Houston Rockets top pick in the NBA Draft for each season.

The team has selected 10 times one of the top 3 picks and 5 times the first overall draft pick. Last time it took one of the top 3 picks was in 2024.

Franchise preferred NCAA teams or countries of origin for players selected in the first 3 rounds: Louisville (4 times), Kentucky (4), Arizona (4).

Houston Rockets top NBA draft pick for each season

YEARROUNDPOS.PLAYERCOLLEGE1
202413Reed SheppardKentucky
202314Amen ThompsonOvertime Elite
202213Jabari SmithAuburn
202112Jalen GreenNBA G-League
2018246De'Anthony MeltonUSC
2017243Isaiah HartensteinLithuania
2016237Chinaku OnuakuLouisville
2015118Sam DekkerWisconsin
2014125Clint CapelaFrance
2013234Isaiah CanaanMurray State
2012112Jeremy LambUconn
2011114Marcus MorrisKansas
2010114Patrick PattersonKentucky
2008125Nicolas BatumFrance
2007126Aaron BrooksOregon
200618Rudy GayUconn
2005124Luther HeadIllinois
2004255Luis FloresManhattan
2003244Malick BadianeN.D.
200211Yao MingChina
2001113Richard JeffersonArizona
200019Joel PrzybillaMinnesota
1999122Kenny ThomasNew Mexico
1998114Michael DickersonArizona
1997124Rodrick RhodesUSC
1996230Othella HarringtonGeorgetown
1995241Erik MeekDuke
1994253Albert BurdittTexas
1993124Sam CassellFlorida State
1992111Robert HorryAlabama
1991120John TurnerPhillips
1990112Alec KesslerGeorgia
1988116Derrick ChievousMissouri
1987235Doug LeePurdue
1986120Buck JohnsonAlabama
1985119Steve HarrisTulsa
198411Hakeem OlajuwonHouston
198311Ralph SampsonVirginia
1982116Terry TeagleBaylor
1981245Ed TurnerTexas A&M-Kingsville
1980227John StroudOle Miss
1979117Lee JohnsonTexas A&M-Commerce
1978228Buster MatheneyUtah
1977234Larry MoffettUNLV
197611John LucasMaryland
1975111Joe MeriweatherSouthern Illinois
197415Bobby JonesNorth Carolina
197316Ed RatleffLong Beach State
1972220John GianelliPacific
197117Cliff MeelyColorado
197012Rudy TomjanovichMichigan
196916Bingo SmithTulsa
196811Elvin HayesHouston
196717Pat RileyKentucky
(1) Non NCAA international players are listed by the country in which they were playing when drafted or signed if undrafted.