1991–92 Houston Rockets season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Rockets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 21st season in the city of Houston.^[1] The Rockets started the season defeating the Los Angeles Lakers at The Summit in double-overtime 126–121,^[2][3] and got off to a fast start winning nine of their first twelves games. However, they would start to struggle losing five consecutive games afterwards, but managed to hold a 25–22 record at the All-Star break.^[4] By February 21, they hovered at .500 with a mediocre 26–26 record when head coach Don Chaney was fired and replaced with assistant Rudy Tomjanovich.^[5][6][7]

1991–92 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Don Chaney (fired) Rudy Tomjanovich
General manager	Steve Patterson
Owner(s)	Charlie Thomas
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTXH Home Sports Entertainment
Radio	KTRH
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

Under Tomjanovich, the Rockets would win eleven of their first 15 games. However, they struggled losing ten of their last 15 games, as Hakeem Olajuwon missed 12 games due to a hamstring injury, which the Rockets' management accused him of faking because of a contract dispute, and suspended him.^{[8][9][10][11]} The Rockets lost their final three games to close the season, finishing third in the Midwest Division with a 42–40 record,^[12] missing the playoffs by just one game behind the 8th-seeded Lakers, who were without All-Star guard Magic Johnson, who had retired due to HIV.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Olajuwon averaged 21.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game, while Otis Thorpe averaged 17.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Olajuwon and Thorpe were both selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game.^[17][18] In addition, Vernon Maxwell provided the team with 17.2 points and 4.1 assists per game, while Kenny Smith contributed 14.0 points and 6.9 assists per game, sixth man Sleepy Floyd provided with 9.1 points per game off the bench, and Buck Johnson contributed 8.6 points per game.^[19] Following the season, Johnson signed as a free agent with the Washington Bullets.^[20][21]

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School or club team
1	20	John Turner	PF	United States	Phillips
2	47	Keith Hughes	PF	United States	Rutgers
2	51	Žan Tabak	C	Croatia	KK Split (Croatia)

Roster

1991–92 Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 50 Matt Bullard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa SG 21 Sleepy Floyd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960–03–06 Georgetown PF 7 Carl Herrera 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston SG 32 Dave Jamerson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–08–13 Ohio PG 6 Avery Johnson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–03–25 Southern SF 1 Buck Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–01–03 Alabama SF 11 Vernon Maxwell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida C 34 Hakeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston C 15 Tree Rollins 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1955–06–16 Clemson PG 30 Kenny Smith 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina PF 13 Larry Smith 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–01–18 Alcorn State PF 33 Otis Thorpe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence PF 40 John Turner 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1967–11–30 Phillips

Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich Assistant(s) Carroll Dawson John Killilea Calvin Murphy Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: January 30, 1992

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	55	27	.671	—	37–4	18–23	20–6
x-San Antonio Spurs	47	35	.573	8	31–10	16–25	18–8
Houston Rockets	42	40	.512	13	28–13	14–27	12–14
Denver Nuggets	24	58	.293	31	18–23	6–35	8–18
Dallas Mavericks	22	60	.268	33	15–26	7–34	11–15
Minnesota Timberwolves	15	67	.183	40	9–32	6–35	9–17

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Portland Trail Blazers	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	55	27	.671	2
3	x-Golden State Warriors	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Phoenix Suns	53	29	.646	4
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	47	35	.573	10
6	x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10
7	x-Los Angeles Clippers	45	37	.549	12
8	x-Los Angeles Lakers	43	39	.524	14
9	Houston Rockets	42	40	.512	15
10	Sacramento Kings	29	53	.354	28
11	Denver Nuggets	24	58	.293	33
12	Dallas Mavericks	22	60	.268	35
13	Minnesota Timberwolves	15	67	.183	42

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1991-92 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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	0–5	0–5	2–0	2–0	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	1–3	—	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	5–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–3	—	0–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–2
Chicago	5–0	3–1	4–0	—	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–2	2–3	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	3–2	0–2	0–4	4–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	0–2
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–3	—	0–2	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–5	1–1
Detroit	4–1	0–4	4–1	1–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	3–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Golden State	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	—	2–2	2–0	3–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	5–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–0
Houston	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4	3–2	0–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–2	1–3	1–4	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–3	2–2	2–0	—	2–3	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–3	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–3	2–2	0–2	3–2	—	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–1
Miami	2–2	2–3	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	4–0	2–0	2–2	1–4	3–1	1–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	3–2	2–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	—	2–0	0–4	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	1–1	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–6	0–4	2–3	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	3–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	—	2–3	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	2–3	4–0	0–4	0–4	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	4–1	3–1	2–0	3–2	—	4–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Orlando	2–2	0–5	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–4	—	3–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Philadelphia	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	1–3	2–3	—	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	5–0
Phoenix	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–3	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	4–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0
Portland	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	1–3	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	—	5–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–5	1–3	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–4	0–5	—	1–3	1–4	1–3	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	5–0	4–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	—	3–1	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–1	1–3	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	1–3	2–0	3–2	0–4	3–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1991–92 game log Total: 42–40 (Home: 28–13; Road: 14–27)
November: 9–4 (home: 7–0; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 5 Portland W 106–99 The Summit 2–1 4 November 7 Cleveland W 105–86 The Summit 3–1 5 November 9 Phoenix W 96–95 The Summit 4–1 9 November 19 New York W 90–79 The Summit 7–2
December: 7–9 (home: 2–5; road: 5–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 7 Utah L 91–96 The Summit 9–8 18 December 10 @ Portland W 108–106 Memorial Coliseum 10–8 29 December 30 @ Cleveland L 89–121 Richfield Coliseum 16–13
January: 8–6 (home: 6–2; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 35 January 11 Seattle W 119–115 The Summit 19–16 38 January 18 @ Utah L 80–108 Delta Center 20–18 41 January 25 @ Chicago L 100–114 Chicago Stadium 22–19 43 January 30 Chicago W 105–102 The Summit 24–19
February: 6–8 (home: 5–1; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1 @ Phoenix L 92–106 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 24–20 46 February 5 @ Boston L 85–98 Boston Garden 25–21 47 February 6 @ New York L 85–102 Madison Square Garden 25–22 48 February 11 @ Seattle L 99–105 Seattle Center Coliseum 25–23 50 February 14 Boston W 105–99 The Summit 26–24 54 February 21 @ Utah L 97–124 Delta Center 27–27
March: 7–9 (home: 5–3; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 3 @ Phoenix L 107–112 (2OT) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 31–28 66 March 15 Utah W 106–97 The Summit 36–30 68 March 19 Seattle L 91–112 The Summit 37–31 70 March 24 @ Seattle L 106–128 Seattle Center Coliseum 37–33 72 March 28 @ Portland L 95–115 Memorial Coliseum 37–35
April: 5–4 (home: 3–2; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 79 April 14 Portland W 108–96 The Summit 42–37 80 April 15 @ Utah L 98–130 Delta Center 42–38 82 April 19 Phoenix L 97–100 The Summit 42–40
1991–92 schedule

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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Matt Bullard	80	7	16.0	.459	.386	.760	2.8	.9	.3	.3	6.4
Sleepy Floyd	82	3	20.3	.406	.301	.794	1.8	2.9	.7	.3	9.1
Dan Godfread	1	0	2.0				.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
Gerald Henderson†	8	0	4.3	.364	.000	.667	.3	.6	.0	.0	1.5
Carl Herrera	43	7	13.2	.516	.000	.568	2.3	.6	.4	.6	4.4
Dave Jamerson	48	0	7.9	.414	.286	.926	.9	.7	.4	.0	4.0
Avery Johnson†	49	1	15.8	.464	.300	.609	.9	3.4	.8	.1	5.1
Buck Johnson	80	69	27.5	.458	.111	.727	3.9	2.0	.9	.6	8.6
Vernon Maxwell	80	80	33.8	.413	.342	.772	3.0	4.1	1.3	.4	17.2
Hakeem Olajuwon	70	69	37.7	.502	.000	.766	12.1	2.2	1.8	4.3	21.6
Tree Rollins	59	5	11.8	.535		.867	2.9	.3	.2	1.1	2.0
Kenny Smith	81	80	33.8	.475	.394	.866	2.2	6.9	1.3	.1	14.0
Larry Smith	45	7	17.8	.543	.000	.364	5.7	.7	.5	.2	2.3
Otis Thorpe	82	82	37.3	.592	.000	.657	10.5	3.0	.6	.5	17.3
John Turner	42	0	8.2	.439		.525	1.9	.3	.1	.1	2.8
Kennard Winchester†	4	0	4.3	.333			.0	.0	.0	.0	.5

See also

• 1991–92 NBA season