The San Diego Rockets history began in 1967 as an NBA expansion team representing Southern California. Known for their fast-paced style, the team quickly gained a loyal following. Many still remember San Diego Rockets basketball for featuring standout players like Elvin Hayes before the franchise relocated and became today’s Houston Rockets.
Established
1967
City
San Diego – Houston
League History
1967 – Present / National Basketball Association
Team History
1971 – Present / Houston Rockets
1967 – 1971 / San Diego Rockets
Nickname
Rockets – The San Diego Rockets are among the most iconic teams in the history of the NBA. The team was founded in 1967 and played its home games at the San Diego Sports Arena until 1971, when they moved to Houston, Texas. Despite having a relatively short tenure in San Diego, the Rockets have left an indelible mark on basketball fans everywhere. One of their most memorable contributions is their nickname origins: "Rockets."
San Diego Rockets Origin
The story behind how this name came to be is quite interesting. It all started with a contest held by original owner Robert Breitbard when he first established the franchise as part of the ABA (American Basketball Association). He asked local fans to come up with creative ideas for what his new team should be called. After receiving hundreds of submissions, he decided that "Rockets" would best represent his vision and pay homage to the nearby aerospace industry, which had been booming since World War II ended two decades prior.
Since then, many other franchises across different sports leagues have adopted similar nicknames such as “Jets” or “Aerospace,” but none can match up against what has become synonymous with success for San Diego's beloved former basketball squad - The Rockets! So next time you hear someone talking about why this legendary moniker still resonates today despite its brief stay in sunny California, you can proudly explain its fascinating origin story from over 50 years ago!
Championship
NBA Championships 0
1995, 1994
Arena
2003 – Present / Toyota Center
1975 – 2003 / The Summit
1971 – 1975 / Hofheinz Pavilion
*San Diego*
1967 – 1971 / San Diego Sports Arena
Owner
2017 – Present / Tilman Fertitta
1993 – 2017 / Leslie Alexander
1982 – 1993 / Charlie Thomas
1980 – 1982 / Gavin Maloof
1979 – 1980 / George J. Maloof, Sr.
1976 – 1979 / Kenneth Schnitzer
1975 – 1976 / James Talcott Incorporated
1973 – 1975 / Irvin Kaplan
1971 – 1973 / Billy Goldberg, Wayne Duddlesten, Mickey Herskowitz
1967 – 1971 / Robert Breitbard
- 1967
- 1968
- 1971
- 1971
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San Diego Rockets Team Formation
The NBA continues to expand adding a team in Seattle and San Diego. The San Diego franchise was named the Rockets since it was the city where the Atlas Rockets for NASA were made. The Rockets did not blast off right away as they dropped their first two games at home against the St. Louis Hawks on October 14th and ... -
Elvin Hayes Number 1 Pick
In 1968, after the Rockets won a coin toss against the Baltimore Bullets to determine who would have the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft, they selected Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston. Hayes improved the Rockets’ record to 37 wins and 45 losses, enough for the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance in 1969, but the Rockets lost ... -
Hiring of Alex Hannum
The Rockets’ front office tried to bring the franchise back to respectability by hiring venerable Alex Hannum (left) as head coach (and General Manager) for the 1971 – 1972 season. Hannum immediately overhauled the team’s entire image: the team colors (and uniforms) were changed from orange and black to columbine blue and yellow (the colors of the columbine, Colorado’s state ... -
Leave for Houston, Texas
Because of the low performance and attendance, Breitbard looked to sell the team, and in 1971, Texas Sports Investments bought the franchise for $5.6 million and moved the team to Houston. The franchise became the first NBA team in Texas, and the nickname “Rockets” took on even greater relevance after the move, given Houston’s long connection to the space industry.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
San Diego Rockets History
The San Diego Rockets history began in 1967 when the franchise joined the NBA as an expansion team under owner Robert Breitbard. Based at the San Diego Sports Arena, the team quickly became known for its exciting and fast-paced style. San Diego Rockets basketball featured standout rookies and future Hall of Famers, laying a foundation for the team’s future success before its relocation to Houston.
During their first season in the NBA, the San Diego Rockets basketball team was led by Hall of Fame coach Alex Hannum and star rookie Elvin Hayes. They finished with a 45-37 record and reached the Western Division Finals before losing to the St. Louis Hawks. The following seasons were more challenging due to injuries, but the San Diego Rockets history shows consistent improvement and an ability to attract talented players like Jack Marin and Don Kojis.
Rockets Achievements
By the 1969–70 season, the San Diego Rockets basketball program posted another winning record at 43-39. In 1970–71, under head coach Tex Winter—famous for developing the triangle offense—the team won 51 games with stars like Rudy Tomjanovich and Calvin Murphy, clinching a playoff spot and further solidifying their reputation as a competitive young team. These years marked the franchise’s strongest period before relocation.
Although the San Diego Rockets history ended with their move to Houston in 1971, these early seasons were vital in shaping the future Houston Rockets. The San Diego era produced multiple playoff appearances, helped develop several Hall of Famers, and introduced offensive innovations that influenced the NBA. This legacy paved the way for the team’s eventual two NBA championships in the 1990s led by Hakeem Olajuwon, a success rooted in the foundations laid by the original San Diego Rockets basketball franchise.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
11 / Yao Ming
22 / Clyde Drexler
23 / Calvin Murphy
24 / Moses Malone
34 / Hakeem Olajuwon
45 / Rudy Tomjanovich
CD / Carroll Dawson
*Blue is this team’s history