[1] After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Rockets selected Robert Horry from the University of Alabama with the eleventh overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.
[6][7] For the season opener, the Rockets traveled overseas to Yokohama, Japan to play their first two games against the Seattle SuperSonics.
[17] Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 26.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year,[18][19][20] and was named to the All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah.
[21][22][23][24] He also finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns.
[39][40][41][42] A notable note about the Rockets' playoff run that year was the final game of the regular season; the Rockets were playing against the San Antonio Spurs at HemisFair Arena on April 25, 1993, with the Rockets leading by two points in the final seconds, until Spurs All-Star center David Robinson tip-dunked a missed shot after time expired; it was ruled good, and the Rockets went on to lose in overtime, 119–117, tying their record with Seattle, and losing home court advantage due to their match-up tie-breaker against the Sonics in the second round,[43][44][45][46] and ended up losing the decisive Game 7 in overtime, 103–100 at Seattle.