# 1983–84 Houston Rockets season

The 1983–84 Houston Rockets season featured the NBA debut of Ralph Sampson, whom the Rockets had selected as the first pick of the 1983 NBA draft. Under head coach Bill Fitch, the team finished with a 29–53 record, although Sampson won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
The team has been cited as an example of a "tanking", by deciding to play more bench players after starting the season with a 20–26 record, in order to fall in the standings and get higher in the draft order for the following season. The Rockets finished last in the Western Conference and later won a coin flip that gave them the first section in the 1984 NBA draft, with which they selected Hakeem Olajuwon.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 1 | 1 | Ralph Sampson | C/PF | United States | Virginia |
| 1 | 3 | Rodney McCray | SF | United States | Louisville |
| 3 | 48 | Craig Ehlo | SG | United States | Washington State |
| 4 | 71 | Darrell Browder | | United States | TCU |
| 5 | 94 | Chuck Barnett | | United States | Oklahoma |
| 6 | 117 | Jim Stack | | United States | Northwestern |
| 7 | 140 | Brian Kellerman | | United States | Idaho |
| 8 | 163 | Jeff Bolding | | United States | Arkansas State |
| 9 | 185 | James Campbell | | United States | Oklahoma City |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Utah Jazz | 45 | 37 | .549 | – | 31–10 | 14–27 | 15–15 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2 | 31–10 | 12–29 | 19–11 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 7 | 27–14 | 11–30 | 16–14 |
| x-Kansas City Kings | 38 | 44 | .463 | 7 | 26–15 | 12–29 | 16–14 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 37 | 45 | .451 | 8 | 28–13 | 9–32 | 14–16 |
| Houston Rockets | 29 | 53 | .354 | 16 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 9–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 45 | 37 | .549 | 9 |
| 3 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Phoenix Suns | 41 | 41 | .500 | 13 |
| 7 | x-Denver Nuggets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 |
| 8 | x-Kansas City Kings | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 |
| 9 | San Antonio Spurs | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 |
| 11 | San Diego Clippers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 |
| 12 | Houston Rockets | 29 | 53 | .354 | 25 |

### Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–0 | — | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–5 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | — | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 29–53 (Home: 21–20; Road: 8–33) :
October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
November: 5–10 (home: 4–4; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
November 4, 1983
@ Detroit
W 113–108
Pontiac Silverdome
2–2
5
November 5, 1983
@ Kansas City
L 106–123
Kemper Arena
2–3
6
November 8, 1983
Portland
L 104–122
The Summit
2–4
7
November 10, 1983
Utah
L 109–118
The Summit
2–5
8
November 12, 1983
Dallas
W 100–98
The Summit
3–5
9
November 15, 1983
New Jersey
L 86–104
The Summit
3–6
10
November 18, 1983
@ Denver
L 127–134
McNichols Sports Arena
3–7
12
November 22, 1983
Phoenix
W 118–96
The Summit
5–7
13
November 25, 1983
Philadelphia
L 101–115
The Summit
5–8
14
November 26, 1983
@ Atlanta
L 109–115
The Omni
5–9
16
November 30, 1983
@ Dallas
L 102–113
Reunion Arena
6–10 :
December: 6–9 (home: 4–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17
December 2, 1983
Seattle
W 125–102
The Summit
7–10
18
December 3, 1983
@ New York
L 101–117
Madison Square Garden
7–11
19
December 6, 1983
Washington
L 109–113
The Summit
7–12
20
December 7, 1983
@ Milwaukee
L 101–103
MECCA Arena
7–13
22
December 10, 1983
Utah
L 121–128
The Summit
8–14
23
December 13, 1983
Phoenix
W 129–110
The Summit
9–14
24
December 15, 1983
@ Utah
L 111–138
Salt Palace Acord Arena
9–15
27
December 22, 1983
@ Seattle
W 116–112
Kingdome
11–16
28
December 23, 1983
@ Portland
L 84–97
Memorial Coliseum
11–17
30
December 29, 1983
Boston
W 107–94
The Summit
12–18
31
December 30, 1983
@ Phoenix
L 110–121
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12–19 :
January: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 3, 1984
Dallas
L 117–119
The Summit
12–20
33
January 4, 1984
@ Utah (at Las Vegas, Nevada)
L 111–116
Thomas & Mack Center
12–21
34
January 6, 1984
@ Seattle
W 116–112
Kingdome
12–22
35
January 8, 1984
@ Los Angeles
W 129–118
The Forum
13–22
36
January 10, 1984
Los Angeles
L 132–136 (OT)
The Summit
13–23
37
January 12, 1984
Portland
L 117–120
The Summit
13–24
39
January 14, 1984
Kansas City
W 109–104
The Summit
15–24
40
January 17, 1984
Denver
W 124–115
The Summit
16–24
42
January 21, 1984
Utah
W 115–105
The Summit
18–24
44
January 26, 1984
@ Los Angeles
L 102–131
The Forum
18–26
All-Star Break
45
January 31, 1984
@ Kansas City
W 122–107
Kemper Arena
19–26 :
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 2, 1984
Dallas
W 123–107
The Summit
20–26
47
February 4, 1984
New York
L 95–103
The Summit
20–27
48
February 7, 1984
@ Washington
L 92–95
Capital Centre
20–28
49
February 8, 1984
@ Philadelphia
L 107–118
The Spectrum
20–29
50
February 10, 1984
@ Boston
L 101–114
Boston Garden
20–30
51
February 12, 1984
@ New Jersey
L 103–107
Brendan Byrne Arena
20–31
52
February 14, 1984
Detroit
L 119–126
The Summit
20–32
54
February 18, 1984
Phoenix
L 102–126
The Summit
21–33
55
February 21, 1984
Milwaukee
W 119–102
The Summit
22–33
56
February 22, 1984
@ Dallas
L 106–112
Reunion Arena
22–34
58
February 28, 1984
Seattle
W 111–105
The Summit
23–35 :
March: 5–11 (home: 4–4; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 1, 1984
Kansas City
L 101–108
The Summit
23–36
61
March 6, 1984
@ Denver
L 128–130
McNichols Sports Arena
24–37
62
March 7, 1984
@ Phoenix
L 110–123
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
24–38
67
March 17, 1984
Los Angeles
L 111–123
The Summit
26–41
68
March 20, 1984
Kansas City
L 102–115
The Summit
26–42
69
March 21, 1984
@ Denver
L 125–134
McNichols Sports Arena
26–43
70
March 23, 1984
@ Dallas
L 104–116
Reunion Arena
26–44
71
March 24, 1984
Atlanta
W 103–102
The Summit
27–44
72
March 27, 1984
Denver
W 140–137
The Summit
28–44
73
March 29, 1984
@ Los Angeles
L 109–115
The Forum
28–45
74
March 31, 1984
Portland
L 102–106
The Summit
28–46 :
April: 1–7 (home: 0–2; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
75
April 2, 1984
@ Utah
L 100–111
Salt Palace Acord Arena
28–47
77
April 5, 1984
@ Portland
W 129–114
Memorial Coliseum
29–48
78
April 8, 1984
@ Seattle (at Tacoma, Washington)
L 107–120
Tacoma Dome
29–49
80
April 11, 1984
Denver
L 110–130
The Summit
29–51
82
April 14, 1984
@ Kansas City
L 96–108
Kemper Arena
29–53 :
1983–84 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Ralph Sampson, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
* Ralph Sampson, All-NBA Second Team
* Ralph Sampson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team