History

Top 5 all-time Houston Rockets scoring leaders

The Houston Rockets have had some of the all-time great scorers in NBA history that span across multiple eras.

Hakeem Olajuwon is the Rockets’ all-time leader in points, steals, rebounds and blocks.

Hakeem Olajuwon headlines the Rockets’ impressive list of all-time scoring leaders.

The Rockets have had some all-time great scorers that span multiple eras from 1970s icons like Rudy Tomjanovich and Elvin Hayes to contemporary stars like James Harden. However, Hakeem Olajuwon is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer above the rest of the Rockets’ greats.


1. Hakeem Olajuwon – 26,511 Points 

Hakeem “The Dream’s” fingerprints are all over the Rockets’ record books. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in points, steals, rebounds and blocks. Olajuwon led the Rockets to both of their NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and was the 1994 NBA MVP. His 26,511 points rank 15th all-time, but current players like James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry are all within striking distance of surpassing him. 


2. James Harden – 18,365 Points 

“The Beard” has been one of the best players in the NBA in the 2010s and 2020s. His career truly took off during his run with the Rockets. He was an All-Star in each of his nine seasons in Houston with one MVP and three scoring titles to his credit in that stretch. Harden’s days in Houston may be over but he is still a productive player with the Clippers. 


3. Calvin Murphy – 17,949 Points 

Murphy was a key member of the Rockets who helped the team take root in Houston after moving from San Diego following his rookie season. He was a consistent scorer as a point guard who averaged 17.9 points on 48.2% shooting over 13 seasons with the Rockets. His single-game high watermark was when he dropped 57 points against the Nets in 1978. Though Murphy only made one All-Star team, his consistent production over a long career earned him a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.


4. Rudy Tomjanovich – 13,383 Points 

Younger fans may be more familiar with Tomjanovich’s coaching achievements while manning the sidelines for both of the Rockets’ title runs. But Tomjanovich was plenty accomplished as a player, too. He was a five-time All-Star who averaged over 20 points per game in four different seasons with the franchise. Tomjanovich’s No. 45 jersey is retired in Houston.


5. Elvin Hayes – 11,762 Points 

“The Big E” had two great stints with the Rockets over his 16-year career. He was an All-Star in each of his first four seasons and averaged a league-leading 28.4 points per game as a rookie. That was one of the great rookie seasons in NBA history, but it was just Hayes’ luck that Wes Unseld bested him with an all-time rookie season that not only earned him Rookie of the Year, but also MVP. 

More Rockets All-Time Leading Scorers

  • Moses Malone (11,119 Points)
  • Yao Ming (9,247 Points)
  • Robert Reid (8,823 Points)

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