2000–01 Houston Rockets season

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Rockets' 34th season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season in the city of Houston.^[1] The Rockets had the ninth pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Joel Przybilla from the University of Minnesota,^[2] but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for rookie center Jason Collier.^[3][4] In an effort to shore up their front line, the Rockets signed free agent Maurice Taylor during the off-season.^[5][6] After the retirement of Charles Barkley, the Rockets got off to a 13–9 start to the season, but then went on a six-game losing streak afterwards. The team held a 25–25 record at the All-Star break,^[7] and then played above .500 for the remainder of the season. However, the Rockets missed the playoffs despite finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a winning record of 45–37, which was two games behind the 8th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.^[8]

2000–01 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Rudy Tomjanovich
Arena	Compaq Center
Results
Record	45–37 (.549)
Place	Division: 5th (Midwest) Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTBU Fox Sports Net Southwest
Radio	KTRH
< 1999–00 2001–02 >

Second-year star Steve Francis continued to emerge as the new star of the Rockets, averaging 19.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while Cuttino Mobley averaged 19.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Taylor provided the team with 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. In addition, Hakeem Olajuwon contributed 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, but only played 58 games due to a blood condition in his left leg,^[9][10][11] while Shandon Anderson provided with 8.7 points per game, Walt Williams contributed 8.3 points per game, and second-year forward Kenny Thomas averaged 7.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.^[12]

This season also marked an end of an era as Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors following the season, after seventeen seasons with the Rockets.^{[13][14][15][16]} Also following the season, Anderson was traded to the New York Knicks,^[17][18] while Carlos Rogers signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers,^[19][20] and three-point specialist Matt Bullard signed with the Charlotte Hornets.^[21]

Draft picks

Main article: 2000 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	9	Joel Przybilla	C	United States	Minnesota
2	38	Eduardo Nájera	PF/SF	Mexico	Oklahoma

Roster

2000-01 Houston Rockets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G/F 40 Anderson, Shandon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1973–12–31 Georgia F 50 Bullard, Matt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa F/C 13 Cato, Kelvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1974–08–26 Iowa State C 52 Collier, Jason   7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1977–09–08 Georgia Tech G 20 Colson, Sean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1975–07–01 Charlotte G 3 Francis, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1977–02–21 Maryland F 14 Langhi, Dan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1977–11–28 Vanderbilt G/F 5 Mobley, Cuttino 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1975–09–01 Rhode Island G 12 Norris, Moochie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1973–07–27 West Florida C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston F/C 6 Rogers, Carlos 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1971–02–06 Tennessee State F/C 2 Taylor, Maurice   6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1976–10–30 Michigan F 21 Thomas, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 261 lb (118 kg) 1977–07–25 New Mexico F 42 Williams, Walt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1970–04–16 Maryland	Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich Assistant coach(es) Jim Boylen Larry Smith Mike Wells Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured Roster Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
z-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–	33–8	25–16	19–5
x-Utah Jazz	53	29	.646	5	28–13	25–16	14–10
x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	5	28–13	25–16	14–10
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	47	35	.573	11	30–11	17–24	11–13
Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13	24–17	21–20	11–13
Denver Nuggets	40	42	.488	18	29–12	11–30	13–11
Vancouver Grizzlies	23	59	.280	35	15–26	8–33	2–22

Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–
2	y-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	2
3	x-Sacramento Kings	55	27	.671	3
4	x-Utah Jazz	53	29	.646	5
5	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	5
6	x-Phoenix Suns	51	31	.622	7
7	x-Portland Trail Blazers	50	32	.610	8
8	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	47	35	.573	11
9	Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13
10	Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	14
11	Denver Nuggets	40	42	.488	18
12	Los Angeles Clippers	31	51	.378	27
13	Vancouver Grizzlies	23	59	.280	35
14	Golden State Warriors	17	65	.207	41

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2000-01 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–1	—	0–4	2–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	4–0	4–0	—	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	1–2	2–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
Chicago	2–2	1–2	1–3	—	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	2–1
Cleveland	2–2	1–2	2–2	3–1	—	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0
Denver	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1
Detroit	4–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	4–0	1–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–2
Golden State	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	—	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	3–1	—	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Indiana	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	—	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0
Miami	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	—	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–3	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–1	—	0–2	4–0	1–2	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	—	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
New York	2–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–1	2–0	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	3–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	4–0
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0
Toronto	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0
Utah	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–3	0–2	—	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

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

Transactions

Main article: List of 2000–01 NBA season transactions

References

1. 2000-01 Houston Rockets
2. "2000 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
3. Wise, Mike (June 29, 2000). "Clippers Go to High School and Select Miles". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
4. Smith, Sam (December 16, 2000). "Draft Proving Ill Wind". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
5. "Rockets Sign Mo Taylor". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2000. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
6. Wise, Mike (October 30, 2000). "PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
7. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 2001". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
8. "2000–01 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
9. "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Blood Disease May End Olajuwon's Career". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 14, 2001. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
10. "Blood Disorder Sidelines Olajuwon". Los Angeles Times. March 14, 2001. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
11. "Olajuwon Has Blood Disorder". Associated Press. March 13, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
12. "2000–01 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
13. Broussard, Chris (August 2, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Carter Agrees to Contract; Olajuwon to Join Raptors". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
14. "Carter Is Staying, Olajuwon Coming". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 2, 2001. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
15. "Raptors Nab Carter, Olajuwon". The Washington Post. August 2, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
16. Gardner, Kris (August 2, 2001). "Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Icon, Traded to the Toronto Raptors". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
17. Robbins, Liz (August 11, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking for Balance, the Knicks Trade Rice". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
18. "Rice Goes to Houston in Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. August 11, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
19. "Pacers Sign Carlos Rogers". United Press International. September 6, 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
20. Marot, Michael (February 12, 2002). "Missing Pacers Forward Suspended". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
21. "Hornets Nab Matt Bullard". United Press International. August 13, 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2022.

See also

• 2000–01 NBA season