HOUSTON’S

BIG PROBLEM
By Beatrice Miller
8 April 2021
HAKEEM OLAJUWAN

Hakeem Olajuwon on the court
Rockets need elite centers
The Houston Rockets have a legacy of being able to recruit the most dominant centers in

the game. From Hakeem Olajuwon to Yao Ming the rockets have a long list of centers

that have led them far into the playoffs. Centers used to dominate the NBA, but that was

a time when guards barely knew how to shoot. For the past few decades, it has been

dominated by guards or “small-ball” in sports terms. In the 1984 NBA Draft Hakeem

Olajuwon was selected No. 1 overall: even over Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. He

played with the Rockets majority of his career of 18 years. He is a 2x NBA champion

and finals MVP, a 12x All-Star and MVP of the 1994 NBA Season. Yao Ming is just one
more dominant Center to be a part of the Rockets. An 8x All-Star and Hall of Famer he

was an incredible player. There are also so many more Bigs to play for the Rockets such

as Chuck Hayes, Ralph Sampson and Dikembe Mutombo. The Rockets gameplay used

to consist and be dominated by Big men. However, that is in the past because it doesn’t

seem that way any longer. In 2012, James Harden was traded to the rockets leaving his

teammates, Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook, who were one of the best trios in NBA

history behind to be the star player on the Rockets. Harden taking over the team assured

the Rockets an all-star guard and all the needed was a fantastic power forward and

Center. Harden stayed with the Rockets for a little over the decade and managed to chase

of any dominant center the Rockets were able to obtain. Seemingly, Harden wanted to be

the sole star like Lebron James to the Cavaliers or Damian Lillard to the Trailblazers.

Coming from an Oklahoma City Thunder team where he was constantly referred to as

the third best player and easily replaceable him wanting to be the star makes sense.

However, in 2020 Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets it’s time for them to start

rebuilding the team in its proper image. When Harden was the star there was very little

effort to recruit big men of elite status. Perhaps the Rockets refusing to use big men on

the court is by design. Turns out the Rockets are showing 118 pointless points out of

100, which would be the highest level of all time if they could keep it up. Former

Rockets, Coach Mike D’Antoni, was not very caring toward playing defense, and he

managed that by putting extra work on offense. It would make up for not playing both

sides of the floor. Bigs are typically used to crash the boards on defense and offense;

therefore, a coach who is not trying to make an effort at that style of play of course is not

going to recruit big men. But, with D’Antoni and Harden both gone I think it time to

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start restoration. The Rockets have a legacy of recruiting hall of fame caliber big men

and they need to try harder to rebuild that legacy.