Last Updated on July 1, 2025 by Mathew Diekhake
Below is a table detailing the Houston Rockets’ NBA Draft picks from 2025 to 1980.
| Year | Round | Pick No. | Player | Position | College/Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10 | Khaman Maluach* | C | Duke |
| 2025 | 2 | 59 | Jahmai Mashack* | G | Tennessee |
| 2024 | 1 | 3 | Reed Sheppard | G | Kentucky |
| 2023 | 1 | 4 | Amen Thompson | G | Overtime Elite |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | Jabari Smith Jr. | F | Auburn |
| 2022 | 1 | 17 | Tari Eason | F | LSU |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | Jalen Green | G | G League Ignite |
| 2021 | 1 | 16 | Alperen Şengün | C | Beşiktaş (Turkey) |
| 2020 | 2 | 52 | K.J. Martin | F | IMG Academy |
| 2019 | 2 | 55 | Shamorie Ponds | G | St. John’s |
| 2018 | 2 | 46 | De’Anthony Melton | G | USC |
| 2017 | 2 | 43 | Isaiah Hartenstein | C | Zalgiris (Lithuania) |
| 2016 | 1 | 37 | Chinanu Onuaku | C | Louisville |
| 2015 | 1 | 18 | Sam Dekker | F | Wisconsin |
| 2014 | 2 | 42 | Nick Johnson | G | Arizona |
| 2013 | 2 | 34 | Isaiah Canaan | G | Murray State |
| 2012 | 1 | 12 | Jeremy Lamb | G | UConn |
| 2012 | 1 | 16 | Royce White | F | Iowa State |
| 2012 | 1 | 18 | Terrence Jones | F | Kentucky |
| 2011 | 1 | 14 | Marcus Morris | F | Kansas |
| 2011 | 1 | 23 | Nikola Mirotić | F | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| 2010 | 1 | 14 | Patrick Patterson | F | Kentucky |
| 2009 | 1 | 25 | Rodrigue Beaubois | G | France |
| 2008 | 1 | 25 | Nicolas Batum | F | France |
| 2007 | 1 | 26 | Aaron Brooks | G | Oregon |
| 2006 | 1 | 8 | Rudy Gay | F | UConn |
| 2005 | 1 | 24 | Luther Head | G | Illinois |
| 2004 | 1 | 10 | Jameer Nelson | G | Saint Joseph’s |
| 2003 | 1 | 44 | Malick Badiane | C | Senegal |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | Yao Ming | C | China |
| 2001 | 1 | 13 | Richard Jefferson | F | Arizona |
| 2000 | 1 | 9 | Joel Przybilla | C | Minnesota |
| 1999 | 1 | 9 | Kenny Thomas | F | New Mexico |
| 1998 | 1 | 14 | Michael Dickerson | G | Arizona |
| 1997 | 1 | 22 | Rodrick Rhodes | G | USC |
| 1996 | 1 | 22 | Othella Harrington | F | Georgetown |
| 1995 | 1 | 22 | Brent Barry | G | Oregon State |
| 1994 | 1 | 22 | Sam Mack | G | Houston |
| 1993 | 1 | 22 | Sam Cassell | G | Florida State |
| 1992 | 1 | 22 | Robert Horry | F | Alabama |
| 1991 | 1 | 22 | Kenny Smith | G | North Carolina |
| 1990 | 1 | 22 | Dave Jamerson | G | Ohio |
| 1989 | 1 | 22 | Kenny Battle | F | Illinois |
| 1988 | 1 | 22 | Derrick Chievous | F | Missouri |
| 1987 | 1 | 22 | Derrick McKey | F | Alabama |
| 1986 | 1 | 22 | Buck Johnson | F | Alabama |
| 1985 | 1 | 22 | Steve Harris | G | Tulsa |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | Hakeem Olajuwon | C | Houston |
| 1983 | 1 | 3 | Rodney McCray | F | Louisville |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | Ralph Sampson | C | Virginia |
| 1981 | 1 | 3 | Joe Barry Carroll | C | Purdue |
| 1980 | 1 | 1 | Joe Barry Carroll | C | Purdue |
*Note: In 2025, the Rockets selected Khaman Maluach (10th overall) and Jahmai Mashack (59th overall), but both players were subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively.