Who is really the best guard?
Who is actually the best guard in Rocket history?
Nov 26, 2019, 6:47 am
Houston Rockets/Facebook
This topic will be the hardest to discuss but needs the attention. In 49 years of Rocket basketball, there have been five outstanding guards. Neither Russell Westbrook nor Chris Paul will be discussed. Those two guards were not in Houston long enough to be discussed.
James Harden, Calvin Murphy, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, and Clyde Drexler are guards that Houston will never forget. These guys are the greatest guards to ever play in Houston. The question is who was the best one?
Let us begin with Calvin Murphy.
Calvin Murphy was ferocious scorer in college averaging 33.1 PPG at Niagara University. Murphy was also a three time All-American in college as well. In 1970, he then was selected by San Diego Rockets. Surprisingly, Murphy went in the second round of the NBA draft. Murphy was 5'9, but that never excluded him from dominating at his position. He was extremely quick and great around the basket. Murphy was also extremely good at getting his shot off around picks. That also never stopped him from getting 57 points against the New Jersey Nets on March 18, 1978.
Calvin Murphy - Murphy's Lawyoutu.be
In 1971, Murphy became Rookie of the Year and made the NBA All-Rookie Team. Nine years later, Murphy became an All-Star in 1979. Murphy finally retired in 1983 after 13 NBA seasons. While playing 13 seasons in Houston, he had 11 1,000 point seasons, 17, 949 career points, 1,165 steals, 4,402 assist. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame by 1993. The Houston Rockets retired his number 23 in the rafters.
People could think different because of the era Murphy played in. In opinion, Wilt Chamberlin retried within two years of his career, Bill Russell retired in 1969, and the Magic and Bird era started late in his career. Murphy did not have much competition in his career besides his buddy Pistol Pete Maravich and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Murphy says otherwise."Statically you got to look a James Harden being number one. Since he is been breaking my record I got to go with number two"
Clyde Drexler was traded to Houston in the 1994-1995 season. In that season, Houston became NBA Champions again. Drexler was a huge supporter by averaging 21.5 points ppg in the NBA finals. In the three and half years with the Rockets, Drexler averaged 19.2 ppg. The majority of his career was spent with the Portland Trailblazers, where he became a 10 time All-Star, along with the Rockets. Drexler was also on the 1992 Dream Team with Michael Jordan and won a gold medal. He made the All-NBA first team in 1992, All-NBA second team twice in 1988 and 1991, and All-NBA third team in 1990 and 1995. He finished his career with 22,195 points. Drexler had both jerseys retired in Portland and Houston. His historic NBA nickname is "Clyde the Glide Drexler" because he ran the floor so smoothly. Drexler was extremely athletic and played great defense. He made almost every highlight reel when it came to dunks. Drexler also made the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Clyde Drexler: Houston Rockets Reelyoutu.be
It would be extremely hard to give Drexler the best guard in Rocket history. Drexler was in Houston for three and half years. His time in Houston was not long enough. People say that Drexler was at the end of his prime in Houston. Getting a chance to talk to TJ Ford, former NBA player, he thought different about Drexler.
"It is hard to give it Harden right now because he is still in his career. I have to go with Drexler because of his accomplishments in Houston"
Now the discussion moves to Steve Francis. In the 1999 NBA Draft, Francis was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the second overall pick. Francis was not fond of playing in Vancouver so they traded him to the Rockets. Houston loved the quickness and athletic ability he brought from the University of Maryland. Just because Steve Francis was 6'3, it did not stop him from dunking on your favorite player. He was mostly known for his exciting crossovers and flashy dunks. In his first season as a Rocket, he became the 2000 Co-Rookie of the year and made All-NBA Rookie team. He also became a three time all-star and led the Rockets back to playoffs for the first time since 1999. Fans gave Francis the nick name "Franchise." Sadly, Francis was traded to Orlando for the rights to Tracy McGrady. Francis could not get along with Coach Jeff Van Gundy. He finished his Rocket tenured with 19.2 ppg and his career with 10, 446 points.
Steve Francis Crossovers and Dunks Tributeyoutu.be
Francis was a tough keep because of his inability to not stop dribbling the ball as much. Plus the Rocket's office got afraid that his explosive ability would not keep him healthy. In reality, McGrady was the better player.
McGrady was traded to Houston in 2004 from the Orlando Magic. He was an elite scorer because of his 6'8 frame. McGrady had the ability to shoot over defenders and finish around the rim with authority. He was also a monster in the post as well. Rocket fans will never forget when McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds to beat the San Antonio Spurs in a comeback win. He was also a part of the Rockets 22-game win streak. McGrady is a seven time all-star, seven time All-NBA, and a two time scoring champ. In his Rocket tenured he averaged 20.5 ppg and had 18, 381 career points. McGrady entered the Hall of Fame in 2017. He went by the nick name "T-Mac".
Tracy McGrady 13 Points Vs The Spurs In 33 Seconds HDyoutu.be
In honest opinion, McGrady fell short in his career because of injuries. McGrady could never lead his team out the first round of the playoffs. If Mcgrady stayed healthy, he probably would have been in the conversation with Kobe Bryant.
James Harden's career is still ongoing but is constantly breaking NBA records. Harden brings the whole package because of his scoring ability. He has exceeded his range from behind the three point line. Harden drives defenders crazy because of his ability to get to the line. NBA refs have struggled refereeing him in the regular season and post season. Harden is already being talked about as one of the best scorers of all time. Last season, Harden averaged 36 ppg and now 37.9 ppg for this season. People are waiting to see if he will pass Chamberlin for the most points in a game this season. Harden is already a seven time all-star, made NBA First Team five times, NBA Third Team, won Sixth Man of the Year with the Oklahoma City Thunder, two time scoring champ, won two gold medals and won an MVP. He just had a streak of scoring 50 points in six straight games. Harden has been incredible for the last eight seasons in Houston.
James Harden BEST Highlights & Moments from 2018-19 NBA Season! BEAST Mode! (Part 1)youtu.be
Everyone will always question Harden in the playoffs. Even though he improved last year in the playoffs, a championship ring haunts him. Is Harden more concerned with winning another MVP or Championship? Harden has struggled with making his teammates better and keeping his composer on the court.
In reality, it is not too hard to see who the best guard in Rocket history.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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