# 1984–85 Houston Rockets season

The 1984–85 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets draft Akeem Olajuwon. He was selected to play in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game.
In the playoffs, the Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz in five games in the First Round.

## Draft picks

* = Hall of Famer
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 1 | 1 | Akeem Olajuwon* | Center | Nigeria | Houston–Jr. |
| 3 | 51 | Jim Petersen | Forward/Center | United States | Minnesota |
| 4 | 74 | Willie Jackson | Forward | United States | Centenary |
| 5 | 97 | Al McClain | | United States | New Hampshire |
| 7 | 143 | Joedy Gardner | | United States | Long Beach State |
| 8 | 166 | Greg Wolff | | United States | Angelo State |
| 9 | 188 | Bill Coon | | United States | Presbyterian |
| 10 | 210 | Robert Turner | | United States | Canisius |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 34–7 | 18–23 | 17–13 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 4 | 29–12 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 | 24–17 | 20–21 | 14–16 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 | 26–15 | 15–26 | 19–11 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 | 30–11 | 11–30 | 12–18 |
| Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 | 23–18 | 8–33 | 8–22 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 14 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Utah Jazz | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 7 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 8 | x-Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 9 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 11 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 22 | 60 | .268 | 40 |

### Record vs. opponents

1984-85 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–1 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 |
| New York | 3–3 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | — | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| Philadelphia | 5–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1984–85 game log Total: 48–34 (home: 29–12; road: 19–22) :
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 27, 1984
@ Dallas
W 121–111
Reunion Arena
1–0
2
October 30, 1984
Dallas
W 106–84
The Summit
2–0 :
November: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1, 1984
@ Kansas City
W 109–106
Kemper Arena
3–0
4
November 3, 1984
New York
W 105–93
The Summit
4–0
5
November 6, 1984
Kansas City
W 108–94
The Summit
5–0
6
November 8, 1984
Seattle
W 99–89
The Summit
6–0
7
November 10, 1984
L.A. Clippers
W 117–92
The Summit
7–0
8
November 13, 1984
Cleveland
W 106–98
The Summit
8–0
9
November 14, 1984
@ Indiana
L 117–125
Market Square Arena
8–1
10
November 16, 1984
@ Denver
L 102–119
McNichols Sports Arena
8–2
11
November 17, 1984
San Antonio
W 141–133
The Summit
9–2
12
November 20, 1984
Detroit
W 123–117
The Summit
10–2
13
November 23, 1984
@ Utah
L 98–111
Salt Palace Acord Arena
10–3
14
November 24, 1984
@ Dallas
L 95–113
Reunion Arena
10–4
15
November 27, 1984
@ San Antonio
W 114–97
HemisFair Arena
11–4
16
November 28, 1984
Boston
L 100–110
The Summit
11–5
17
November 30, 1984
@ Atlanta
W 116–102
The Omni
12–5 :
December: 6–8 (home: 4–3; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 1, 1984
Seattle
L 86–94
The Summit
12–6
19
December 4, 1984
L.A. Clippers
L 100–116
The Summit
12–7
20
December 6, 1984
@ Golden State
L 113–114
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12–8
21
December 8, 1984
@ Portland
W 127–120
Memorial Coliseum
13–8
22
December 9, 1984
@ Seattle
L 90–96
Kingdome
13–9
23
December 11, 1984
@ Phoenix
L 112–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13–10
24
December 13, 1984
Atlanta
W 96–93
The Summit
14–10
25
December 15, 1984
Dallas
W 117–115
The Summit
15–10
26
December 18, 1984
@ Chicago
W 104–96
Chicago Stadium
16–10
27
December 19, 1984 7:00 p.m. CST
L.A. Lakers
L 116–123
Sampson (21)
Sampson (10)
Hollins (15)
The Summit 16,016
16–11
28
December 22, 1984
Denver
W 125–107
The Summit
17–11
29
December 26, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 87–97
MECCA Arena
17–12
30
December 27, 1984
@ Kansas City
L 92–96
Kemper Arena
17–13
31
December 29, 1984
Portland
W 108–92
The Summit
18–13 :
January: 8–7 (home: 4–2; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 2, 1985
@ Denver
W 113–111
McNichols Sports Arena
19–13
33
January 5, 1985
@ Golden State
W 103–94
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
20–13
34
January 6, 1985
@ Utah
L 92–121
Salt Palace Acord Arena
