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Houston Rockets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Rockets

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Basketball: NBA Finals: Houston Rockets Robert Horry (25) in action, dunk over Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal (32). Game 1. Orlando, FL 6/7/1995 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48485 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Houston Rockets Robert Horry (25) in action, dunk over Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal (32). Game 1. Orlando, FL 6/7/1995 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48485 ) /

169. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 11th overall pick from Alabama, 1992 NBA Draft.. SF-PF. 1992-96. Robert Horry. 20. player

Robert Horry was a three-year starter at Alabama, a big man with some decent shooting range who averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a senior.

The Houston Rockets took Horry with the 11th overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and he started returning on that investment almost immediately.

HOU_20_HORRY
HOU_20_HORRY /

Horry was a second team All-Rookie pick in 1992-93 and was a starter for both of Houston’s championship teams in 1994 and 1995, albeit at different positions.

As the Rockets’ small forward in 1993-94, Horry averaged 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 37.9 minutes per game in the 1994 NBA Finals, shooting .324/.306/.619 in Houston’s seven-game victory over the New York Knicks.

He almost wasn’t around for Houston’s playoff run in 1994. In February 1994, the Rockets had a deal in place to send Horry, Matt Bullard and two second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Sean Elliott. The deal was voided three days later when Elliott failed his physical.

Horry moved to the power forward spot the next season and put up 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.3 blocks in 46.8 minutes per game in a four-game sweep of the Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals, shooting .434/.379/.667 in the series.

In August 1996, Horry was traded along with Sam Cassell, Mark Bryant and Chucky Brown to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Charles Barkley and a 1999 second-round draft pick.

In four seasons in Houston, Horry averaged 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game on .447/.356/.742 shooting, missing 20 games in 1994-95 with a back injury.

His stay in Phoenix was brief. He clashed with coach Danny Ainge, most notably earning a two-game suspension for throwing a towel in Ainge’s face during a game.

In January 1997, Horry was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

There, he was part of three championship teams in a row from 2000-02.

In July 2003, Horry signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs, picking up two more rings in 2005 and 2007. He retired after the 2007-08 season.

Next: Argentine A Late Starter In The NBA

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