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The team's former home was the Compaq Center, previously called "The Summit". The Toyota Center was eventually built after the team pressured the city for a new stadium.
The San Diego Rockets entered the NBA in 1967-68 as expansion teams along with the Seattle SuperSonics, the same year that the American Basketball Association launched itself as a rival league. They selected Pat Riley with their first draft pick in 1967.
The Rockets Won the coin toss with the Baltimore Bullets, selected Elvin "the Big E" Hayes from the University of Houston as the #1 draft pick. Hayes brought respectablity, though without ultimate victory, to the fledgling franchise.
Trading Hayes to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin did little to capture an improved record or the city's attention.
With Coach John Egan 's guidance and Tomjanovich, Murphy, and Mike Newlin leading the way, the Rockets made their first appearance in the playoffs since arriving in Houston. The rockets defeated the New York KnicksThe New York Knicks (or New York Knickerbockers are a National Basketball Association team based in New York, New York. Founded 1946, as part of the Basketball Association of America Formerly known as Home Arena Madison Square Garden Uniform colors Blue a (with Walt FrazierWalter Frazier (born March 29, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former basketball player in the NBA. Frazier is one of the few players to have played won a national championship in college basketball as well as a world championship in professional basketbal, Earl MonroeEarl Vernon Monroe (born November 21, 1944), known as "Earl the Pearl," is an American professional basketball player known for his flamboyant dribbling, passing and play-making. Born and raised in Philadelphia, where rugged street basketball honed his pl, Bill BradleyWilliam Warren "Bill" Bradley (born July 28, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player who later became a well-known U. Senator and presidential candidate. Basketball A native of Crystal City, Missouri and the son of Warren Bradley and Su, and Jerry Lucas) in the first round and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals losing to the Boston Celtics.