Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 26
Next
Basketball: Houston Rockets Calvin Murphy (23) in action, shot vs New York Knicks. Houston, TX 1/5/1977 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X21100 )
Basketball: Houston Rockets Calvin Murphy (23) in action, shot vs New York Knicks. Houston, TX 1/5/1977 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X21100 ) /

169. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Second-round pick (18th overall) from Niagara, 1970 NBA Draft.. PG-SG. 1970-83. Calvin Murphy. 14. player

Calvin Murphy was the little scoring machine that could, a three-time All-American at Niagara who averaged more than 29 points per game as a senior.

The San Diego Rockets shrugged off Murphy’s 5-foot-9 frame and took the combo guard in the second round of the 1970 NBA Draft.

HOU_14_MURPHY
HOU_14_MURPHY /

He was an All-Rookie selection in 1970-71 and an All-Star in 1979 for the

Rockets

and spent his entire career with the franchise.

Murphy led the NBA in free-throw shooting in 1980-81 and 1982-83, was second seven times and third in 1976-77. He was also fourth in field-goal percentage and second in assists in 1973-74 and finished third in assists in 1975-76.

Murphy was limited to just four games when the Rockets reached their first NBA Finals in 1981, averaging 9.8 points, a rebound and a steal in 22 minutes per game, shooting .395/—/5-for-6 in the six-game loss to the Boston Celtics.

He retired in October 1983.

In 13 seasons in San Diego and Houston, Murphy averaged 17.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 30.5 minutes per game, shooting .482/.139/.892.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, he is eighth in NBA history with a free-throw percentage of .892.

Next: Stevie Franchise Faded Fast After Leaving Houston

Home/Houston Rockets