How the 1995 Rockets Won the Championship as the SIXTH Seed

[@MDJiang]

QUESTION for you guys: if Michael Jordan didn't go play baseball in 1993, do you think he could've beaten this 1995 Rockets team? (And yes I know he was in the league but he joined the team midseason, let's say he never left the team). I personally would never bet against Jordan in his prime, although I will say if Hakeem did what he did to David Robinson, I shudder to think what he would do to Luc Longley.

[@bomzatv]

Who will guard Hakeem? Horace Grant left

[@jackkutz5515]

hell yeah, the bulls could beat 'em

[@TLFan98]

MDJ 1995 Rockets would've beaten the bulls even with MJ. The Rockets were coming back from being champions the last year and I knew once they came back from a 3-1 lead against Barkley's Suns in the Conference Semis that they were going to win it all again that year. I had that same feeling with the Mavs (in 2011) when they sweeped the back to back champions in the Lakers in the west semis. No one was going to stop em.

[@chriscj71]

I can't bet against MJ. Hakeem & the Rockets would've did work but MJ was a different breed & would see to it that his teammates showed up each game. This is my ultimate 90s matchup tbh

[@tgc1635]

MDJ Hakeem would constantly rape the Bulls during the regular season, Jordan has stated many times that he's glad he never faced Hakeem in the finals

[@jasonwilson556]

The Rockets 95' title run was the most gangster playoff run in history.

[@9some]

and it didnt even felt like they were underdogs, more like unassuming strong guys

[@fendertremolo9793]

No it wasn't, they were the defending champions.

[@3andahalf442]

Fender Tremolo but were 6th

[@red23rd]

oh yeaaah..

[@chrishandsome4267]

What about my Mavs??

[@The_Mike_281]

Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion - Rudy T

[@SpFlash1523]

That is one of the best movational quotes you will ever hear in the history of sports.

[@natskivna]

Legendary quote.

[@alexandercoffman8319]

Yes Sir.

[@alexandercoffman8319]

I concur.

[@tlmcqu80]

LOL!!! little champ

[@keithwilliams9367]

Hakeem averaged 35 points against the leaugue mvp and against double and triple teams?? Sheesh..

[@davidebaso6994]

Dennis Rodman was also in that team so he basically scored 35 points on 56% against two top 5 defender ever

[@robertevbayekha6639]

@M idc

[@leyvaondabeatz2159]

Dude was a god lol

[@nolimit4484]

@M why do y’all fuckin do that? We don’t give a fuck bro😂

[@Theterminato2013]

Hakeem was a beast. That’s why I laugh when I see Steph Currytards claim that he’s the only one double & triple team and the reason he has off shooting nights. He should learn from MJ, Kobe, Hakeem, Shaq, Wilt, KD, Bird and Lebron on how to handle double and triple teams.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Watched it happen as a 15 year old...one of the more compelling NBA postseasons of all time. What the Rockets did...criminally underappreciated. Beat TWO 60 win teams, a 59 win team and a 57 win Orlando team in the Finals. No team ever had a harder road to the title. No home court, great opposition, but the heart of champion.

[@ATLienForLife]

I love the phrase "criminally underappreciated"! I will definitely use it from now on. Great comment.

[@bigworm2129]

Won THREE elimination games on the road! That team just couldn't be eliminated in those playoffs. Jordan and the Bulls would have gotten that ass waxed that year.

[@FuShengAlex]

@@bigworm2129 today is June 14th 2020.....25 years ago on this date. 25 years ago on this day they were icing off the Magic. They swept the Magic.....on the road in the NBA Finals. That's only ever happened one other time in NBA history

[@alexb8689]

I was 14, miss those match-ups, watching kcal with Chick Hearn , Vlade was my favorite player

[@brucewayne1662]

@@bigworm2129 It was actually THREE elimination games on the road.

[@Tutankamion196]

2011 Mavs and the 1995 Rockets - two teams who won it all while everyone doubted them. Great respect for them. (Coming from a Mavs fan).

[@danlower7834]

I think Dallas 2011 would be the 2nd most improbable, behind Houston. No disrespect as that Dallas team came together and just rolled in the playoffs.

[@oldmenwithnewguns5997]

Pistons 2004

[@legendarytonyclutch]

I knew mavs was gonna take it after sweeping the Lakers that year

[@theflipper404]

@@oldmenwithnewguns5997 04 pistons don't really count because Shaq and Kobe could've easily won that... they just were not getting along anymore at that point. Pistons got lucky rather lol.

