The 2021–22 NBA season was the Rockets' 55th season in the National Basketball Association and 51st season in the city of Houston. On August 20, 2021, the NBA announced that the regular season for the league would begin on October 19, 2021, returning to the typical 82-game schedule following the schedule disruptions that resulted from COVID-19. After a woeful 17–55 record compiled in the previous season following the departure of James Harden in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, the Rockets started a new era by drafting Jalen Green from the G League with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
The Rockets were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season, which was the first time the Rockets missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2010–12.
Draft
The Rockets held the second pick in the 2021 NBA draft, along with two other first-round picks from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Milwaukee Bucks entering the draft. This was the first time the Rockets had a lottery pick since the 2012 NBA draft in which they selected Jeremy Lamb with the twelfth overall pick, and it was their first time with a top-4 pick since the 2002 NBA draft in which they selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick.
The Rockets traded two future first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the draft rights to Alperen Şengün.
Roster
Roster Notes
Point guard John Wall missed the entire season due to a hamstring injury.
Standings
Division
Conference
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot
* – Division leader
Game log
The preseason and regular season schedule were announced on August 20, 2021.
Preseason
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 5 | Washington | | Kevin Porter Jr. (25) | Alperen Şengün (8) | Kevin Porter Jr. (5) | Toyota Center11,495 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 7 | Miami | | Jalen Green (20) | Martin Jr., Wood (8) | Dante Exum (6) | Toyota Center10,491 | 1–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 11 | @ Toronto | | Armoni Brooks (15) | Christian Wood (7) | Green, Porter Jr. (4) | Scotiabank Arena9,245 | 1–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 15 | @ San Antonio | | Christian Wood (19) | Christian Wood (19) | Kevin Porter Jr. (4) | AT&T Center17,676 | 1–3
Regular season
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 20 | @ Minnesota | | Christian Wood (16) | Christian Wood (9) | Jalen Green (4) | Target Center16,079 | 0–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 22 | Oklahoma City | | Christian Wood (29) | Tate, Wood (14) | Kevin Porter Jr. (9) | Toyota Center15,674 | 1–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 24 | Boston | | Jalen Green (30) | Christian Wood (9) | Şengün, Tate (4) | Toyota Center16,069 | 1–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 26 | @ Dallas | | Eric Gordon (22) | Christian Wood (17) | Kevin Porter Jr. (8) | American Airlines Center19,337 | 1–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | October 28 | Utah | | Christian Wood (16) | Christian Wood (7) | Green, Gordon (3) | Toyota Center15,858 | 1–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | October 31 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Eric Gordon (17) | Christian Wood (13) | Jalen Green (5) | Staples Center16,448 | 1–5