Eugene Kennedy suited up for the Houston Rockets in the 1976-77 season, wearing only jersey No. 30, and put up 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He was the fifth of 15 players to ever don that particular number for the team, making his single season a notable, if numerically modest, part of their deep history.
Decades of Drip: Houston’s Jersey Legacy
The Rockets have some serious history in their threads. Since starting way back in the 1967-68 season, they’ve seen players rock a wild 52 different jersey numbers. We’re talking nearly 500 players, each one leaving their mark, even if just for a moment. And get this: seven of those jerseys are already up in the rafters, retired to honor some of the all-time greats who owned those digits. That’s a ton of stories in every stitch!
No. 30’s Fifth Man: Kennedy’s Path to the Rockets
Before his stint with Houston, Kennedy had a winding road. Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, he wrapped up his college ball at TCU. The Portland Trail Blazers actually scooped him up with the 139th overall pick in the 1971 NBA Draft. But here’s the kicker: he spent his first five pro seasons tearing it up in the ABA instead. It wasn’t until 1976 that he finally landed with the Rockets, making that 1976-77 season the grand finale of his career. He wore only the No. 30 during his time in Houston, adding his chapter to that number’s story.
This deep dive into the history books is just getting started, with the Rockets Wire continuing to cover every single jersey number’s legacy. It makes you wonder who else slipped into that No. 30 and what other stories are waiting to be told as we keep peeling back the layers of the team’s past.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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