4 Rockets You Would've Never Guessed Led the Team in Scoring

The Houston Rockets have had a wide variety of legendary stars on their team: from Hakeem Olajuwon's interior scoring, to James Harden's perimeter shooting, the list goes on. The Rockets haven't had an easy ride in the NBA, dealing with injuries and surprising player declines across their franchise's history. These sharp declines have created windows for surprising names to lead the roster in scoring.

These Rockets players each had a great season leading the team, but have been long forgotten.

4. 2010-2011: Kevin Martin

Former Houston Rockets wing Kevin Martin / Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Long-range sniper Kevin Martin had a strong NBA career, never making an All-Star game, but scoring in abundance during his 12 career seasons. His best three years in terms of scoring all came in Houston, during which he averaged 21.3 points per game. Martin only played enough games to qualify for the Rockets' scoring leaderboards in 2010-2011, when he put up 23.5 PPG to lead Houston to a 43-39 season.

3. 2001-2002: Cuttino Mobley

Houston Rockets guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley / Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

With 1999-2000 rookie of the Year and the previous season's leading scorer Steve Francis playing just 53 games with recurring migranes, the Rockets needed someone to step up. Cuttino Mobley became that guy. The point guard out of Rhode Island led the Rockets in scoring with 21.7 points per game during a disappointing 28-54 season. Mobley spent 11 seasons as a role player in the NBA, but never scored over 20 points again in his career.

2. 2011-2012: Luis Scola

In between the era of Yao Ming and era of James Harden was a time where Luis Scola was one of the best players on the Houston Rockets. Scola was a post machine, leading the Rockets in scoring with 15.5 points per game and 1,025 total points in the lockout shortened season. The big man played 10 seasons in the NBA, and continues to lead the Argentina national team that took home silver in the 2019 FIBA World Cup at age 40.

1. 2009-2010: Aaron Brooks

Following the 2009-2010 NBA season, Aaron Brooks looked like a star in the making. In his third season in the league, Brooks put up 19.6 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Houston Rockets. The 25-year-old point guard took home the Most Improved Player Award that season, but then quickly faded into obscurity. The following season, Brooks was traded for Goran Dragic and a first-round pick. He never was a consistent starter in the NBA again.