Meet ROCKETS Legend Mario Elie
JASH is honored to welcome three-time NBA Champion and Houston Rockets legend Mario Elie to JASH BASH 53!
Elie made his NBA debut initially in December 1990 for the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers prior to being traded to the Houston Rockets.
Elie enjoyed some of his finest playing moments as a member of the Houston Rockets, including his series-clinching three-pointer in Game 7 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals.
Twenty six years ago, at the height of Clutch City, Mario Elie landed his famed “Kiss of Death” shot: a last-minute corner three-pointer that helped deliver the Houston Rockets’ win over the Phoenix Suns in the 1995 Western Conference semifinals.
What was arguably the most legendary shot in Rockets history kept alive the team’s effort to land their second NBA championship — and has kept alive Elie’s legacy.
-Charlie Zong, Staff Writer, Houston Chronicle
Elie’s successful NBA career saw him average 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 732 regular season games. He also played in 116 career playoff contests, winning three NBA Championships with Houston in 1994 and 1995, and with San Antonio in 1999. In 1998, Elie was named to the Rockets 30-Year Team as one of the top 10 players in club history.
Following the end of a successful NBA career, Elie went on to become an assistant coach for multiple NBA teams including the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and most recently Orlando Magic.
Earlier this month it was announced that Elie will be rejoining his home team as a broadcaster for the Houston Rockets.