[@9some]

against florida teams

[@brucer2152]

Still brings a tear to my eye when i hear Rudy say those immortal words. "Never underestimate the heart of a champion".

[@TheSolkorundo]

I grew up I Houston..this was one of my favorite things of my childhood.

[@calvincastillo8033]

Hell yeah bout time 95 rockets get some love 🚀🚀🚀

[@enri4ue]

Calvin Castillo They had a 30 For 30 Film about their 2 runs lol

[@arsonhakobyan]

Most unlikely champion of all-time.

[@alfredoalcantar8691]

Calvin Castillo but Jordan with kill that team

[@julesbadguy5878]

Bullshit they take Chicago to 7 games. Jordan wins but the Bulls have no answer for Hakeem and Drexler is a little bit better than Pippen.

[@alexandercoffman8319]

@ Jules Badguy, Jordan wins what? Because it sure as heck at the championship against Hakeem.

[@LimaFX]

So this is why Skip Bayless hates Olajuwon.

[@zachlavine5606]

Ikr 😂

[@donphares9006]

He dominated their goats they had no j o c k to ride

[@demorik6794]

When I was a kid this was my favorite team, Hakeem was a beast and the most underrated center of all time IMO.

[@stackboostuploads]

He's Respected For Sure

[@Bruh-pb5os]

Title should be: How Hakeem Olajuwon once broke the nba.

[@9some]

si

[@9some]

what kind of reply is that? did you read what he said? pft @The Green Pill Mindset

[@9some]

stfu how can @The Green Pill Mindset be so dumb?

[@9some]

clearly @The Green Pill Mindset

[@Ericomaioral]

@The Green Pill Mindset lol, u r so stupid.

[@bangobuck8722]

I didn't think the 1 seed meant much but holy shit 80% of champions are 1 seeds

[@MDJiang]

BangoBuck87 ikr, it's crazy

[@angelg8445]

MDJ Hey man great content.

[@wuliwei6939]

Home court advantage is important

[@COOLSAUCE21]

BangoBuck87 the best team is usually 1 seed

[@infiniteone3246]

+Wu Liwei but you can't "underestimate the heart of a champion"!!!

[@crazeverseben7583]

This is why Hakeem Olajuwon is my favorite basketball player!

[@abdelw]

Hakeem the dream OLAJUWON!!! What a player. He didn't seem to want to celebrate his first ever title. How humble! This man is amazing.

[@jrivas4038]

The most disrespected team of all time

[@shadowmamba95]

Sì

[@chriscastillo196]

J Rivas I’d say that the 03 pistons were the most disrespected team. Just my opinion.

[@isaacknight6987]

shaq is better than hakeem olauwon 2rings shaq 4 rings

[@joangutierrez1777]

@@isaacknight6987 ....stop

[@speedlgt]

if you take any avg guy make 7ft tall and 300lbs plus. they can do what shaq did. Dream beat shaq. straight up. and MJ himself said Dream was the greatest center ever.

[@kmena05]

The 1995 Rockets were a team that adjusted to any situation and adversity

[@julesbadguy5878]

Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler put on a run of the ages. Unbelievable.

[@bjnt922]

As a Rockets fan and a native Houston, I'd like to thank you for showing respect to the most disrespected championship team in NBA history. I believe that this team as well as their previous championship team the year before would have beaten the Chicago Bulls even if Michael Jordan didn't "retire" to play baseball. For those that say otherwise. I say check the Rockets record against the Bulls during their first 3 peat. Also check how well the Rockets matched up against them during that time. Yes the regular season is different from the postseason but matchup problems follow teams regardless of the time of the year.

[@MDJiang]

+brian thomas great points🙌

[@FuShengAlex]

brian thomas Hakeem woulda stomped on them......like he always did lol

[@f.lashby8298]

And Jordan said something like : It's a good thing these guys (The Rockets) can't get out of the west, because we have no answer for that guy (Hakeem). I think he said that somewhere in their first three peat.

[@infiniteone3246]

there was two teams that boasted a win against the bulls. Houston and Utah. they were kryptonite for Jordan .

[@KWCline91]

Infinite One except Utah lost twice to Chicago in the finals.

[@mikegillins4992]

That 95 team peaked at the right time Certainly the most impressive run in NBA history!!!

