NBA: Each team’s best starting five of all-time

Western Conference. Houston Rockets. 11. player. 169. <p>The Houston Rockets are starting to bounce to the top of the NBA, but they are still running into problems. They may have won a couple of titles in the 90s, but the team hasn’t done much of anything since and it’s reminding fans of the bad times. But when looking back at the history of the Rockets, fans should look at the best players of all-time to go through the franchise.</p> <p>Ove the years, the Rockets have had players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Steve Francis and Elvin Hayes come through the franchise, and those players forge together to form a pretty solid all-time roster. Houston may not be considered a prestigious franchise like others are, but they boast plenty of talent throughout the years to match the greats.</p> <p><span style=. 1967 - Present

PG. Right now James Harden is the star guard for the Rockets, but before him came the power and the awe of Steve Francis. We all thought Francis was going to be the next big thing — and for a while he was. His best years were spent in Houston and while he never won a title there, he’s the best point guard the franchise has ever had and still edges out Harden as the best overall guard as well.. Point Guard. Houston Rockets. STEVE FRANCIS

CLYDE DREXLER. SG. The case could seriously be made for Harden here, but Drexler has much more to his legacy. The Rockets guard averaged over six rebounds per game — for a guard — and almost averaged 20ppg. That’s insane and while Harden may eventually pass him, as well as Francis, as the best guard in Rockets history, there is still <em>plenty</em> of work left to be done.. Shooting Guard. Houston Rockets

RUDY TOMJANOVICH. SF. He wasn’t just a fantastic coach for the Rockets, Rudy Tomjanovich was one of the best players the franchise has ever seen. In his career with Houston, he shot over 50 percent from the field and averaged over 17 points per game. An interesting dynamic here is that Rudy could double as a player-coach, something that would spice up whatever matchup this all-time great Rockets lineup was facing. You want throwback, that’s as vintage as it gets.. Small Forward. Houston Rockets

Power Forward. Houston Rockets. CHARLES BARKLEY. PF. Over the course of his career, Elvin Hayes put up fantastic numbers with two different teams, and then he got to the Rockets. It’s hard to make a case against him, especially when Charles Barkley did the same thing, but two of the players Barkley played with in the late 90s are on this all-time roster, and Barkley deserves a seat at the table. Houston was Chuck’s last stop, but he put in good time on some great teams that were missing just a few pieces the all-time roster might help fix.

C. Hakeem came out in an era of big men. There was Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo and even Moses Malone at the end of his run. But he stands tall — figuratively and literally — above them all as perhaps the best big man of his era. He wasn’t in your face like Mutumbo, but there’s a golden standard for big men these days that has a lot to do with Hakeem and how he played the game. Young players go to him for wisdom and advice all the time, which is very telling of his influence on the game, even to this day.. Center. Houston Rockets. HAKEEM OLAJUWON