After former Rockets star James Harden leveraged a trade away from Houston in January 2021, there were certainly temptations to avoid a prolonged rebuild.
But under the guidance of general manager Rafael Stone, the Rockets stayed the course with a plan of building a sustainable contender through the drafting and development of young talent.
Now, just over four years later, Houston is reaping the rewards of its plan. Led by a young core featuring top prospects such as Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, the Rockets are champions of the NBA's Southwest Division and back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They are currently 50-27, good for the No. 2 record in the Western Conference.
After Wednesday's playoff- and division-clinching win over Utah, owner Tilman Fertitta posted a message of reflection to his social media accounts. It reads:
We have LIFTOFF! With 50 wins, the Houston Rockets are heading to the playoffs! What a tremendous achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, coaches, and staff.
While Houston's players, coaches, and staff deserve most of the credit, Fertitta earned his share by trusting the (rebuilding) process. He also played a key role in hiring Houston's extremely successful head coach, Ime Udoka, during the 2023 offseason.
The 2025 playoffs will begin for the Rockets on Saturday, April 19 or Sunday, April 20. They have five games left to play in the 2024-25 regular season and can finish anywhere from No. 2 to No. 5 in the West, as it pertains to eventual playoff seeding.
We have LIFTOFF! 🚀 With 50 wins, @houstonrockets are heading to the playoffs! What a tremendous achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, coaches, and staff. #rockets#liftoffpic.twitter.com/tBuo2PpVtP
— Tilman Fertitta (@TilmanJFertitta)Save Story