[@smoothALOE]

This is one of my all-time favorite teams. That Game 7 vs the Suns and Game 1 vs the Magic were their two best performances.

[@wacojohnnydean1777]

Thanks for showing some love to Htown! Clutch City in the house!!! Still get chills thinking about the run these '95 Rockets made.

[@moisesm.2752]

'95 Rockets best team ever without a doubt. No team has ever done what 1995 Rockets did. #RespectTheChamps

[@fendertremolo9793]

Not even close. The 2005 Spurs are better

[@thamesgoodwin6638]

Fender Tremolo how so? The Spurs had a stretch of 50+ winning seasons and never went back to back🤷🏼‍♂️

[@prepballfan]

@@fendertremolo9793 what he is saying is what the Rockets accomplished in 1995 was the hardest path that no other team has been able to fight through to win the Ship including what they did to your beloved Spurs. Demolished.

[@AKSBSU]

I was in high school when this happened. I have never seen a center play to the level Hakeem did from 93 through 95. It was up there with Jordan, Bird, and Magic level dominance, and what younger fans won't understand is how incredible the competition was and how brutal and physical the defense was at that time. The league was full of star centers, among the best of all time. D. Robinson's defense would be a straight jacket for 95% of the centers out there. No one plays like that against a frontcourt like D. Robinson and Rodman. Think Embiid and Kawhi are intimidating? They are the best defenders currently. Robinson and Rodman are among the best defenders EVER during the golden age of tough physical defense. It was truly an amazing thing to behold.

[@donphares9006]

I already know

[@cmurphy0707]

What happened was that the Rockets struggled in the regular season due to chemistry issues and then the Drexler trade happened which led to more struggle because the locker room didn't trust him. Vernon then got sent home by Houston because there was a falling out between him and Rudy T, the Rockets would go down 2-1 in the opening round against Utah which put them on the verge of elimination, and then somehow a light switch went off in Clyde in Game 4 and he scored 41 pts to tie the series against Utah and then the Rockets would eliminate Utah in Game 5. The team pretty much gelled completely after eliminating the Suns in the 2nd round. The secret was that the Rockets gelled together at the right place and at the right times.

[@charlesphearse7620]

Dont forget Maxwell catching cases🤣🤣🤣

[@prepballfan]

I was at game four of the Utah series and Clyde the Glyde Drexler absolutely went off in that game.

[@bennyubub1582]

Oh, so this is why they call it clutch city...

[@gloomygl]

Benny Ubub Yep, when they were down 3-1, an article was written on them with "Choke City" as the title Then they came back and it became Clutch city

[@KWCline91]

Gloomygl _ it was actually 1994 when they were down 2-0 when the article was written.

[@brucewayne1662]

It was in 1994 when they went down 0-2 at home and after blowing a 20pt lead in the 4th quarter in each of those games, and the Choke City article was written.

[@ARod-br2ui]

Yes sir!!!!

[@tcollins7081]

Yep, that's why they called it Clutch City

[@djdiggerjonez4063]

Trading for Clyde was what did it. Sometime you gotta go all in, even if you don't think you have the best hand. They hit the flush with Drexler.

[@ianwallace3082]

What made the Rockets' 1995 playoff run even more impressive was that they did it with basically a ten-man roster. Carl Herrera, who averaged 21 minutes per game during the regular season, was on the playoff roster, but injuries prevented him from playing. Vernon Maxwell was also on the playoff roster, but he suddenly decided to take a leave of absence from the team during the first round. That's two key guys right there. Those Rockets truly were the most improbable champion ever.

[@OTT23Detroit]

Damn that shit gave me chills when tommy said "don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion"

[@natskivna]

It's "Rudy T." not "tommy".

[@bigronsrub]

From Houston and I had just graduated HS that year. I remember driving with friends on Westheimer Rd after the 4th game. It was packed bumper to bumper, everyone celebrating and carrying brooms yelling “sweep”! Great team and great times.

[@andrewflores1855]

We were vacationing in san antonio at the time, so we couldn't celebrate publicly. But we saw the action on westheimer on the news. Wish we were there.

[@texasentertainmentnetwork3777]

Good to see the young folks giving 'props' to the 95 Rockets!

[@tylerkopp3216]

Daily reminder that the '96 suns blew a 3-1 lead

[@avramibarasch2326]

*95'*

[@sarkismuradyan8806]

Tyler Kopp my dad said if I get 45 or more subscribers he would give me 150 dollars.Pl help me

[@youngbougie5560]

NBA News fuck you

[@hinchadelrojo19]

You reminded this to people for 22 years? What a legend

[@ThyploTheGreat]

NBA News ndkem

[@Agent_1701-D]

Hobbling into the playoffs as the sixth seed, and somehow, someway, defeated the four toughest teams they could’ve faced in that season. I remember this run well. No one took Houston seriously at any step of the way. On paper and in the press, they were a doomed team from the start. But games are not played on paper. They’re played on the court. And in doing so, they pulled off one of the most impossible runs in NBA playoff history. It was like the universe was saying to Houston “if you want to repeat, you’ll have to beat the four toughest opponents your sport has to offer.” They had the heart of a champion all along, even if it took a bit of time for them to find it. But they did.

[@TheAdrianMD]

Dang, the 1st rd of the playoffs should still be best of 5. First round takes too long even when teams get sweeped since half the freaking league makes it

[@Christofamoltisanti77]

Mario Elie the kiss of death

[@residentgomez]

It was the 25 Anniversary of the Kiss of Death yesterday.

[@josephhall3678]

After Hakeem, Elie was my favorite Rocket. He was a scrappy, tenacious defender.

[@dalecampbell9259]

A great story well told. My man Clyde the Glyde finally got his deserved ring.

[@whiptech]

Clutch City back then was a magical time. *

[@thegunman4567]

Going to miss the era of big men

[@currythegoatofmankindthepa5156]

thegunman4567 bro that eras been long gone

[@aaronaaldridge5670]

It Will most likely happen again

[@DrChadVader16]

thegunman4567 big men making a comeback you got Davis boogie KAT KP jokic

[@jokerofmorocco]

The era of big men is getting revived again with KAT, Joel Embiid, Cousins, etc

[@iamhungey12345]

I missed it for almost 2 decades now.

[@subscribetotorontowire3888]

Penny Hardaway was the first NBA player in nba history to average 50-40-90 in the finals. Just want to remind yall of the greatness of Penny Hardaway. The goat that injuries held back

[@atlaslion5128]

Generic Username yea Penny was something very rare and very special.

[@9some]

go back in the line many like him boogie cousins for a current example

[@rossman3388]

9some what

[@billbailey9684]

Penny that you? Lol. As a Rocket fan I still liked Penny wish he could have had a full injury free career.

[@9some]

stfu, @@rossman3388

[@williamgee6654]

I can't see the Rockets or any other team ever again pull off such an amazing playoff run.

[@bensolo166]

90's basketball🔥

[@luadresiguid7791]

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion." That's it!

[@___________________.]

I dont know how people can see Dream tear alleged MVP david robinson to shreds and still doubt how hes the GOAT.

[@MrShanester117]

This and the 94 team are what brought me from liking basketball to loving basketball

[@plbeckman]

Clyde is underrated. He was phenomenal. The entire team clicked.

[@prepballfan]

I do no believe he is overrated he is well worth the hype

[@velo5983]

90’s basketball was the best decade I remember this even tho I am a Sixer fan

[@VitruvianVictor]

hakeem is so underrated , he won his first ring with no HOFs had DPOTY and MVP and FMVP

[@ordinaryballer4517]

Always grinding, much appreciation

[@rocketmank8584]

I watched every single one of those games on TV. it was the best time being a rox fan. rox beat the top 3 teams in the west as the 6th seed, then swept the Magic who held the best record in the east that season. gotta say nobody saw it coming, including fans in Houston, which made it all the more memorable.

[@kanalo_timso_31]

As a fan of the Magic, I couldn't get over Nick Anderson missing those FTs. But after some years; I must admit that the Rockets just had the bigger "heart of a champion" factor.

[@788rad]

This is going straight into my favorites

[@danangdwiatma6158]

KD joined a 73 win team.

[@AMan-dj2qo]

Danang Dwiatma and has more rings then u

[@Hidden_Seeker_]

A Man. Because he joined a 73 win team...

[@MichaelKing015]

err i have a lot of rings

[@kys3264]

A Man I would have won with the Warriors

[@caron1873]

A. E. Cooper No, he joined a 0-0 team as of october 25th 2016

[@tonyvargas1781]

Wow! Thanks for putting this together. Never knew the rockets went through such battles to win.

[@HailKingCeezer]

When you mention Karl Malone and John Stockton, and Shaq and Penny as duos, that's fine, but saying Charles Barkley without mentioning KJ bugs me. KJ is one of the most underrated point guards ever. And while he was hurt a lot during that regular season, he had an incredible playoff run and he deserves mention as part of the duo with Chuck. He was well on his way to 1st ballot HOF if he didn't have the injuries. Admiral had more of an overall team instead of a duo, but he did have Rodman who funnily enough only gets mentioned as a superstar teammate when he was with MJ and already mid 30s...anything to change MJ's narrative that he had more help than LeBron i guess. This is my favorite playoff run ever. What an amazing time to be alive and living in Houston! Hopefully Harden and CP3 can bring us another!

[@brianthom6798]

In their respective championship seasons, both Jordan and James always had a ton of help. (Which is not meant to denigrate at all their individual greatness.) That has to be pretty much a wash. And I couldn't agree more about KJ - massive disrespect that he wasn't mentioned.

[@localneo-graphic4647]

@@brianthom6798 Yea, but the Heatles 'not being a real superteam' is one of the most absurd narratives I've ever heard. That was the superteam to end all superteams, just turns out that there was only one ball and Wade and LeBron are just unremarkable off-ball. That's my knock against LeBron, 2011 he shared possessions, and it turned out that he just had no idea wtf to do when he did that. He was just like, 'I literally have never done this in my life, how do my teammates do it?'

[@kevo6463]

You have the most informative basketball videos on KZbin. Keep up the great work.

[@quanjano382]

Evan Xu he just makes far out vids with less information

[@frankdux3605]

Kevin Polo he reminds me of AndyHoops NBA channel... Both make unique topics and are Asian

[@mynic4971]

Frank Dux same lol

[@somerandomguy84]

Thank you for avoiding the revisionism that the Rockets "weren't actually an underdog they just turned it up." They were heavily doubted.

[@Jaws-kx8po]

Easily the best playoff run in NBA history. Possibly in sports history

[@arsonhakobyan]

Most improbable? Yes! Greatest? Not a chance?

[@NEONOIRERA]

Yup

[@mrskinszszs]

Arson Hakobyan Who had a greater run?

[@ArDeeNY1]

Kolby K It could be argued that Lebron had the best one last year. Numbers were insane, hit game winners and buzzer beaters every few games, and went to the finals with his 2nd best player being Kevin love (who wasn't even healthy for the whole postseason)

[@mrskinszszs]

It could, yes. However, LeBron was a 50 win team with the 4th seed. Hakeem was a 47 win team at the 6th seed. The Rockets matched up against multiple 60 win teams, while LeBron faced no 60 win team -- the only 60+ win team in the last Playoffs was Houston. The Rockets came back from a 3-1 deficit against Phoenix and swept the 60 win Magic that just knocked MJ out of the ECF, and did so without having home court advantage at any point. The Rockets are the lowest seeded team to ever win a title, and Hakeem was putting on a GOAT tier performance, just as LeBron did these past Playoffs. I think Houston had the crazier run. They were not favored at any point in the Playoffs and defied the odds. It had never been done before nor has it been done since.

[@UnlimitedProduction1]

Any Houston natives remember this amazing run? Man those 2 seasons were the best. I'm dying for another championship here

[@johngoyer]

UnlimitedProduction1 The 94 championship was crazy. Houston literally erupted when the finals ended. My apartment complex was going nuts. It was deafening. First major sports championship in Houston history. I still have my championship T-shirt.

[@thamesgoodwin6638]

UnlimitedProduction1, most definitely. Bulls fans always call our back to back titles a sham, but they were just sore that their team just wasn’t the same without Jordan🤷🏼‍♂️

[@djdiggerjonez4063]

What a great way to succinctly explain my favorite team.

[@RenxyQuad]

If a 6th seed can win a title, maybe in the future, I will witness an 8th seed winning a title.

[@zafiruzoma6234]

in the age of superteams? maybe in the next century

[@RenxyQuad]

You are probably right.

[@stephenmontez3545]

Ray Ray The Knicks made it to the finals as an eight seed. It was a locked out shortened season and they were over matched by the Spurs, but it could happen again.

[@ricardodiaz8612]

It can happen this next season if 8th seed defeat the warriors they pretty much got the championship in their hands

[@masonlanger4208]

Velocity7Central the Timberwolves won't be a 8th seed

[@sweetmapleleafs]

"Dont ever underestimate the heart of a champion." (Rudy T 3:16)

[@piscean7]

😩🤣🤣🌠🌠 🚀🚀🚀🚀

[@syncmonism]

It's hard not to love Olajuwon. Possibly the most skilled big-man who ever played.

