The 2008–09 Houston Rockets season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite a season-ending knee injury to Tracy McGrady, the Rockets breezed past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, but could not defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Dikembe Mutombo, who entered his 18th and final season, was injured in Game 2 of the first round and announced his retirement, ending his 18-year NBA career. Besides losing Mutombo, Yao Ming missed most of the second round due to a foot injury that required off-season surgery. Before the season, the team acquired Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace). Following the season, Artest signed as a free agent with the Lakers. The Rockets would not return to the postseason until 2013.

Key dates

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

18,196 20,066 16,996 18,291 20,611 14,670 18,997 18,422 18,797 18,303 18,145 18,203 20,173 17,461 18,704 18,194 18,282 17,201 15,358 14,438 10,691 16,439 19,276 16,203 17,737 18,271 12,115 16,303 20,562 18,326 18,245 18,278 18,228 19,800 16,740 14,858 18,624 19,136 18,280 18,557 18,369 18,199 17,037 14,486 22,076 19,155 15,544 16,702 16,653 10,109 16,815 13,904 15,626 14,921 18,195 17,124 17,515 18,399 22,394 13,716 16,291 19,911 18,045 16,179 16,020 18,449 16,809 18,300 17,723 18,275 17,456 18,797 19,911 18,267 18,422 18,997 18,214 18,389 12,897 19,596 18,409 20,350

Playoffs

20,329 20,408 18,731 18,271 20,462 18,376 18,997 18,997 18,495 18,313 18,997 18,501 18,997

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Rockets only.

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions