Winning a championship title is a significant milestone for any aspiring basketball player. When that moment finally arrives, it can be an emotionally overwhelming experience. This was no different for the Houston Rockets after their 1994 victory, which left some players in tears.
However, the team's then-rookie, Sam Cassell, struggled to fully grasp those sentiments. That was because, unlike his emotional teammates, who felt the culmination of years of hard work, the young 'Sam I Am' was still early in his career.
“I remember after the game, Vernon [Maxwell] and Kenny [Smith] were crying. I was looking at them and thinking, ‘What’s wrong with you boys?’ I didn’t respect the journey because I had won a championship my first season,” recounted Cassell, per Clips Nation.
The making of a champion
Entering the 1993-94 NBA regular season, the veteran duo Maxwell and Smith were at a different point in their careers than their young teammate. Both were in their late twenties, approaching a decade in the league and had been with the franchise since 1990.
They were joined by Cassell after he was selected 24th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft. This moment left a significant mark on the Florida State product.
“I remember the day of the draft. I was back home in Baltimore, and my grandma kept paging me,” he recalled. “[Then-Rockets head coach] Rudy Tomjanovich called three times to tell me they had picked me.”
Upon arriving in Texas, the rookie had to work tirelessly to secure playing time on a competitive Rockets team that had achieved an impressive 55 wins the previous year. With Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon at the helm, key players like starters Vernon and Kenny also played vital roles. Together with Cassell, who emerged as a backup, they ultimately secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference .
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Cassell's ice-cold nerves
In the opening series of the 1994 playoffs, the Rockets took care of the Blazers. They then faced the defending Western Conference champion Suns, “a great ball club with a lot of talent,” as the 2004 All-Star recalled.
However, in Game 7, the young player from Baltimore showcased his own talent by scoring 22 points and delivering seven assists, helping the team from H-Town reach the Western Conference Finals.
After arriving there and taking down the Jazz, they went up against the Knickerbockers. Even though it was the most crucial game of his early career, ‘Sam I Am’ didn’t let the perceived lack of experience get to him, confidently remembering, “I wasn’t nervous; I had been in so many big games.”
The 6'3" playmaker indeed showed impressive composure, starring in all seven finals games, which concluded with a 4-3 victory. Just a year later, Cassell won his second championship ring, and in 2008, he claimed his third with the Celtics in what turned out to be his final NBA game.
Related: "Them guys get the opportunity, and I can't knock the opportunity" – Sam Cassell on being overlooked for the NBA head coaching gig
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