The 2020–21 Houston Rockets season was the 54th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 50th anniversary season in the Houston area in Texas since the team franchise relocated from the San Diego area in California and their 4th season under owner Tilman Fertitta.[1]
| 2020–21 Houston Rockets season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Stephen Silas |
| General manager | Rafael Stone |
| Owner(s) | Tilman Fertitta |
| Arena | Toyota Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 17–55 (.236) |
| Place | Division: 5th (Southwest) Conference: 15th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | AT&T SportsNet Southwest |
| Radio | Sportstalk 790 |
On September 13, Mike D'Antoni informed the Rockets that he would not return as head coach after coaching the team for four seasons.[2] On October 30, the Rockets hired Stephen Silas as their new head coach.[3] On October 15, Daryl Morey resigned from his position as general manager after thirteen years and Rafael Stone was named as his replacement.[4][5][6] For the first time since 2011–12, James Harden was not on the roster as he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal; this reunited him with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant for the first time since the 2011–12 season.[7][8]
Without Harden along with Russell Westbrook, who was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall during the offseason and the majority of their players lost from last season's team, the Rockets entered a rebuilding period. They got off to an 11–10 start as of February 4, 2021, but their season was marked with an franchise–worst 20–game losing streak between early–February through mid–March, which tied for the ninth longest losing streak in NBA history and the longest since the record–setting 28–game losing streak from the Philadelphia 76ers between the late 2014–15 season and the early 2015–16 season.[9]
By April 22, the Rockets were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since the 2011–12 lockout season. This ended the NBA's longest active playoff streak at eight straight years.[10] The Rockets finished the season at the bottom of the league with a record of 17–55, the third–worst season record in franchise history and their worst season since the dreadful 14–68 record from the 1982–83 season. This season also marked the first time since the 34–48 record from the 2005–06 season that they have suffered a losing record, ending a streak of 15 straight years of finishing a season .500 or above. As a result, the Boston Celtics now hold the league's longest active playoff streak, making the playoffs every year since 2015.
Draft
editThe Rockets did not hold any picks for the 2020 NBA draft. This was the fourth time in franchise history that they did not hold any picks in the draft; the last time was in 2019.
Roster
edit| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Standings
editDivision
edit| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 30 | .583 | – | 21–15 | 21–15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 4.0 | 18–18 | 20–16 | 6–6 | 72 |
| pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 9.0 | 14–22 | 19–17 | 6–6 | 72 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 11.0 | 18–18 | 13–23 | 6–6 | 72 |
| Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 25.0 | 9–27 | 8–28 | 5–7 | 72 |
Conference
edit| Western Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- * – Division leader
Game log
editPreseason
edit| 2020 preseason game log Total: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
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| 2020–21 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular season
editPlayer statistics
edit| 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 |
After all games.[11]
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. J. Augustin≠ | 20 | 6 | 20.8 | .424 | .386 | .907 | 2.2 | 3.9 | .4 | .0 | 10.6 |
| Avery Bradley≠ | 17 | 5 | 23.0 | .314 | .270 | .833 | 2.3 | 1.9 | .8 | .1 | 5.2 |
| Armoni Brooks≠ | 20 | 5 | 26.0 | .406 | .382 | .583 | 3.4 | 1.5 | .6 | .3 | 11.2 |
| Sterling Brown | 51 | 14 | 24.1 | .448 | .423 | .806 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .7 | .2 | 8.2 |
| Bruno Caboclo‡ | 6 | 0 | 6.0 | .471 | .000 | .500 | 2.3 | .2 | .0 | .3 | 2.8 |
| DeMarcus Cousins‡ | 25 | 11 | 20.2 | .376 | .336 | .746 | 7.6 | 2.4 | .8 | .7 | 9.6 |
| Eric Gordon | 27 | 13 | 29.2 | .433 | .329 | .825 | 2.1 | 2.6 | .5 | .5 | 17.8 |
| James Harden† | 8 | 8 | 36.3 | .444 | .347 | .883 | 5.1 | 10.4 | .9 | .8 | 24.8 |
| Danuel House | 36 | 23 | 25.9 | .404 | .346 | .651 | 3.7 | 1.9 | .6 | .4 | 8.8 |
