Houston Rockets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

Despite a lack of high-end lottery picks in recent times, the Houston Rockets nonetheless have a rich history when it comes to success in the NBA Draft.

One of the downsides of having a consistently successful franchise is the lack of high-end lottery picks, and that’s certainly been the case with the Houston Rockets. Including the 1984-85 season, the Rockets have made the playoffs in 25 of 33 seasons. This includes three trips to the NBA Finals (winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995) and two separate unsuccessful trips to the Western Conference Finals.

So it’s a testament to the both the front office, and the franchise overall, that the Rockets have managed to execute a period of sustained excellence without the luxury of selecting high in the draft.

In fact, since selecting Yao Ming with the No. 1 overall pick in 2002, the Rockets have only selected once in the top 10. That selection, Rudy Gay, was subsequently traded shortly after the 2006 NBA Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 2016-17 season marked the fifth consecutive time Houston made the postseason, a fine achievement in an always challenging Western Conference. This year, as a result of a midseason trade to acquire guard Lou Williams, the Rockets don’t currently hold a selection in the first round of the June 22 draft.

So with the Rockets currently not selecting until No. 43 overall, here’s a look at the top 10 most successful draft selections in the history of the franchise.