2019–20 Houston Rockets season
The 2019–20 Houston Rockets season was the 53rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 49th in the Houston area.
| 2019–20 Houston Rockets season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Mike D'Antoni |
| General manager | Daryl Morey |
| Owners | Tilman Fertitta |
| Arena | Toyota Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 44–28 (.611) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Southwest) Conference: 4th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference Semifinals (lost to Lakers 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | AT&T SportsNet Southwest |
| Radio | Sportstalk 790 |
After what was an uneventful off-season for the Rockets, failing to land Houston native Jimmy Butler, the Rockets acquired star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Chris Paul and a trove of future draft considerations, reuniting Westbrook with former Thunder teammate James Harden, who had played his first 3 seasons with the Thunder and was part of the 2011–12 Thunder team that appeared in the 2012 NBA Finals.
With the San Antonio Spurs missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 season, the Rockets would hold the longest active playoff streak in the NBA qualifying every year since the 2012–13 season.
In February, Westbrook and Harden became the first teammates in NBA history to average 30+ points and 5+ assists per game.
This marked the team's third straight divisional championship, as well as James Harden's 8th straight All-Star selection as a Rocket.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook and Harden's former team, in Game 7 of the first round. However, in the Western Conference semifinals, they would lose in 5 games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.