Houston Rockets: Top 15 Greatest All-Time (6-10)

Mar 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets mascot Clutch entertains fans before a game against the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

9. Otis Thorpe

Mr. Consistency is what we should call Thorpe.  In six seasons with the Rockets, he averaged 15.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.  He helped the Rockets win their first championship with Hakeem Olajuwon, and made one all-star appearance with the team in the 1994 NBA season.

He too was a casualty of the infamous Rockets shakeup in February 1995 with the team trading him for Clyde Drexler and Tracy Murray as the Rockets’ brass felt a spark was needed as the team was playing below expectations.

Thorpe ended his career in a respectable manner thereafter but bounced around quite a bit as a journeyman before hanging up his jersey after the 2000-01 season.

He should also be referred to as Mr. Reliable — in his seven seasons with the Rockets and before the 1994-95 season, he had only missed 10 games being on the court for all 82 games for six straight seasons. That’s attendance record that anybody should be proud of — he definitely showed up for work and did his job well, which all we could ask for.

He was the type of player that one would categorize as a silent assassin — rarely being vocal but letting his game speak for itself.

I believe it is respectable to have him at #9.

Next: CLICK HERE for #8.: A Piece Of The Foundation