20–14
35
January 8, 1985
Kansas City
W 112–110
The Summit
21–14
36
January 11, 1985
@ Philadelphia
L 108–115
The Spectrum
21–15
37
January 13, 1985
@ New Jersey
L 99–100
Brendan Byrne Arena
21–16
38
January 15, 1985
@ Portland
L 117–121
Memorial Coliseum
21–17
39
January 16, 1985
@ L.A. Clippers
L 88–98
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
21–18
40
January 18, 1985
@ Phoenix
W 112–101
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
22–18
41
January 19, 1985
Utah
W 120–95
The Summit
23–18
42
January 22, 1985
Phoenix
W 101–97
The Summit
24–18
43
January 25, 1985
San Antonio
L 107–122
The Summit
24–19
44
January 26, 1985
Milwaukee
L 102–105
The Summit
24–20
45
January 28, 1985
New Jersey
W 97–93
The Summit
25–20
46
January 30, 1985 9:30 p.m. CST
@ L.A. Lakers
W 116–113
Olajuwon (24)
Sampson (10)
Hollins (12)
The Forum 17,505
26–20 :
February: 8–4 (home: 4–3; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
February 2, 1985
Denver
W 131–128 (2OT)
The Summit
27–20
48
February 5, 1985 7:00 p.m. CST
L.A. Lakers
L 104–113
Sampson (33)
Sampson (13)
Lloyd (8)
The Summit 16,016
27–21
49
February 7, 1985
Golden State
W 112–105
The Summit
28–21
All-Star Break
50
February 12, 1985
Phoenix
W 126–114
The Summit
29–21
51
February 14, 1985
@ New York
W 113–105
Madison Square Garden
31–20
52
February 16, 1985
@ Cleveland
W 122–115
Richfield Coliseum
31–21
53
February 19, 1985
Dallas
L 115–124
The Summit
31–22
54
February 20, 1985
@ Phoenix
W 126–122
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
32–22
55
February 22, 1985
Portland
W 117–103
The Summit
33–22
56
February 23, 1985
Washington
L 115–123
The Summit
33–23
57
February 26, 1985 9:30 p.m. CST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 94–100
Olajuwon (21)
Olajuwon (16)
McCray (8)
The Forum 17,505
33–24
58
February 27, 1985
@ L.A. Clippers
W 117–109
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
34–24 :
March: 9–6 (home: 7–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 1, 1985
@ Utah
W 119–115
Salt Palace Acord Arena
35–24
60
March 3, 1985
Philadelphia
W 99–90
The Summit
36–24
61
March 5, 1985
@ Denver
L 131–133 (2OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
36–25
62
March 6, 1985
Utah
L 90–94
The Summit
36–26
63
March 8, 1985
Indiana
W 125–105
The Summit
37–26
64
March 9, 1985
@ San Antonio
W 123–117
HemisFair Arena
38–26
65
March 12, 1985
Denver
W 131–129
The Summit
39–26
66
March 15, 1985
@ Washington
L 114–120
Capital Centre
39–27
67
March 17, 1985
@ Boston
L 120–134
Boston Garden
39–28
68
March 19, 1985
Chicago
W 106–100
The Summit
40–28
69
March 22, 1985 7:30 p.m. CST
L.A. Lakers
L 107–130
McCray (21)
Sampson (10)
Lloyd, Lucas, McCray, Sampson (5)
The Summit 16,018
40–29
70
March 26, 1985
Kansas City
W 115–93
The Summit
41–29
71
March 27, 1985
@ Detroit
L 110–127
Joe Louis Arena
41–30
72
March 29, 1985
Golden State
W 121–116
The Summit
42–30
73
March 30, 1985
Utah
W 106–96
The Summit
43–30 :
April: 5–4 (home: 2–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
74
April 1, 1985
@ Seattle
W 127–116
Kingdome
44–30
75
April 2, 1985
@ Portland
L 113–127
Memorial Coliseum
44–31
76
April 4, 1985
@ Golden State
L 108–113
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
44–32
77
April 6, 1985
@ Dallas
W 139–127 (2OT)
Reunion Arena
45–32
78
April 7, 1985
@ San Antonio
L 105–126
HemisFair Arena
45–33
79
April 9, 1985
San Antonio
W 124–103
The Summit
46–33
80
April 11, 1985
@ Kansas City
W 125–123
Kemper Arena
47–33
81
April 12, 1985
L.A. Clippers
L 110–115
The Summit
47–34
82
April 14, 1985
Seattle
W 121–98
The Summit
48–34 :
1984–85 schedule :

### Playoffs

1985 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 19, 1985
Utah
L 101–115
Sampson (26)
Sampson (24)
Hollins (7)
The Summit 13,185
0–1
2
April 21, 1985
Utah
W 122–96
Lloyd (27)
Sampson (14)
Lloyd, Lucas (6)
The Summit 14,139
1–1
3
April 24, 1985
@ Utah
L 104–112
Olajuwon (26)
Olajuwon (16)
Lucas (7)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,316
1–2
4
April 26, 1985
@ Utah
W 96–94
Sampson, Olajuwon (18)
Sampson (18)
Lucas (5)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,690
2–2
5
April 28, 1985
Utah
L 97–104
Olajuwon (32)
Olajuwon (14)
Lucas (8)
The Summit 16,016
2–3 :
1985 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

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

### Playoffs

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

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Ralph Sampson, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
* Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team