 9
5 x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 15
6 x- 46 36 .561 16
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 44 38 .537 18
8 x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 31
9 Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34
10 Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 38
11 Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42
12 Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 2–3 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–0 3–3 6–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3
Boston 4–2 — 3–3 2–3 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–2 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Cleveland 1–5 3–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 5–1 2–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 6–0
Dallas 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 1–1 4–1 4–2 2–0 5–0 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 1–1 4–1 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–4 2–0
Detroit 4–2 3–3 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Golden State 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 0–2 — 0–5 0–2 3–3 0–6 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 3–2 1–5 1–4 0–2
Houston 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 3–2 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 2–4 0–5 3–3 2–4 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 6–0 2–3 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 0–5 1–1 3–3 2–3 1–1 — 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 0–6 3–2 0–5 1–5 1–4 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 2–0 6–0 4–1 1–1 5–1 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–2 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 1–5 4–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 — 3–2 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–3 — 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–6
New York 3–3 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 4–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 0–2 4–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 — 0–6 3–2 2–3 2–4 2–3 0–2
Portland 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 1–1 5–1 1–4 2–0 6–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 — 4–1 5–0 3–3 1–4 2–0
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 0–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 — 3–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–5 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 5–0 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–5 3–3 — 3–2 3–3 0–2
Seattle 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–1 2–3 — 1–4 2–0
Utah 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 4–1 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 4–1 5–1 3–3 4–1 — 2–0
Washington 3–3 1–5 3–3 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–4 6–0 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log
Total: 46–36 (home: 31–10; road: 15–26)
November: 7–6 (home: 3–2; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
2 November 8
9:30 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 92–101 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (11) Conner,
Leavell (4) 		The Forum
17,505 		1–1
5 November 14
7:30 p.m. CST 		Utah W 101–93 Olajuwon (19) Olajuwon (16) Leavell,
Maxwell (3) 		The Summit
16,614 		4–1
9 November 21
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Atlanta L 94–104 Olajuwon (17) Sampson (9) Leavell,
McCray (7) 		The Omni
16,451 		6–3
10 November 24
7:00 p.m. CST 		Detroit L 83–97 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (15) Short (5) The Summit
16,611 		6–4
12 November 27
8:30 p.m. CST 		@ Utah L 96–118 Sampson (19) Sampson (11) Conner,
McCray (3) 		Salt Palace
12,212 		7–5
December: 7–6 (home: 5–1; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
18 December 10
7:30 p.m. CST 		Utah W 98–93 Leavell (20) Olajuwon (14) Leavell (8) The Summit
16,611 		11–7
23 December 22
7:30 p.m. CST 		Atlanta W 122–103 Floyd (27) McCray,
Olajuwon (13) 		McCray (9) The Summit
16,611 		12–11
24 December 26
7:30 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas L 100–105 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (14) Leavell (7) Reunion Arena
17,007 		12–12
25 December 29
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Detroit W 101–91 Carroll (25) Olajuwon (14) Floyd (6) Pontiac Silverdome
26,498 		13–12
January: 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 January 4
7:30 p.m. CST 		Dallas W 117–107 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (11) Floyd (11) The Summit
16,611 		16–12
35 January 18
4:00 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 110–121 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (9) Floyd (7) The Forum
17,505 		20–15
40 January 30
7:30 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas W 108–92 Olajuwon (29) McCray (12) Floyd (8) Reunion Arena
17,007 		23–17
February: 9–4 (home: 7–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
43 February 9
7:30 p.m. CST 		Boston W 129–120 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (16) Floyd (7) The Summit
16,611 		26–17
48 February 18
7:30 p.m. CST 		L.A. Lakers L 96–111 Olajuwon (20) Olajuwon (20) Floyd (6) The Summit
16,611 		29–19
51 February 25
7:30 p.m. CST 		Dallas L 106–108 Floyd (22) McCray (13) Floyd (11) The Summit
16,611 		31–20
March: 9–7 (home: 6–1; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
54 March 1
8:30 p.m. CST 		@ Utah L 112–113 Olajuwon (27) McCray (13) Short (5) Salt Palace
12,444 		32–22
56 March 4
7:00 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas L 110–118 Olajuwon,
Short (22) 		Olajuwon (12) Leavell,
Reid (7) 		Reunion Arena
17,007 		33–23
64 March 22
9:30 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 95–117 Carroll (16) Olajuwon (10) Leavell (6) The Forum
17,505 		38–26
68 March 30
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Boston L 110–117 Johnson (18) McCray (10) Floyd,
Short (5) 		Boston Garden
14,890 		40–28
April: 5–8 (home: 4–3; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 7
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Utah W 113–107 Olajuwon (22) Olajuwon (15) Olajuwon (6) The Summit
16,611 		42–30
78 April 17
12 Noon CDT 		L.A. Lakers W 127–119 Olajuwon (38) Carroll (10) Floyd (9) The Summit
16,611 		45–33
79 April 19
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 96–104 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon (9) Floyd (8) The Summit
16,611 		45–34
81 April 23
8:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Utah L 107–125 Carroll (24) Olajuwon (12) Floyd (7) Salt Palace
12,444 		45–36
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 28
7:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Dallas L 110–120 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (14) Floyd (11) Reunion Arena
17,007 		0–1
2 April 30
2:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Dallas W 119–108 Floyd (42) Olajuwon (26) Floyd (9) Reunion Arena
17,007 		1–1
3 May 3
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 92–93 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (12) Floyd (5) The Summit
16,611 		1–2
4 May 5
7:00 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 97–107 Olajuwon (40) Olajuwon (15) Floyd (9) The Summit
16,611 		1–3
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1987-88 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ "The Houston Rockets Thursday Negotiated a Deal for Guard..." United Press International. October 8, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Rockets Acquire Short from Warriors; Lucas Accepts Trail Blazer Offer Sheet". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. November 6, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  4. ^ Collins, Denis (December 19, 1987). "Golden State Braces for "Ralphomania"". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  5. ^ "Warriors Acquire Sampson". The Washington Post. News Services. December 12, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "Sampson Traded in 4-Player Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 13, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  7. ^ "Rockets Deal Sampson to Warriors in Return for Carroll and Floyd". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 13, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  8. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "1987–88 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "1987–88 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  11. ^ Barnard, Bill (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Honor for Jordan". The New York Times. May 14, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  15. ^ "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Mavericks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "Houston Rockets Fire Bill Fitch". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 6, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Sports People; Rockets Dismiss Fitch". The New York Times. June 7, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "Rockets Ditch Fitch for Lack of Progress Good Trades, No Results Cause Firing". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 7, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  20. ^ Goldaper, Sam (November 3, 1988). "Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  21. ^ "Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 3, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  22. ^ "Nets Obtain Carroll from Rockets in 6-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Signed, Then Traded". The New York Times. October 12, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  24. ^ "Rockets Trade 2 for Sacramento's Otis Thorpe". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  25. ^ Aldridge, David (October 12, 1988). "Bullets Lose Out on Thorpe". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  26. ^ "Sports Digest". United Press International. July 18, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  27. ^ "Sports People; Rockets Trade Reid". The New York Times. July 19, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2025.

See also

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