The Houston Rockets were one of the surprising teams in the 2023-24 NBA season as they went from 22 wins to 41 and were fighting for a spot in the play-in game but fell short. Now, they have a top 5 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and are ready to keep building. Let’s look at the team’s upcoming draft picks.
Houston Rockets 2024 NBA Draft Picks
Thanks to a trade with the Nets, the Rockets find themselves sitting at no. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Check out Houston’s picks this year.
- 1st Round: No. 3 – Reed Sheppard – SG (Kentucky)
- 2nd Round: No. 44 overall
Rockets Select No. 3 in 2024 Draft
The Rockets got a ton of draft capital back in 2021 when they traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Thanks to that trade, they have the no. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft. The James Harden trade was an insane 4-team mess that scored the Rockets 1st round picks from Brooklyn for 2022, 2024, and 2026.
Now, Houston is in a position to add another solid talent to complement a young roster looking to get back into the playoffs. Houston has had top 5 picks for the last 4 years. They took Jaylen Green at no. 2 in 2021, Jabari Smith at no. 3 in 2022, and Amen Thompson at no. 4 in 2023.
Rockets Future Draft Selections
The Rockets have plenty of draft capital to work with in the coming years. Check out the team’s future draft picks.
Year | Round | From | OKC, DAL, or PHI |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | 1 | Own | |
2025 | 1 | OKC or BKN | Protected 1-10, Swap with OKC or BKN |
2026 | 1 | BKN | Unprotected |
2026 | 2 | Own | |
2026 | 2 | LAC, BOS, IND, or MIA | Unprotected |
2026 | 2 | LAC, BOS, IND or MIA | |
2027 | 1 | Own | |
2027 | 1 | BKN swap rights | |
2027 | 2 | MEM | Unprotected |
2028 | 1 | Own | |
2029 | 1 | Own | |
2030 | 1 | Own |
Rockets Recent Season Results
The Rockets have had plenty of talent in the last decade but have failed to reach the NBA Finals. The franchise reached the playoffs eight straight years from 2012-20 but never was able to get over the hump with mostly the Golden State Warriors blocking their path.
The Rockets’ best season in the last decade came in 2017-18 when James Harden won the MVP and Houston went 65-17. That season ended in a 4-3 loss to the champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
The Rockets did win back-to-back titles in the 1990s thanks to Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon who won the Finals MVP in both series wins. NBA fans can sometimes forget about the Rockets titles as they were squeezed in between the Bulls winning 6 championships in 8 years with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and company.
Season | Record | Playoff Result |
---|---|---|
2023-24 | 41-41 | |
2022-23 | 22-60 | |
2021-22 | 20-62 | |
2020-21 | 17-55 | |
2019-20 | 44-28 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
2018-19 | 53-29 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
2017-18 | 65-17 | Lost Conf. Finals |
2016-17 | 55-27 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
2015-16 | 41-41 | Lost 1st Round |
2014-15 | 56-26 | Lost Conf. Finals |
2013-14 | 54-28 | Lost 1st Round |
2012-13 | 45-37 | Lost 1st Round |
2011-12 | 34-32 | |
2010-11 | 43-39 | |
2009-10 | 42-40 | |
2008-09 | 53-29 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
2007-08 | 55-27 | Lost 1st Round |
2006-07 | 52-30 | Lost 1st Round |
2005-06 | 34-48 | |
2004-05 | 51-31 | Lost 1st Round |
2003-04 | 45-37 | Lost 1st Round |
2002-03 | 43-39 | |
2001-02 | 28-54 | |
2000-01 | 45-37 | |
1999-00 | 34-48 | |
1998-99 | 31-19 | Lost 1st Round |
1997-98 | 41-41 | Lost 1st Round |
1996-97 | 57-25 | Lost Conf. Finals |
1995-96 | 48-34 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
1994-95 | 47-35 | Won NBA Finals |
1993-94 | 58-24 | Won NBA Finals |
1992-93 | 55-27 | Lost Conf. Semifinals |
1991-92 | 42-40 | |
1990-91 | 52-30 | Lost 1st Round |
1989-90 | 41-41 | Lost 1st Round |