NBA professional basketball team season
The 1983–84 Houston Rockets season featured the NBA debut of Ralph Sampson , whom the Rockets had selected as the first pick of the 1983 NBA draft . Under head coach Bill Fitch , the team finished with a 29–53 record, although Sampson won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award .
The team has been cited as an example of a "tanking ", by deciding to play more bench players after starting the season with a 20–26 record, in order to fall in the standings and get higher in the draft order for the following season.[1] The Rockets finished last in the Western Conference and later won a coin flip that gave them the first section in the 1984 NBA draft , with which they selected Hakeem Olajuwon .
Draft picks [ edit ] 1983–84 Houston Rockets roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 2 Bailey, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1957–05–21 Rutgers SG 3 Ehlo, Craig 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–08–11 Washington State PG 1 Ford, Phil 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–06–02 North Carolina PF 44 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1945–11–17 Houston C 27 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950–08–04 Albany State PF 11 Jones, Major 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1953–07–09 Albany State PG 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957–05–27 Oklahoma City SG 32 Lloyd, Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–02–22 Drake SF 22 McCray, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–08–29 Louisville SF 33 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–08–30 Saint Mary's C 50 Sampson, Ralph 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1960–07–07 Virginia SG 20 Teagle, Terry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–04–10 Baylor SF 42 Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia
Head coach Legend (C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster
Regular season [ edit ] Season standings [ edit ] Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1983-84 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta — 0–5 4–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 0–2 3–3 3–3 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 Boston 5–0 — 5–0 6–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 5–1 4–2 3–3 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2 Chicago 2–4 0–5 — 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 Cleveland 3–3 0–6 4–2 — 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–3 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–1 Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 4–2 0–2 4–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 3–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–2 4–1 1–4 4–2 0–2 Denver 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–4 — 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 3–3 3–2 2–3 3–3 0–2 Detroit 4–2 2–4 5–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 3–2 1–1 — 2–3 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 2–4 3–2 3–3 4–2 1–4 2–0 Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 3–2 — 1–1 2–4 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 2–4 2–3 3–2 1–5 0–2 Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 0–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 Kansas City 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–4 4–2 2–0 — 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–3 5–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 2–0 Los Angeles 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 4–1 1–1 3–3 4–1 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 5–1 2–3 4–2 3–3 4–1 1–1 Milwaukee 3–3 1–5 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 — 4–2 4–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 New Jersey 3–3 2–4 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 — 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 New York 1–4 3–3 4–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 2–0 1–4 3–3 — 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2 Philadelphia 1–5 4–2 3–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–2 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2 Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–4 5–0 4–2 2–4 1–4 2–0 Portland 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 4–1 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 — 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–5 3–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–5 1–4 — 4–1 2–3 4–2 1–1 San Diego 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 0–2 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 — 3–3 2–3 1–1 Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 1–1 2–4 2–3 1–1 4–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 — 1–4 1–1 Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 3–3 1–1 4–1 5–1 1–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–1 4–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 — 1–1 Washington 2–4 2–4 4–2 1–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 0–2 2–0 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 2–4 2–4 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 —
