Tag: Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Rockets legends Elvin Hayes, Calvin Murphy named to Houston Sports Hall of Fame

#Rockets greats Elvin Hayes and Calvin Murphy (@CalvinMurphyHOF) are being named to the Houston Sports Hall of Fame as part of the upcoming Class of 2023.

Rockets legends and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members Elvin Hayes and Calvin Murphy are among the latest additions to the newly created Houston Sports Hall of Fame.

Located in downtown Houston at GreenStreet, the hall honors legendary sports figures from or associated with the Houston area that have made a significant impact in their sport. Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Rudy Tomjanovich were among the initial classes, and now Hayes and Murphy will join them in the Class of 2023.

As part of this week’s official announcement, here’s how Houston Sports Hall of Fame officials characterized their careers:

Calvin Murphy is a Rockets legend and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. Murphy was drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1970, now the Houston Rockets, and quickly began making history and breaking records. Murphy was one of the best free-throw shooters ever, setting NBA records for most consecutive free throws made and for the highest free throw percentage in a single season (1980-81). Post-NBA, Murphy continued to work for the Rockets in multiple ways and had his No. 23 jersey retired in 1984.

Elvin Hayes began playing at the University of Houston in 1965. His most memorable moment came on January 20, 1968, when the University of Houston went up against UCLA at the Houston Astrodome. During the game, Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds for Houston, ending UCLA’s 47-game win streak in what was called “The Game of the Century.” From that moment, Hayes continued to play in the NBA for over 15 years. He is a 12-time NBA All-Star, was named to both the 50th and 75th anniversary teams and is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Hayes will have his No. 44 jersey retired by the Rockets on Nov. 18, 2022.

“When I found out it was for me, I got emotional,” Murphy told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. “It doesn’t get any better than this. To see that people still revere me … of course (it) feeds my ego tremendously. It makes me feel as though everything I’ve done in Houston over the last 53 years was not in vain.”

Hayes and Murphy will formally be inducted and enshrined at the sixth annual Houston Sports Awards on Jan. 25, 2023.

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Rockets legend Clyde Drexler honored by Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Rockets legend Clyde Drexler received his Houston Sports Hall of Fame ring this week, along with the installation of a personalized plaque in downtown Houston.

Last April, Rockets and NBA legend Clyde Drexler was among three members inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 class, joining Roger Clemens of MLB’s Astros and Sheryl Swoopes of the WNBA’s Comets.

Earlier this week, each member of that trio received their Hall of Fame ring and had a personalized plaque unveiled on the Walk of Fame at the GreenStreet Promenade in downtown Houston.

Here are some of the details on Drexler’s new ring, per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle:

Drexler’s ring says “Drexler” on one side with the Olympic rings to represent him playing on the 1992 Dream Team.

The other side says “Rockets,” with whom he won an NBA championship in 1995, and has the University of Houston Cougars’ hand sign on it.

“It’s a token of appreciation from the city that I’ve spent my entire life in,” Drexler told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. “That’s what makes it special. It’s a tremendous honor.”

Drexler played portions of four seasons with the Rockets, starting at the trade deadline of the 1994-95 season and continuing to his retirement at the conclusion of the 1997-98 campaign.

“Clyde the Glide” averaged 19 points (44.5% FG, 33.9% on 3-pointers), 6.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.9 steals in 36.7 minutes per game with the Rockets. He was a key cog as the starting shooting guard of the 1994-95 NBA champions.

Drexler’s No. 22 jersey is retired in the rafters at both Toyota Center and at the University of Houston, where he led the Cougars to a pair of Final Four appearances (1982, 1983) alongside his good friend and future co-star with the Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon.

Both Drexler and Olajuwon are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Texans legendary WR Andre Johnson to be inducted in Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Former Texans receiver Andre Johnson will be inducted into the 2021 Houston Sports Hall of Fame.

Andre Johnson is adding another hall of fame induction to his resume.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Sports Hall of Fame announced Thursday they will be inducting the Houston Texans Ring of Honor receiver in April 2021. Other members of the 2021 class include Houston Astros standouts Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Houston Cougars “Phi Slamma Jamma” coach Guy V. Lewis, and Houston Cougars head football coach Bill Yeoman.

“It’s a great,’’ Johnson said. “It speaks to the accomplishments I’ve had during my career. I’m very surprised, and I’m excited about it.’’

Johnson was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor in 2017 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

The former No. 3 pick in the 2003 NFL Draft stayed with the Texans through the 2014 season, catching 1,012 passes for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns, all three of which are franchise records.

Johnson will join late founder Bob McNair as the only two Texans in the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, which has Oilers legends in running back Earl Campbell and quarterback Dan Pastorini.