The 2000β01 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 13β9 start to the season, but then went on a six-game losing streak afterwards. The team held a 25β25 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 45β37, which was two games behind the 8th-seeded
Minnesota Timberwolves.[8]
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]
The 2000β01 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 13β9 start to the season, but then went on a six-game losing streak afterwards. The team held a 25β25 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 45β37, which was two games behind the 8th-seeded
Minnesota Timberwolves.[8]
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]