Game log [ edit ] Regular season [ edit ] 1983–84 game log Total: 29–53 (Home: 21–20; Road: 8–33) October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
November: 5–10 (home: 4–4; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 4 November 4, 1983 @ Detroit W 113–108 Pontiac Silverdome 2–2 5 November 5, 1983 @ Kansas City L 106–123 Kemper Arena 2–3 6 November 8, 1983 Portland L 104–122 The Summit 2–4 7 November 10, 1983 Utah L 109–118 The Summit 2–5 8 November 12, 1983 Dallas W 100–98 The Summit 3–5 9 November 15, 1983 New Jersey L 86–104 The Summit 3–6 10 November 18, 1983 @ Denver L 127–134 McNichols Sports Arena 3–7 12 November 22, 1983 Phoenix W 118–96 The Summit 5–7 13 November 25, 1983 Philadelphia L 101–115 The Summit 5–8 14 November 26, 1983 @ Atlanta L 109–115 The Omni 5–9 16 November 30, 1983 @ Dallas L 102–113 Reunion Arena 6–10
December: 6–9 (home: 4–3; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 2, 1983 Seattle W 125–102 The Summit 7–10 18 December 3, 1983 @ New York L 101–117 Madison Square Garden 7–11 19 December 6, 1983 Washington L 109–113 The Summit 7–12 20 December 7, 1983 @ Milwaukee L 101–103 MECCA Arena 7–13 22 December 10, 1983 Utah L 121–128 The Summit 8–14 23 December 13, 1983 Phoenix W 129–110 The Summit 9–14 24 December 15, 1983 @ Utah L 111–138 Salt Palace Acord Arena 9–15 27 December 22, 1983 @ Seattle W 116–112 Kingdome 11–16 28 December 23, 1983 @ Portland L 84–97 Memorial Coliseum 11–17 30 December 29, 1983 Boston W 107–94 The Summit 12–18 31 December 30, 1983 @ Phoenix L 110–121 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–19
January: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 3, 1984 Dallas L 117–119 The Summit 12–20 33 January 4, 1984 @ Utah (at Las Vegas, Nevada ) L 111–116 Thomas & Mack Center 12–21 34 January 6, 1984 @ Seattle W 116–112 Kingdome 12–22 35 January 8, 1984 @ Los Angeles W 129–118 The Forum 13–22 36 January 10, 1984 Los Angeles L 132–136 (OT) The Summit 13–23 37 January 12, 1984 Portland L 117–120 The Summit 13–24 39 January 14, 1984 Kansas City W 109–104 The Summit 15–24 40 January 17, 1984 Denver W 124–115 The Summit 16–24 42 January 21, 1984 Utah W 115–105 The Summit 18–24 44 January 26, 1984 @ Los Angeles L 102–131 The Forum 18–26 All-Star Break 45 January 31, 1984 @ Kansas City W 122–107 Kemper Arena 19–26
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 46 February 2, 1984 Dallas W 123–107 The Summit 20–26 47 February 4, 1984 New York L 95–103 The Summit 20–27 48 February 7, 1984 @ Washington L 92–95 Capital Centre 20–28 49 February 8, 1984 @ Philadelphia L 107–118 The Spectrum 20–29 50 February 10, 1984 @ Boston L 101–114 Boston Garden 20–30 51 February 12, 1984 @ New Jersey L 103–107 Brendan Byrne Arena 20–31 52 February 14, 1984 Detroit L 119–126 The Summit 20–32 54 February 18, 1984 Phoenix L 102–126 The Summit 21–33 55 February 21, 1984 Milwaukee W 119–102 The Summit 22–33 56 February 22, 1984 @ Dallas L 106–112 Reunion Arena 22–34 58 February 28, 1984 Seattle W 111–105 The Summit 23–35
March: 5–11 (home: 4–4; road: 1–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1, 1984 Kansas City L 101–108 The Summit 23–36 61 March 6, 1984 @ Denver L 128–130 McNichols Sports Arena 24–37 62 March 7, 1984 @ Phoenix L 110–123 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 24–38 67 March 17, 1984 Los Angeles L 111–123 The Summit 26–41 68 March 20, 1984 Kansas City L 102–115 The Summit 26–42 69 March 21, 1984 @ Denver L 125–134 McNichols Sports Arena 26–43 70 March 23, 1984 @ Dallas L 104–116 Reunion Arena 26–44 71 March 24, 1984 Atlanta W 103–102 The Summit 27–44 72 March 27, 1984 Denver W 140–137 The Summit 28–44 73 March 29, 1984 @ Los Angeles L 109–115 The Forum 28–45 74 March 31, 1984 Portland L 102–106 The Summit 28–46
April: 1–7 (home: 0–2; road: 1–5)
1983–84 schedule
Player statistics [ edit ] Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Awards and records [ edit ] Records [ edit ] Transactions [ edit ] Free agents [ edit ] Additions [ edit ] Player Signed Former team
Subtractions [ edit ]
See also [ edit ] References [ edit ]
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s