| DaQuan Jeffries‡ | 13 | 3 | 20.1 | .413 | .282 | 1.000 | 3.2 | 1.2 | .6 | .5 | 4.9 |
| Mason Jones‡ | 26 | 1 | 11.8 | .412 | .359 | .614 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .2 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Rodions Kurucs† | 11 | 0 | 6.8 | .238 | .133 | .500 | 1.0 | .4 | .5 | .4 | 1.2 |
| Anthony Lamb≠ | 24 | 3 | 17.3 | .390 | .324 | .857 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .3 | .2 | 5.5 |
| Kenyon Martin | 45 | 8 | 23.7 | .509 | .365 | .714 | 5.4 | 1.1 | .7 | .9 | 9.3 |
| Ben McLemore‡ | 32 | 4 | 16.8 | .357 | .331 | .719 | 2.1 | .9 | .6 | .1 | 7.4 |
| David Nwaba | 30 | 9 | 22.6 | .486 | .270 | .691 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .7 | 9.2 |
| Victor Oladipo† | 20 | 20 | 33.5 | .407 | .320 | .783 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 21.2 |
| Cameron Oliver≠ | 4 | 0 | 21.8 | .576 | .308 | .250 | 5.3 | 1.3 | .5 | 1.0 | 10.8 |
| Kelly Olynyk≠ | 27 | 24 | 31.1 | .545 | .392 | .844 | 8.4 | 4.1 | 1.4 | .6 | 19.0 |
| Justin Patton‡ | 13 | 6 | 19.0 | .414 | .265 | .750 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.1 | 5.4 |
| Kevin Porter≠ | 26 | 23 | 32.1 | .426 | .311 | .734 | 3,8 | 6.3 | .7 | .3 | 16.6 |
| Cameron Reynolds≠ | 2 | 0 | 17.0 | .313 | .250 | .000 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 6.5 |
| Ray Spalding‡ | 2 | 0 | 9.5 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Jae'Sean Tate | 70 | 58 | 29.2 | .506 | .308 | .694 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .5 | 11.3 |
| Brodric Thomas‡ | 4 | 0 | 6.0 | .286 | .167 | .714 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .3 | .3 | 2.5 |
| Khyri Thomas≠ | 5 | 2 | 30.6 | .485 | .333 | 1.000 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 16.4 |
| P. J. Tucker† | 32 | 32 | 30.0 | .366 | .314 | .783 | 3.6 | 4.6 | .9 | .6 | 4.4 |
| John Wall | 40 | 40 | 32.2 | .404 | .317 | .749 | 3.2 | 6.9 | 1.1 | .8 | 20.6 |
| D. J. Wilson≠ | 23 | 1 | 14.3 | .416 | .339 | .696 | 3.8 | .9 | .4 | .5 | 6.1 |
| Christian Wood | 41 | 41 | 32.3 | .514 | .374 | .631 | 9.6 | 1.7 | .8 | 1.2 | 21.0 |
‡Waived during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Transactions
editTrades
edit| November 22, 2020[12] | To Houston Rockets Trevor Ariza Draft rights to Isaiah Stewart 2021 first-round pick |
To Portland Trail Blazers Robert Covington |
| November 24, 2020[13] | To Houston Rockets Christian Wood (sign and trade) 2021 first-round pick 2021 second-round pick |
To Detroit Pistons Trevor Ariza Draft rights to Isaiah Stewart 2027 second-round pick Cash considerations |
| November 25, 2020[14] | To Houston Rockets Draft rights to Kenyon Martin Jr. |
To Sacramento Kings 2021 second-round pick Cash considerations |
| November 27, 2020[15] | To Houston Rockets Draft rights to Issuf Sanon |
To New York Knicks Austin Rivers (sign and trade) Draft rights to Tadija Dragićević Draft rights to Axel Hervelle Draft rights to Sergio Llull |
| December 2, 2020[16] | To Houston Rockets John Wall 2023 first-round pick |
To Washington Wizards Russell Westbrook |
| January 13, 2021[17] (Four-team trade) |
To Houston Rockets Victor Oladipo Dante Exum Rodions Kurucs 2022 first round pick 2022 first round pick 2024 first round pick 2026 first round pick 2021 first round pick swap 2023 first round pick swap 2025 first round pick swap 2027 first round pick swap |
To Brooklyn Nets James Harden 2024 second round pick |
| To Indiana Pacers Caris LeVert 2023 second round pick 2024 second round pick Cash considerations |
To Cleveland Cavaliers Jarrett Allen Taurean Prince Draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov | |
| January 22, 2021[18] | To Houston Rockets Kevin Porter Jr. |
To Cleveland Cavaliers 2024 second-round pick |
| March 19, 2021[19] | To Houston Rockets D. J. Augustin D. J. Wilson 2021 first-round pick 2023 first-round pick |
To Milwaukee Bucks P. J. Tucker Rodions Kurucs 2021 second-round pick 2022 first-round pick |
| March 25, 2021[20] | To Houston Rockets Avery Bradley Kelly Olynyk 2022 first-round pick |
To Miami Heat Victor Oladipo |
Free agency
editRe-signed
edit| Player | Signed |
|---|---|
| Bruno Caboclo | 2-year contract worth $4.3 million |
Additions
edit| Player | Signed | Former team |
|---|---|---|
| Mason Jones | Two-way contract / 10-day contract | Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Kenny Wooten | Claimed off waivers | New York Knicks |
| Sterling Brown | 1-year contract worth $1.6 million | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Jae'Sean Tate | 2-year contract worth $2.9 million |  Sydney Kings
|
| Brodric Thomas | Exhibit 10 contract / Two-way contract | Truman Bulldogs |
