{
  "id": 11568932,
  "title": "Houston Rockets jersey history No. 33 - Phil Hicks (1976)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/houston-rockets-jersey-history-no-33-phil-hicks-1976",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T01:00:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/houston-rockets-jersey-history-no-010019249.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Houston Rockets have seen players wear a total of 52 different jersey numbers since their founding in the 1967-68 season. This includes one number used exclusively by former general manager and assistant coach Carroll Dawson. Over the years, approximately 500 players have worn those numbers. To commemorate this, Rockets Wire is chronicling the entire history of the Rockets' jersey numbers and the players who have worn them. There are currently seven retired jerseys, honoring some of the greatest Rockets of all time. Today, the article will focus on the third of the 16 players who donned jersey No. 33, Phil Hicks. After his college career at Tulane, Hicks was chosen 27th overall in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Rockets. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he played only two games for the team before being cut. During his brief tenure, he wore only number 33 and averaged just 0.5 points per game. The stats and data for this article are sourced from Basketball Reference.",
  "summary": "During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Hicks wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 0.5 points per game.",
  "key_points": [
    "Phil Hicks wore No. 33 for Houston Rockets in 1976",
    "Played only two games, averaged 0.5 points per game",
    "No. 33 is one of seven retired jerseys honoring Rockets legends"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Houston Rockets' jersey No. 33 was briefly worn by Phil Hicks, marking him as one of 16 players to don the number, as part of the team's extensive jersey history.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}