When Michael Jordan announced his first retirement from the NBA in October 1993, the league immediately had a wide-open race for the throne. With the undisputed king of the NBA stepping down and bringing his Chicago Bulls down with him, every squad with a formidable roster immediately began feeling confident about their chances of taking the title.
One organization that seized their chance was the Houston Rockets. With the incredibly skilled and talented big man Hakeem Olajuwon leading the way, the Rockets won two straight titles in 1994 and 1995, solidifying their place in the NBA's history.
Despite these impressive accomplishments, some still argue that the Rockets' success was due to Jordan's absence during those years. However, one key player on the Rockets' roster at the time disagrees. In an interview on the "Knuckleheads Podcast," retired All-Star guard Sam Cassell confidently asserted that they would have thwarted MJ and the Bulls if "His Airness" had not stepped away from the game.
Hakeem was dominant
In an era where towering big men dominated the NBA, no player brought more to the table than "The Dream." While he didn't have the muscular, chiseled physique of someone like Shaquille O'Neal, Olajuwon had an unmatched combination of power, finesse, and footwork that made him virtually unstoppable on the court.
During the 1993-94 season, Hakeem imposed his will on defenders and averaged 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year, the regular season, All-Star, and NBA Finals MVP that season.
In that vein, Cassell believes "The Dream" would have had his way with any defender the Bulls had on their roster during that time. Remember, the Bulls didn't have Dennis Rodman back then, as he joined the organization in 1995. Instead, they had the likes of Horace Grant, Luc Longley, Stacey King, and Will Perdue.
"They had Michael Jordan that no one could stop, right? But we had that African that no one could stop," Cassell told Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson.
Related: When Larry Bird gave Michael Jordan the best GOAT compliment: "I know in my time he was better than all of us"
Inside dominance
According to Sam, he and Bulls great Scottie Pippen always got into playful arguments about this particular scenario, as the latter believed he and his team would have easily handled the Rockets. But the chatty guard always pushed back against the notion.
"Pip, my man. Pip always argues about this. Pip's like, 'Boy, we would have kicked your a*s.' I'm like, How?' Because back then, the game was a half-court game. No running, no shooting threes—it was a half-court game, inside-outside game. So, I think we had the best inside player in the league," the former NBA guard said.
The 1993-94 Rockets were hardly a one-man show. Aside from Hakeem, that team had numerous veterans like Otis Thorpe, who averaged a double-double of 14.0 points and 10.6 rebounds; Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Mario Elie, and Cassell, who despite being a rookie, had numerous big moments in the playoffs to help the Rockets defeat the New York Knicks for the championship.
While we can only speculate on what could have been, one thing is for sure: the 1993-94 Rockets were a special squad that etched their name in NBA history as one of the most resilient teams in league history. Their journey to the championship was no easy feat, but with their grit and Olajuwon's sheer brilliance, they overcame all odds and emerged victorious.
Related: "It's only a few that have that kind of aura" - Jim Jackson on why Larry Bird was never on Michael Jordan's level
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