14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
- KW
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14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
June 6, 2031
14 years to the day of the Rockets first and (to date) only CSL Championship, the Houston Rockets held a special event at the Toyota Center, honoring retired stars James Harden, Kenneth Faried, and Andre Iguodala for their contributions, and holding an official jersey retirement ceremony.
The fourth CSL champions, the Rockets were a team built around dominant scorer James Harden averaging 35ppg, playing at a fast pace, and a defense focused on versatility, including Andre Iguodala, Kenneth Faried, Roy Devyn Marble, Al-Farouq Aminu, Paul Millsap, all of whom could guard multiple positions and contribute well offensively. The 2016-17 Rockets went 69-13 in the regular season, despite missing Harden for 20 games, and losing versatile (and recently maxed) PF Thaddeus Young a month into the season with a devastating injury. There was a 24-game winning streak in there as well.
That team survived the scare of all scares in the first round, dropping two home games to an 8-seed Spurs missing Kevin Durant, but rallied back to win 4 straight, and then sweep the Timberwolves, then went the distance with the Kings and then the Pistons, emerging victorious in an incredibly hard-fought battle (that the Pistons would win the next year in the Finals rematch in 2018).
James Harden was obviously the centerpiece of it all. Harden attacked defense in a way nobody else in CSL history previously could - averaging over a point per minute , and upped his scoring to 37.5ppg on 64.8 TS% in the post season. He hunted mismatches at will, whether they came at point guard or power forward, after adding strength in the offseason to bulk up to a massive 233 pounds, while the entire team defense of Houston was built around mitigating the struggles he had on defense.
Harden played 6 full seasons for Houston in the CSL before being dealt to Dallas . A few years later, he would return in free agency, again making the conference finals but falling just a few points short of a finals trip at the hands of the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns. The next season would end prematurely with a torn Achilles a few weeks in, leading to a trade with the Clippers where he never played. All in all, Harden scored 14,144 regular season points for Houston across just over 7 seasons, trailing only Malik Monk's 17k + points in 10 seasons.
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Kenneth "Manimal" Faried played just over 3 full seasons with the Rockets, giving them an incredibly consistent big man who could play both ends really well. Playing as an undersized center, Faried was a highly versatile defender, one of the league's premier rebounders, and an extremely efficient mid-usage scorer. He was thrust into this role by the Rockets trading Dwight Howard, and he did admirably on all fronts.
On the title team, Faried scored 16.8ppg, 10.4rpg, as well as 2.6 stocks on 55.2% from the field. Faried upped those numbers through most of the playoffs, but battled through back spasms in most of the finals, particularly limited in games 4-6, before dropping a 20/10 in the Game 7. His 3 Rockets playoff runs resulted in a WCF loss, a Title, and a Game 7 loss in the Finals. Faried got to end his career in Houston, coming back for 1 regular season game and 1 playoff game in 2025-26.
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Andre Iguodala's stats never jumped off the page, but he embodied everything that era (and the current era, for that matter), of the Rockets valued in a player. While Iggy was on the athletic decline, he still played out of his mind on defense, was asked to regularly run point, put pressure on the rim with his drives, and just act as a "connector" for the whole team. Despite struggling with his 3s during this season, Iggy averaged 14/4/5 and was usually tasked with guarding the best perimeter player regardless of position.
Iguodala would play 4.5 seasons in Houston after the Warriors traded him and others for DeMarcus Cousins after the league's inaugural season. Iguodala would only play parts of two seasons with Denver, New Orleans, and Miami before retiring in 2020.
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As an honorable mention, Rockets general manager KW reached out to long-time forward Al-Farouq Aminu about retiring his #0, but Aminu declined, insisting that the Rockets were always Harden, Iguodala, and Faried's team and he was just along for the ride. But we'll mention him here, as his 9 seasons as a Rocket have only ever been surpassed by Malik Monk in the CSL. He was a highly dependable defender, rebounder, and was a very underrated offensive player, who averaged as much as 14ppg in 2015-16, 9.3rpg in 2018-19, and 49% from the field in 2017-18. Aminu always played above his talent level, and was a fan favorite in all three of his stints with the team.
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- rh0xxy
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Wow! Can't remember some of it but yeah Harden was so dominant back then, his foul drawing ability is second to none. Faried was monstrous on the boards and Iggy being the ultimate glue guy.
Congrats to them, on their Jersey Retirement. Very well deserved!
Congrats to them, on their Jersey Retirement. Very well deserved!
Philadelphia 76ers
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Starters: Morant-Mitchell-Swanigan-Adebayo-Collins
Bench: Maxey-Sotto-Tsalmpouris-Liddell-Giles-Tucker-Hifi
IR: Phills-Richards-Weber
2W: Houstan-Okeke
Depth Chart
Starters: Morant-Mitchell-Swanigan-Adebayo-Collins
Bench: Maxey-Sotto-Tsalmpouris-Liddell-Giles-Tucker-Hifi
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- Rizzo
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
That UI from back in the day was top-notch!