| Trevelin Queen | Exhibit 10 contract | New Mexico State Aggies |
| Jerian Grant | 1-year contract worth $1.8 million | Washington Wizards |
| Gerald Green | 1-year contract worth $2.5 million | Denver Nuggets |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 1-year contract worth $2.3 million | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Trey Mourning | Exhibit 10 contract | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| William McDowell-White | Two-way contract |  Brose Bamberg
|
| Josh Reaves | Exhibit 10 contract | Dallas Mavericks |
| Ray Spalding | Two-way contract | Charlotte Hornets |
| Justin Patton | Two-way contract | Westchester Knicks |
| Anthony Lamb | Two-way contract | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Armoni Brooks | Two-way contract | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| DaQuan Jeffries | Claimed off waivers | Sacramento Kings |
| Khyri Thomas | 10-day contract / 3-year contract worth $5.8 million | Austin Spurs |
| Cameron Oliver | 10-day contract | Cairns Taipans
|
| Cameron Reynolds | 10-day contract | San Antonio Spurs |
Subtractions
edit| Player | Reason left | New team |
|---|---|---|
| Jerian Grant | Waived |  Promitheas Patras B.C.
|
| Trevelin Queen | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Josh Reaves | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| William McDowell-White | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Gerald Green | Waived | — |
| Trey Mourning | Waived | — |
| Bruno Caboclo | Waived |  Limoges CSP
|
| DeMarcus Cousins | Waived | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Mason Jones | Waived | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Ray Spalding | Waived | — |
| Justin Patton | Waived | — |
| Ben McLemore | Waived | Los Angeles Lakers |
| DaQuan Jeffries | Waived / Claimed off waivers | San Antonio Spurs |
| Cameron Oliver | Contract expired | Cairns Taipans
|
Awards
editJae'Sean Tate was the only player to have been named to an all-NBA team as an All-Rookie First Team Player.
References
edit- ^ "Houston Rockets Franchise Index | Basketball-Reference.com". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Reynolds, Tim (September 13, 2020). "Mike D'Antoni tells Rockets he won't return as coach". NBA.com. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ "Rockets Name Stephen Silas Head Coach". NBA.com. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "Daryl Morey stepping down as Houston Rockets GM". ESPN.com. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Statements Regarding Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey". NBA.com. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ Rieken, Kristie (October 15, 2020). "Daryl Morey stepping down as Rockets GM after 13 seasons". NBA.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Brooklyn-bound: Nets land Harden in blockbuster". ESPN.com. January 13, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Former Thunder players James Harden, Kevin Durant reunited in Brooklyn". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ The Athletic Staff. "Rockets become eighth NBA team to lose 20 consecutive games in a single season". The Athletic. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ Quinn, Sam (April 22, 2021). "Rockets, Timberwolves officially eliminated from playoff contention with Spurs win". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "2020-21 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets send Robert Covington to Blazers for Trevor Ariza, picks". NBA.com. November 22, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets Acquire Christian Wood". NBA.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets Acquire KJ Martin Jr". NBA.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets trade Austin Rivers, Sergio Llull for prospect Issuf Sanon". rocketswire.usatoday.com. November 27, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Russell Westbrook traded for John Wall". NBA.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets; acquire Victor Oladipo in subsequent deal". thedreamshake.com. June 9, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "Kevin Porter Jr. Traded to Rockets from Cavaliers for 2nd-Round Pick". bleacherreport.com. January 22, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Report: P.J. Tucker Traded to Bucks; Rockets Get Augustin, 1st-Round Pick, More". bleacherreport.com. March 19, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Rockets trade two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to Heat". yardbarker.com. March 25, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.