The Houston Rockets have had an abundance of talent at the center position throughout the team's history, including many notable Hall of Famers. In a recent list made by HoopsHype, four former Houston Rockets were named among the 20 greatest centers in NBA history.
Ranked No. 20 on the list was former Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo. Although his most impressive seasons came with the Nuggets and Hawks, Mutombo spent five seasons with Houston to end his career. In those seasons, Mutombo impressively played until age 42, averaging 3.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.2 steals. Throughout his career, Mutombo won four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, made six All-Defensive Teams, and made eight All-Star appearances. Mutombo also led the league
in blocks three times and rebounds twice.
The next former Rocket to feature on the list was Dwight Howard, who came in at No. 15. Just like Mutombo, Howard is a Hall of Famer who spent his peak outside of Houston. That said, Howard still impressed with the Rockets, averaging 16 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals in 183 games with the franchise. While Howard never won an MVP award, he finished runner-up to Derrick Rose in the 2010-11 season and won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He also made eight All-NBA Teams, led the league in rebounding five times and led the league in blocks twice.
Just outside of the top five (No. 6) was the next former Houston center, Moses Malone. After playing in the ABA at age 19, Malone broke out with the Rockets three years later in his age 22 season. From the 1977-78 season to the 1988-89 campaign, Malone made 13 consecutive All-Star appearances. In his six seasons with Houston, Malone averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals. With the Rockets, Malone won two of his three MVP awards. Other accolades of his include an NBA championship and Finals MVP award, two-time All-Defensive selection, six-time rebounding champion and a Hall of Fame induction. Malone is also the NBA's all-time leader in offensive rebounds per game, averaging an astonishing 5.1 per contest.
The highest-ranked Rockets player on the list was, of course, Hakeem Olajuwon, who came in at the No. 5 spot. Although Olajuwon was ranked behind the likes of other dominant centers, HoopsHype previously ranked him as the greatest foreign-born player in NBA history. Olajuwon played 17 of his 18 NBA seasons with the Rockets, leading them to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. During his time with the team, "The Dream" averaged 22.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.2 blocks. Throughout his Hall of Fame career, the Nigerian center won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, made 12 All-Star selections, made nine All-Defensive selections, led the league in blocks three times and won one MVP award.
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This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Four former Houston Rockets listed among greatest centers in NBA history