Career Accolades:
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
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Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
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- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
- 0 CSL Championships
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- 0 GM of the Year Awards
Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
- oCSL Marcus Smart
- SG P.J. Hairston [2015 CSL Draft, Pick 1.16]
- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- TheTwoWallaces
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Dope stuff that predates me. Good on the Rockets!
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Krejci | Melton | Campazzo
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- Andrewu91
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
I remember those days. I was 25 years young, about to turn into an old 33 in a few weeks.
Those Rockets did a fantastic job.
Those Rockets did a fantastic job.
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- blackice
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
This is great work Kyrus, really in depth and covers essentially your whole history with this one franchise. I love this iteration of your team, I think if you can find a rim protector you'll be a contender for sure. Your roster continuity is admirable and Monk is going to the CSL Hall of Fame when it's all said and done. You're also probably the most active GM we have, it's a pleasure being in the same league as you! Goodluck with your offseason, and upcoming season.
Ball is Life.
- hardenwithnod
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Man Harden was a monster back then lol. That was the era of crazy alpha scorers with the like Harden, KD, PG, Al Jeff, Westbrook, and Dame.
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- Rizzo
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
I remember KD putting up just absolutely ridiculous scoring numbers. Al Jefferson was the prime example of the single post allowing centers to pile up the points but not adding much in terms of the win column.hardenwithnod wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:34 pm Man Harden was a monster back then lol. That was the era of crazy alpha scorers with the like Harden, KD, PG, Al Jeff, Westbrook, and Dame.
Career Accolades:
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
- 0 CSL Championships
- 0 Eastern Conference Championships
- 0 Coach of the Year Awards
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Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
- oCSL Marcus Smart
- SG P.J. Hairston [2015 CSL Draft, Pick 1.16]
- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
- 0 CSL Championships
- 0 Eastern Conference Championships
- 0 Coach of the Year Awards
- 0 GM of the Year Awards
Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
- oCSL Marcus Smart
- SG P.J. Hairston [2015 CSL Draft, Pick 1.16]
- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- Rizzo
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Also, how the hell are you making these graphics?
Career Accolades:
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
- 0 CSL Championships
- 0 Eastern Conference Championships
- 0 Coach of the Year Awards
- 0 GM of the Year Awards
Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
- oCSL Marcus Smart
- SG P.J. Hairston [2015 CSL Draft, Pick 1.16]
- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- GM, Cleveland Cavaliers [2013-2018]
- GM, Brooklyn Nets [2018-2030, 2031-Present]
- 0 CSL Championships
- 0 Eastern Conference Championships
- 0 Coach of the Year Awards
- 0 GM of the Year Awards
Rizzo's Hall of Fame Players:
- oCSL Marcus Smart
- SG P.J. Hairston [2015 CSL Draft, Pick 1.16]
- C DeAndre Ayton [2022 CSL Draft, Pick 1.3]
- PG Shai-Gilgeous Alexander [2025 CSL Draft, Pick 1.1]
- KW
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Bing image generator ... and then a couple small changes to its occasional broken text (which it's gotten a lot better at)
It took several tries for it to match the jersey number to the player though, and it refuses to produce anything if you include their first and last name
- drumr
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
How? Bing blocks me whenever I try to use players and stuff.
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- KW
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- WillyJakkz
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Man that AI pic of your former team looks dope
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- Marcos_Beck
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Harden was a beast, man…..
That DRFL rating was insane!
The greatest Rockets team ever assembled so far!
That DRFL rating was insane!
The greatest Rockets team ever assembled so far!
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- emplep7
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Yeah those are three all timers right there. Harden was actually unstoppable and the combo with Faried was equally a beast.
Those fingers on Faried though…
Those fingers on Faried though…
- Andrewu91
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Reminds me of
CSL Champion 2022 with OKC Thunder
Thunder & Knicks Hall of Fame
Eric Bledsoe - Klay Thompson - Stanley Johnson Jr
Luka Doncic - Zion Williamson
Thunder & Knicks Hall of Fame
Eric Bledsoe - Klay Thompson - Stanley Johnson Jr
Luka Doncic - Zion Williamson
- Dennis
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Good old days with the best engine we had imo!
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CSL Champions 2028
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- Dennis
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
PS: Just simming was worst shit ever hahahahaha
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PG R. Westbrook [0] - Jersey Retired <> 2016 - 2019
Fox - Johnson - Bridges - Hlinason - Whiteside
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Re: 14 Years Later, Rockets Honor Title Team Legends With Jersey Retirements
Before I joined the league, I played the 2016 version of the game. Having to use DDS3 was torture. This game was so full of stupid bugs, unbelievable. The zone bullshit and simple strats were not much better either.
Not that 22 would be lightyears ahead, but at least they got some of the most terrible bugs out. Still wish there would be an alternative we could test out.
As for all this Rockets All-Stars ... I only saw them in their twilight years, ancient history
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