Houston Rockets
Rockets 50th Anniversary Honorees – Who’s Up Next?
Starting with Matt Bullard, here are the next seven to be honored by the Rockets for the team’s 50th Anniversary.
For the 50th anniversary of the Houston Rockets, the team has been honoring legends and alumni at every home game. They don’t announce who will be the honoree until closer to that day, but we’ve been able to get word of some of the schedule in advance in the past and have been told who is coming for the next several home games. Here’s the breakdown:
Matt Bullard
January 20 vs Warriors
I can’t think of a better game to honor Houston’s favorite sharpshooting big than one which could break the NBA record for combined three-pointers taken.
Dikembe Mutombo
January 31 vs. Kings
The finger wag gets the salute on a Tuesday night against DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings.
Shane Battier
February 2 vs. Hawks
This date is interesting since Dwight Howard could have been a candidate given the criteria this season (folks, Maurice Taylor has been honored) and Dwight’s return to Houston is that night, but it’s Mr. Intangibles that gets the nod for the Hawks game.
Yao Ming
February 3 vs. Bulls
This game belongs entirely to Yao as his jersey will be retired. Fans will get a T-shirt to commemorate the night.
Hakeem Olajuwon
February 7 vs. Magic
Update 1/31 — Confirmed: Hakeem Olajuwon will be honored for this game on February 7th. The Rockets are giving away an Olajuwon #34 hat that night.
TBD, but… Do not be surprised if it’s Hakeem Olajuwon this night. His schedule is always in flux, but this could be the game for Dream against the team he swept in the 1995 NBA Finals.
Mario Elie
February 11 vs. Suns
It’s only fitting that Elie’s Night will be against the Suns, commemorating the “Kiss of Death” shot in Game 7 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals in Phoenix that completed the comeback from down 3-1 and sent the Rockets to the West Finals (a wee bit more significant than KJ Dunk Night). Look for a very cool giveaway this night — the Mario Elie “Kiss of Death” bobblehead.
Otis Thorpe
February 15 vs. Heat
It’s very rare to see the soft-spoken Otis back in Houston at a game so this will be special.