[1] The Rockets had the ninth overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Joel Przybilla from the University of Minnesota, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for first-round draft pick Jason Collier out of Georgia Tech.
[2][3][4][5][6] In an effort to shore up their front line, the Rockets signed free agent Maurice Taylor during the off-season.
[7][8][9][10] After the retirement of All-Star forward Charles Barkley, the Rockets got off to a 13–9 start to the season, but then went on a six-game losing streak afterwards.
The team held a 25–25 record at the All-Star break,[11] and then played above .500 for the remainder of the season.
However, the Rockets missed the playoffs despite finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a winning record of 45–37, which was two games behind the 8th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.