[@RaidenNexus97]

Great video. Though underrated, imo the 1995 Rockets is one of the greatest teams ever. Along with the 1996 Bulls and 2001 Lakers.

[@jakenorthbriz]

When I was a kid i collected Hakeem bb cards and my older bro collected Clyde the glide so this was the best year ever. Thanks for the video!

[@bbqblazekyleg7551]

Hakeem is my favorite big man of all time because he had finesse and was very agile in the post and get past anyone.He was even more of a beast on defense.He could get lots of steals even as a 7 ft and is the best blocker ever and has gotten 2 quad-dubs.He will always be my favorite Center with kareem in second.

[@ryublueblanka]

"Im Olajuwon dunking on you and yo homies" - Master P

[@jaymorgan7896]

Mario Elie wasn't a "mid-season pick up for them", he was part of the 93-94 championship squad, still good video : )

[@thamesgoodwin6638]

Jay Morgan , and then he ended up with the Spurs in ‘99 and won a title with them too🤷🏼‍♂️. I called the rock station in San Antonio, soon after the trade and talked to their morning show about it. I told them “He was great for us, don’t be surprised if he is the missing piece that y’all needed...”; they thought that I was nuts, but I had the last laugh on that one🤣🤣🤣...

[@piedpiped3267]

>Beat a championship contender in first round >came back 3-1 >dominated a team with the mvp >swept a younger, faster, flashier team This is probably the best finals run of all time

[@therealdeal717]

All of us age 38 and up ballers should thank this team for showing us both the heart and killer execution style of a true champ.

[@veerchasm1]

One of my favorite championship teams ever. I only rooted for the Rockets because I followed Clyde

[@jimsmith6702]

Mario Elie wasn't a "mid season pick up". Aside from that-great video!

[@mogulvisionmediastudios8422]

After a regular season game between the Bulls and the Rockets back in 1992, a journalist named Fran Blinebury covering the Rockets claimed he was talking to Michael Jordan in the locker room. The Bulls lost (110-96) yet again to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets. He says Michael Jordan told him “you know it’s a good thing these guys can’t get out of the west.” and the reporter asked, “WHY?” Jordan's response (regarding Hakeem)… “WE’VE GOT NO ANSWER FOR THAT BIG MONSTER.”

[@ChrisM07]

The Bulls didn't have an answer for their frontcourt period not just him. Horry, Thorpe, and Herrera gave every team problems with their athleticsm including the Supersonics they didn't have Elie and Cassell on the team yet and went 7 games with them. The Knicks also had a very good defensive frontcourt but they weren't as athletic.

[@RealmofFreakdom]

Jordan has said Rockets would have been tough because they had not answer for him. Rodman with Spurs could not even stop Olajuwon.

[@walterlv01]

The only team I would rank as even close to as impressive a run through the playoffs as the 1995 Rockets are the 2011 Mavericks in terms of the quality of teams they had to beat to win the title.

[@k.m.parekh4697]

That was an absolute magical season. Rockets had 6 great players: Hakeem, Clyde, Sam Cassell, Kenny smith, Mario Elie and Robert Horry. Shaq sucked at free throws, Nick Anderson suffered the same. The fans brought out the brooms to indicate sweep and that is exactly what happened. Horry would rebound and throw half court to Clyde and in two to three steps an easy two points. Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell were rotated throughout the game so a fresh point shooter. Their second championship was the greatest. THanks for the posting, brings back memories.

[@keithcharlie9521]

I shook Clyde's hand when he was coaching the Coogs and you could tell that man worked hard during his basketball career.

[@ruchpat1]

0:34 holy shit 😳 They played some good teams to get that ring. My gosh how grueling.

[@michaelscalzo6716]

MDJ is a great basketball KZbinr, up there with Dom 2k and Mike korzemba. I think MDJ is so underated and should have more subs. keep up the great vids!!

[@ItsPesoGuapo]

Man I love the Houston Rockets!

[@QULMUN]

Yes. I remember watching all those games. It was amazing. H - Town went crazy. Lets do it again Harden !

[@brightgreenfuzzyball3000]

Amazing work Sir, you have acompsilated everything that went down , you definitely have the heart of CHAMP. Big thanks from H-town. What time it was to be Rockets fan

[@zorp7934]

Robert '7-0' Horry That's how.

