How the Rockets played a role in the Houston Comets’ exit

Examining the Rockets’ struggles during Alexander’s Comets ownership

As Thompson pointed out, the Houston Rockets were struggling, as they went 342-354 from 1997-2006. In fact, the Rockets went 28-54 in the 2001-02 season, which marked the fifth-fewest wins in the league that year.

The Rockets also missed the playoffs in five seasons of Alexander’s ownership of the Comets, including four consecutive postseason misses from 1999-2003. The other four seasons resulted in first-round exits, which is surely not how Alexander wanted things to go after seeing the Rockets bring two titles to the city of Houston under his watch.

In 2007, Les Alexander sold the Comets to Hilton Koch, who owns the Houston-based Hilton furniture chain. This move ultimately proved to be the end of the Comets’ existence, as Koch put the franchise up for sale after just one year of ownership, as Thompson alludes to.

There hasn’t been another WNBA team in Houston since the Comets folded in 2008, which is painful for many Houstonians, especially considering the massive success the team had during their reign over the WNBA. But even if there ever happens to be another WNBA franchise in Houston, it’s safe to say they won’t be as dominant as the Comets were.

And they’ll never replace the Comets’ place in the hearts of Houstonians.