Breaking: Former Rockets Guard Honest man Rivers Gives Take Spurs Franchise
The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs have a long-standing rivalry, with several notable moments in their history. In the 1995 Western Conference Finals, the Rockets eliminated the Spurs on their way to their second championship, led by Hakeem Olajuwon’s dominant performance. More recently, in the 2017 postseason, the Spurs returned the favor by sending the Rockets home in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The rivalry has continued off the court as well. During the 2023 NBA Draft lottery, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was seen celebrating when he realized he wouldn’t be drafted by the Rockets, who landed the third pick. Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets’ first-round pick, took to social media to express his displeasure with Wembanyama’s behavior.
In the 2023 offseason, Spurs prospect Jeremy Sochan began taking shots at Rockets player Dillon Brooks on social media. An old interview from the 2019 Toronto Raptors championship parade also surfaced, showing Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet taking shots at long-time Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
Former Rockets guard Austin Rivers, known for his blunt opinions, commented on the Spurs organization, stating that many players are not happy to be in San Antonio and that DeMar DeRozan did not enjoy his time there. Rivers also mentioned that no one has ever pushed themselves out of the Spurs organization before, as Kawhi Leonard did in 2018.
The Rockets and Spurs faced off four times in the 2023-24 season, with the Rockets winning three out of the four games. It’s clear that this inner-state rivalry will continue to be intense in the years to come.