[@9some]

si, he on my all-time team as is HO, he the starting center or PF on that team

[@dionysise5008]

i remember those finals very well. Many guys even after WCF were sure that Shaq is getting the ring after beating MJ.

[@jbizz80]

I was rooting hard for the Magic in the FInals. I was a Bulls fan but Orlando was one of the most exciting teams in the league that year. After Orlando blew Game 1, I was completely deflated.

[@ardinhajihil5011]

mj was rusted that time but yeah they beat him up

[@J-S.P]

Ardin Hajihil actually the only thing MJ was "rusty" on was turnovers; with all his other playoff stats for 94-95 that argument just doesn't fly - www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html If you look at his playoff stats for 94-95 you'll notice: 31.5ppg, 4.5apg, 2.3spg, 1.4bpg, 6.5rpg, 81ft%, 50.6fg%. Aside from the 4.1 to 2.3 turnovers/game(and less foul calls as well) most of his other playoff stats actually DECREASED in 95-96......js

[@bryanortiz1230]

@@J-S.P I know this is a 7-month-old comment but the topic was too good to pass up. In 1995 MJ played 17 games in the regular season, which is 1 game less than the 18 games he played in 1986. In 1986, MJ suffered a leg injury which took him out for pretty much the majority of the season and yet rushed himself back for the last 15 games. He proceeded to face the '86 Celtics with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, and Bill Walton. MJ averaged 43.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 50.5 fg%, and 87.2% ft%. This was also the series MJ scored 63 points in a game, a record that still stands today. In other words, despite MJ rushing himself back from an injury that has taken out players like Greg Oden and Grant Hill, he still dropped jaw-dropping averages. As such, I don't believe your argument about him not being rusty hold water, MJ was just simply exceptional even when rusty.

[@jaykfrisby8163]

Rockets Nation Stand The Fuck Up!

[@chucknola484]

I was a big David Robinson fan when I was a kid because he joined the Navy and was the epitome of class (I grew up no where near San Antonio). I was the kid who always traded for David Robinson cards (and Chris Mullen cards) because he was my idol. Well needless to say watching Hakeem destroy David in that series was hard to swallow. Especially considering we were the favorites to win it all that year it hurt even more. HOWEVER, when Hakeem did the same thing to SHAQ in that 4-0 NBA Finals Sweep I felt somewhat vindicated. Hakeem earned my Respect forever for taking SHAQ and the Admiral to school.

[@marindapic4352]

This is such a good video. Good narration and a good story.

[@michaelthompson9119]

Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion.

[@grxengine]

Mario Elie was not a mid season pickup. He won championship with the Rockets in 1994 after he was traded from Portland. Had been scouted in the old D-league by Rudy T years earlier.

[@brianperro435]

95 rockets= best championship run EVER.NO EQUAL. WOULD HAVE BEATEN THE BULLS.

[@chrispease6939]

Charlie Mercury ya but mj had come back from retirement that year right

[@darkpaladin933]

@@chrispease6939 but they beaten in semis by shaq and penny and orlando magic in that time

[@realchrisgunter]

Great video! The rockets back to back titles were the best part of my sports fan life! One note to point out: Mario Elie was not a mid season pickup. He was a member of the 93-94 team.

[@donaldyoung9901]

Being a loyal houstonian and rocket fan..going to the games starting at 12..I love this video..all true.

[@jamesn778]

hakeem>>>> any center that's ever played

[@josephtedros2089]

AlexLoeher He's definitely better than wilt and shaq. I also think he's better than kareem but he's the closest to Hakeem. Hakeem did both defense and offense at elite levels even winning MVP and dpoty in the same year.

[@jbizz80]

AlexLoeher Olajuwon had a more refined game than Shaq. Shaq's definitely one of the greatest big men ever, but Olajuwon was far more versatile.

[@jbizz80]

ToniDub AKH I'd put Hakeem at #2, second only to Kareem.

[@leviomeke8122]

ToniDub AKH Kareem Abdul Jabbar > Hakeem Olajuwon.

[@DrChadVader16]

Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest player to ever live

[@mattathiasmacabees6416]

Stockton passing to david beniot 3 times in last 2 minutes of game 5 - TAKE THE SHOT STOCKTON!!!

[@jonashavik1317]

Hakeem is the greatest center in league history

[@jonashavik1317]

Bill Russell Who is then, u?

[@RRRRRRRRR33]

Talent wise is not even close. But sadly his legacy is not as "strong" than other great centers.

[@hectorandem2944]

Rafael Teles I guess people care less about they fit with the most blocks than the guy with the most points. :/

[@RRRRRRRRR33]

Not only points, but the total amount of championships, MVPs, etc.. the overall body of work. Hakeem lost his duo too early, Sampson was a partial bust. Jordan had Pippen for almost an entire decade + the league and refs in his pocket. Hard to compete, teams that had a lone superstar carrying scrubs competing against 2 superstars who also carried scrubs, lol When Jordan "retired", the league was balanced again, 1 superstar vs 1 superstar. And we know the results, Hakeem was by far the best center in the golden era of the position. Like I said, regarding pure talent, no big gets even close to him.

[@NEONOIRERA]

Facts

[@unrealuncledrew3137]

your videos are hella unique & u're a freaking genius. mad props 👏👏🙌

[@degenerate82]

hell of a video man would love to see you break down some more NBA history

[@aprildeath1015]

Hakeem is the best center of all time. He didn't have to rely on 1 thing to score. Post moves, all sorts of scoring, number 1 shot blocker in the history of the NBA, and only 6'11!!! (Which is small compared to guys like Shaq Wilt or Kareem). Won 2 rings WITH NO HELP WHATSOEVER and defeated the greatest generation of big men in NBA history.

[@nnamdionyeneke3374]

AprilDeath101 he played soccer for over sixteen years of his life before he hit a growth spot NBA big men move like the have 2 left feet never stood a chance

[@arsonhakobyan]

Your last 2 points are highly debatable, but I agree w/ everything before your last sentence.

[@keithwilliams9367]

How do u disagree with the very last statment..he did play against david robinson and shaq...and he is hakeem...that was the golden era for centers...just like how this is the golden eras of point guards

[@arsonhakobyan]

More so than when it was Wilt, Russell, Jabbar, Reed, Cowens, McAdoo, Thurmand, Unseld & so on? It's more like the era of centers that you're calling the greatest ever, just happened to be the last truly great era of centers.

[@kanyewest184]

Arsen Akopyan in all honesty you cannot compare the likes of Unseld, Mcadoo, Russell, etc. To Shaq, Ewing, Robinson and Olajuwon. I mean the great centres of the 90s were much bigger, stronger and longer than their olden day counterparts. The Centers you listed were great at their time but I'm willing to bet my life that none of them could handle Shaq the way Hakeem did (besides maybe Kareem and Wilt). Hakeem deserves all the praise for being able to shine as bright as he did in a time like that

[@tim12chang]

They did not beat "arguably" the four best teams that season. They did beat the four best teams that season. The Spurs, Jazz, Suns, and Magic were the top four teams record-wise in the season. So this is a record that's unlikely to be ever broken. As to your question, there is no doubt in my mind the Rockets would've beaten the Bulls had Jordan stayed to play basketball in '94 and '95.

[@derfdogmcgoonie2956]

Jordan was Back that year but Lost to Penny and Shaq so the Bulls didn't make it to the finals.. The Team the Jordan Bulls lost to the Rockets Swept them!

[@derfdogmcgoonie2956]

tim12chang Jordan Played they lost to the Magic in the playoffs!

[@MrJayb76]

They just got hot like the 07 Giants who ended up beating the undefeated Patriots.

[@hmoobmeeka]

@Greg Hubbard 93-94 is a what if but 94-95 jordan came back with a few games left in the season. They met Orlando in the playoffs and that would be the last time jordan lost a playoff series

[@punchdreadnought8101]

and the next season, the Bulls went 72-10 and won. Both of them were great, so stop comparing, lol.

[@CheapGuitarsAndMore]

if they hadnt broken up this championship team, we could of had hakeem vs jordan. would have been epic. this still is the best run ever though, the opponents were all elite teams. theres no way any modern 6 seed or less will ever achieve this again. todays top teams are stacked.

[@jeffsartori]

Drexler got 2nd on most stats that year right after Hakeen...he was never selfish on his career, some may say lack of competitiveness (if compared to MJ) I'd say different style as being a role player (as good as Pipen), the ultimate bond to that team.

[@jeffsartori]

You made my words. Drexler was always one of my favorite players because of that mindset, unselfish manner and at the same time, a showman here and there.

[@jssmzkprmtns]

I lived it and it was great to see you giving them props. God bless you