1987–88 Houston Rockets season

March 2026 August 2023 Houston Rockets 1988 46 36 Midwest 4 6 Bill Fitch Ray Patterson Charlie Thomas The Summit KTXHHome Sports Entertainment KTRH First round(lost to Mavericks 1–3) HOU The 1987–88 Houston Rockets season was the 21st season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 17th season in Houston, Texas. Houston Rockets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents, former All-Star guard World B. Free and Lester Conner. The Houston Rockets Thursday Negotiated a Deal for Guard... United Press International October 8, 1987 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/08/The-Houston-Rockets-Thursday-negotiated-a-deal-for-guard/8040560664000/ July 26, 2025 Regular season The Rockets 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, United Press International Rockets Acquire Short from Warriors; Lucas Accepts Trail Blazer Offer Sheet Los Angeles Times November 6, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-06-sp-12781-story.html July 26, 2025 Collins Denis Golden State Braces for "Ralphomania" The Washington Post December 19, 1987 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/20/golden-state-braces-for-ralphomania/5351863f-f268-4f31-8ee1-18693432f6f7/ July 26, 2025 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. News Services Warriors Acquire Sampson The Washington Post December 12, 1987 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/13/warriors-acquire-sampson/62b5085f-417f-4609-b118-01910b57c190/ July 26, 2025 Associated Press Sampson Traded in 4-Player Deal The New York Times December 13, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/13/sports/sampson-traded-in-4-player-deal.html July 26, 2025 Associated Press Rockets Deal Sampson to Warriors in Return for Carroll and Floyd Los Angeles Times December 13, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-13-sp-28737-story.html July 26, 2025 Before the trade, Sampson averaged 15.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in 19 games, while Harris contributed 5.9 points per game in 14 games. The Rockets got off to a 7–6 start in November, and later on held a 25–17 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.cgi?month=2&day=4&year=1988 July 26, 2025 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. 1987–88 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1988_games.html July 26, 2025 Akeem Olajuwon averaged 22.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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 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. 1987–88 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1988.html July 26, 2025 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Olajuwon was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team. Olajuwon scored 21 points along with 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, despite the Western Conference losing to the Eastern Conference, 138–133. Barnard Bill Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players Los Angeles Times February 7, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-07-sp-41271-story.html July 26, 2025 NBA.com Staff 1988 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1988 July 26, 2025 1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1988.html July 26, 2025 He finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting. Sports People: Honor for Jordan The New York Times May 14, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/14/sports/sports-people-honor-for-jordan.html July 26, 2025 1987–88 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1988.html July 26, 2025 The Rockets finished fifth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 681,051 at The Summit during the regular season. 1987–88 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1988.html February 26, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 3rd–seeded Dallas Mavericks, a team that featured the quartet of All-Star forward Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper and All-Star center James Donaldson. The Rockets lost Game 1 to the Mavericks on the road, 120–110 at the Reunion Arena, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 119–108 to even the series; in Game 2, Floyd finished with 42 points and 9 assists, while Olajuwon contributed 41 points, 26 rebounds and 4 blocks. 