2002/03: Yao Ming the 7'5" Center for China became an instant sensation as he made started in the Al-Star Game as the Houston Rockets challenged for the playoffs all season. However, with Coach Rudy Tomjanovich missing most of the final 6 weeks after cancer surgery the Houston Rockets and Yao Ming would hit a wall. Yao would still manage to put up 13.5 ppg, but he would finish second to Amare Stoudemire in Rookie of the Year voting as the Houston Rockets finished 1 game behind Stoudimire's Phoenix Suns for he final playoff spot with a 43-39 record. Despite falling short of a return to the playoffs the future could not be any brighter for the Houston Rockets with Steve Francis and Yao Ming forming the foundation of a team that enters a new state of the art arena next season. Following the season Rudy T, would step down as coach, after his battle with cancer left him exhausted. 2003/04: The Houston Rockets started the season with new launching pad and new uniforms as they returned to their traditional red color scheme complete with a space aged logo.

The Houston Rockets led by new Coach Jeff Van Gundy would start the season by wining their first game at the Toyota Center against the Denver Nuggets 102-85. The new home seemed to reenergize the Houston Rockets who won 5 of their first 6 games. With Yao Ming leading the way with 17.5 ppg and 9 rebounds per game the Houston Rockets would blast their way into the playoffs for the first time in 5 years finishing in 5th place with a 45-37 record. However in the playoffs the inexperienced Houston Rockets would struggle against the playoff tested Los Angeles Lakers losing in 5 games as the match up between Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal ended up being a mismatch as Yao struggled in his first playoff series. Following the season the Houston Rockets would complete one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NBA history trading Steve Francis along with Cutttino Mobley and Kevin Cato to the Orlando Magic for 2-time NBA leading scorer Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines. 2004/05: Hoping their new acquisitions would help Yao Ming the Houston Rockets sputtered at the start posting a 6-10 record in November, as Yao struggled early. The Houston Rockets would get back to .500 by the end of December and by the time the New Year started they were becoming the force many predicted as Tracy McGrady averaged 25.7 ppg. Down the stretch the Houston Rockets would get stronger as the climbed up to 3rd Place in the tough Southwest Division finishing with a solid 51-31 record, and earning a first round playoff showdown with the Dallas Mavericks. In the playoffs the Houston Rockets started off fast taking the first 2 games in Dallas. However, in Game 3 at home the Houston Rockets blew a 4th Quarter lead allowing the Mavericks a 20-0 run as they lost 106-102. The Houston Rockets would also lose Game 4 at home and Game 5 on the road and would face elimination in Game 6, where Tracy McGrady put up 37 points as the Houston Rockets won 101-83. However, in Game 7 the Houston Rockets barely put up any effort losing by 40 points as they fell in the 1st round for the second year in a row.