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Top 15 Greatest Houston Rockets (11-15)

By Bryson Jones

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Aug 8, 2014; Springfield, MA, USA; Six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame by Hall of Fame players Chris Mullin ( 11) and Ralph Sampson ( 12) during the 2014 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Springfield Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

11. Ralph Sampson

The intimidating No.1 pick in the 1983 draft, Ralph Sampson lasted just five seasons with the Rockets, averaging 19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Playing alongside the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, often dubbed the “Twin Towers,” because of their respective seven-foot frames, it’s hard to believe that the team couldn’t accomplish more or win at least one championship with that talent.

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His most memorable moment was when he sunk a game-winning, buzzer-beater, a “shot heard ’round the world” in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in 1986. With one-second left, he defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 114-112 with just one stroke of his hand, helping the Rockets earn a trip to the NBA Finals, winning the series 4-1!

Although they fell to the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Finals, the Rockets learned a lot about themselves and the turning point of maturity as a franchise came full circle. It’s unfortunate that the remainder of Sampson’s career was marred with a run-in with drugs, and his body breaking down due to injury hindered the Rockets’ opportunities.

But I think with Sampson at No. 11 on the list is fair. We’ll post the 6th-10th greatest players in Rockets history on next Thursday (September 24th). The 1st-5th list will come out on the following Thursday (September 31st).

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