1988 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 1: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, April 28, 1988 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804280DAL.html June 30, 2026 1988 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 2: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, April 30, 1988 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804300DAL.html June 30, 2026 However, the Rockets lost the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 loss to the Mavericks at The Summit, 107–97, thus losing the series in four games. Associated Press  Mavericks Dump Rockets, 107-97  The Day  May 6, 1988  E5  https://books.google.com/books?id=cPYgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA29&dq=1988+Dallas+Mavericks+Houston+Rockets+107-97&article_id=1250,1506456&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ2tigmuGTAxWsnSYFHblgE64Q6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=1988%20Dallas%20Mavericks%20Houston%20Rockets%20107-97&f=false April 9, 2026 Associated Press  Mavericks Eliminate Rockets  The News Journal  May 6, 1988  3B  https://books.google.com/books?id=vQsqAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA41&dq=1988+Dallas+Mavericks+Houston+Rockets+107-97&article_id=1453,3994883&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ2tigmuGTAxWsnSYFHblgE64Q6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=1988%20Dallas%20Mavericks%20Houston%20Rockets%20107-97&f=false April 9, 2026 1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Mavericks Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1988-nba-western-conference-first-round-rockets-vs-mavericks.html July 26, 2025 Aftermath Following the season, Fitch was fired as head coach, Associated Press Houston Rockets Fire Bill Fitch Los Angeles Times June 6, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-06-mn-3052-story.html July 26, 2025 Sports People: Rockets Dismiss Fitch The New York Times June 7, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/07/sports/sports-people-rockets-dismiss-fitch.html July 26, 2025 Associated Press Rockets Ditch Fitch for Lack of Progress Good Trades, No Results Cause Firing Deseret News June 7, 1988 https://www.deseret.com/1988/6/7/18768001/rockets-ditch-fitch-for-lack-of-progress-good-trades-no-results-cause-firing/ July 26, 2025 while Barry Carroll and Conner were both traded to the New Jersey Nets, Goldaper Sam Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll The New York Times November 3, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/03/sports/nets-acquire-rockets-carroll.html July 26, 2025 Associated Press Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade Los Angeles Times November 3, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-sp-855-story.html July 26, 2025 Nets Obtain Carroll from Rockets in 6-Player Deal Los Angeles Times November 3, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-sp-697-story.html July 26, 2025 and McCray and Petersen were both traded to the Sacramento Kings. Sports People: Signed, Then Traded The New York Times October 12, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/sports/sports-people-signed-then-traded.html July 26, 2025 Rockets Trade 2 for Sacramento's Otis Thorpe Los Angeles Times October 12, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-12-sp-3343-story.html July 26, 2025 Aldridge David Bullets Lose Out on Thorpe The Washington Post October 12, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/10/12/bullets-lose-out-on-thorpe/3994ddaa-7d8c-45ec-823e-2ce497ee595f/ July 26, 2025 Meanwhile, Reid was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets expansion team,July 18, 1988 Sports Digest https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/07/18/Sports-Digest/9685058106280/ July 26, 2025 United Press InternationalJuly 19, 1988 Sports People: Rockets Trade Reid https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/19/sports/sports-people-rockets-trade-reid.html July 26, 2025 The New York Times and Free retired. Draft picks 1987 NBA draft RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege/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 #B50000 #FFFFFF #FFAA1D #000000 2 Joe Barry Carroll C 7 0 225 1958-07-24 Purdue 7 Lester Conner PG 6 4 180 1959-09-17 Oregon State 11 Sleepy Floyd PG 6 3 170 1960-03-06 Georgetown 21 World B. Free SG 6 2 185 1953-12-09 Guilford College 1 Buck Johnson basketball SF 6 7 190 1964-01-03 Alabama 30 Allen Leavell SG 6 1 170 1957-05-27 Oklahoma City University 18 Cedric Maxwell SF 6 8 205 1955-11-21 Charlotte 22 Rodney McCray basketball SF 6 7 220 1961-08-29 Louisville 34 Akeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon C 7 0 255 1963-01-21 Houston 43 Jim Petersen PF 6 10 235 1962-02-22 Minnesota 33 Robert Reid basketball SG 6 8 205 1955-08-30 St. Mary's 10 Purvis Short SF 6 7 210 1957-07-02 Jackson State University 13 Andre Turner PG 5 11 160 1964-12-13 Memphis Bill Fitch Carroll Dawson Rudy Tomjanovich https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1988.html December 13, 1987 Regular season Season standings HOU HOU z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Houston Rockets 1988 #FF0000 #FFD700 Total: 46–36 (home: 31–10; road: 15–26) Houston Rockets November yes #FFD700 #FF0000 3 2 4 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 8, 19879:30p.m. CST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 92–101 | Olajuwon (26) | Olajuwon (11) | Conner,Leavell (4) | The Forum17,505 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 14, 19877:30p.m. CST | Utah | W 101–93 | Olajuwon (19) | Olajuwon (16) | Leavell,Maxwell (3) | The Summit16,614 | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 