1983–84 Houston Rockets season

1983–84 Houston Rockets season
1983–84 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	29–53 (.354)
Place	Division: 6th (Midwest); Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTXH; Home Sports Entertainment
Radio	KTRH
< 1982–83	1984–85 >

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

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	1	Ralph Sampson	C/PF	United States	Virginia
1	3	Rodney McCray	SF	United States	Louisville
3	48	Craig Ehlo	SG	United States	Washington State
4	71	Darrell Browder		United States	TCU
5	94	Chuck Barnett		United States	Oklahoma
6	117	Jim Stack		United States	Northwestern
7	140	Brian Kellerman		United States	Idaho
8	163	Jeff Bolding		United States	Arkansas State
9	185	James Campbell		United States	Oklahoma City

Roster

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

Bill Fitch

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	45	37	.549	–	31–10	14–27	15–15
x-Dallas Mavericks	43	39	.524	2	31–10	12–29	19–11
x-Denver Nuggets	38	44	.463	7	27–14	11–30	16–14
x-Kansas City Kings	38	44	.463	7	26–15	12–29	16–14
San Antonio Spurs	37	45	.451	8	28–13	9–32	14–16
Houston Rockets	29	53	.354	16	21–20	8–33	9–21

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	45	37	.549	9
3	x-Portland Trail Blazers	48	34	.585	6
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	43	39	.524	11
5	x-Seattle SuperSonics	42	40	.512	12
6	x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	13
7	x-Denver Nuggets	38	44	.463	16
8	x-Kansas City Kings	38	44	.463	16

9	San Antonio Spurs	37	45	.451	17
10	Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	17
11	San Diego Clippers	30	52	.366	24
12	Houston Rockets	29	53	.354	25

Record vs. opponents

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

Regular season

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	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	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	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	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	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)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
75	April 2, 1984	@ Utah	L 100–111	Salt Palace Acord Arena	28–47
77	April 5, 1984	@ Portland	W 129–114	Memorial Coliseum	29–48
78	April 8, 1984	@ Seattle (at Tacoma, Washington)	L 107–120	Tacoma Dome	29–49
80	April 11, 1984	Denver	L 110–130	The Summit	29–51
82	April 14, 1984	@ Kansas City	L 96–108	Kemper Arena	29–53

1983–84 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

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Ralph Sampson, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
Ralph Sampson, All-NBA Second Team
Ralph Sampson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team

References

^ Vaccaro, Mike (February 6, 2019). "Tanking in professional sports is not a new phenomenon". New York Post.

[NYP2619-1] Vaccaro, Mike (February 6, 2019). "Tanking in professional sports is not a new phenomenon". New York Post.

[1]

1983–84 Houston Rockets season

Contents

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Player statistics

Season

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

See also

References