21, 19876:30p.m. CST | @ Atlanta | L 94–104 | Olajuwon (17) | Sampson (9) | Leavell,McCray (7) | The Omni16,451 | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 24, 19877:00p.m. CST | Detroit | L 83–97 | Olajuwon (21) | Olajuwon (15) | Short (5) | The Summit16,611 | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 27, 19878:30p.m. CST | @ Utah | L 96–118 | Sampson (19) | Sampson (11) | Conner,McCray (3) | Salt Palace12,212 | 7–5 Houston Rockets December #FFD700 #FF0000 5 1 2 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 10, 19877:30p.m. CST | Utah | W 98–93 | Leavell (20) | Olajuwon (14) | Leavell (8) | The Summit16,611 | 11–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 22, 19877:30p.m. CST | Atlanta | W 122–103 | Floyd (27) | McCray,Olajuwon (13) | McCray (9) | The Summit16,611 | 12–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 26, 19877:30p.m. CST | @ Dallas | L 100–105 | Olajuwon (24) | Olajuwon (14) | Leavell (7) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 12–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 29, 19876:30p.m. CST | @ Detroit | W 101–91 | Carroll (25) | Olajuwon (14) | Floyd (6) | Pontiac Silverdome26,498 | 13–12 Houston Rockets January #FFD700 #FF0000 6 1 3 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 4, 19887:30p.m. CST | Dallas | W 117–107 | Olajuwon (31) | Olajuwon (11) | Floyd (11) | The Summit16,611 | 16–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 18, 19884:00p.m. CST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 110–121 | Olajuwon (24) | Olajuwon (9) | Floyd (7) | The Forum17,505 | 20–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 30, 19887:30p.m. CST | @ Dallas | W 108–92 | Olajuwon (29) | McCray (12) | Floyd (8) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 23–17 Houston Rockets February #FFD700 #FF0000 7 2 2 2 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 9, 19887:30p.m. CST | Boston | W 129–120 | Olajuwon (30) | Olajuwon (16) | Floyd (7) | The Summit16,611 | 26–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 18, 19887:30p.m. CST | L.A. Lakers | L 96–111 | Olajuwon (20) | Olajuwon (20) | Floyd (6) | The Summit16,611 | 29–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | February 25, 19887:30p.m. CST | Dallas | L 106–108 | Floyd (22) | McCray (13) | Floyd (11) | The Summit16,611 | 31–20 Houston Rockets March #FFD700 #FF0000 6 1 3 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | March 1, 19888:30p.m. CST | @ Utah | L 112–113 | Olajuwon (27) | McCray (13) | Short (5) | Salt Palace12,444 | 32–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | March 4, 19887:00p.m. CST | @ Dallas | L 110–118 | Olajuwon,Short (22) | Olajuwon (12) | Leavell,Reid (7) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 33–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 22, 19889:30p.m. CST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 95–117 | Carroll (16) | Olajuwon (10) | Leavell (6) | The Forum17,505 | 38–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 30, 19886:30p.m. CST | @ Boston | L 110–117 | Johnson (18) | McCray (10) | Floyd,Short (5) | Boston Garden14,890 | 40–28 Houston Rockets April #FFD700 #FF0000 4 3 1 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 7, 19887:30p.m. CDT | Utah | W 113–107 | Olajuwon (22) | Olajuwon (15) | Olajuwon (6) | The Summit16,611 | 42–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 17, 198812Noon CDT | L.A. Lakers | W 127–119 | Olajuwon (38) | Carroll (10) | Floyd (9) | The Summit16,611 | 45–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 19, 19887:30p.m. CDT | Dallas | L 96–104 | Olajuwon (33) | Olajuwon (9) | Floyd (8) | The Summit16,611 | 45–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 23, 19888:30p.m. CDT | @ Utah | L 107–125 | Carroll (24) | Olajuwon (12) | Floyd (7) | Salt Palace12,444 | 45–36 HOU 1988 Playoffs Houston Rockets 1988 yes #FF0000 #FFD700 Houston Rockets Western Conference First Round yes yes no #FFD700 #FF0000 0 2 1 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28, 19887:30p.m. CDT | @ Dallas | L 110–120 | Olajuwon (34) | Olajuwon (14) | Floyd (11) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 30, 19882:30p.m. CDT | @ Dallas | W 119–108 | Floyd (42) | Olajuwon (26) | Floyd (9) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 3, 19887:30p.m. CDT | Dallas | L 92–93 | Olajuwon (35) | Olajuwon (12) | Floyd (5) | The Summit16,611 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 5, 19887:00p.m. CDT | Dallas | L 97–107 | Olajuwon (40) | Olajuwon (15) | Floyd (9) | The Summit16,611 | 1–3 |- HOU 1988 yes Player statistics 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 Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA First Team Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive First Team Rodney McCray, NBA All-Defensive First Team References Category:Houston Rockets seasons Houston Category:1987 in sports in Texas Category:1988 in sports in Texas Category:1987 in Houston Category:1988 in Houston