The Houston Rockets took time before Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to honor the victims of last week’s Santa Fe High School shooting. In addition to the moment of silence before the game, the Rockets are wearing a patch that reads “Santa Fe HS” as a way to honor the school. The school is located just 35 miles south of the Toyota Center where the Rockets play.
The team honored members of the school as well as first responders after a moment of silence. There were more than 300 members of the senior class in attendance. Here’s a look at how the Rockets honored Santa Fe prior to the game.
.@HoustonRockets honored Santa Fe High School and the first responders prior to Game 5.
The team offered free tickets for tonight’s game against the Warriors to the Santa Fe High School senior class. Houston has a whole night of festivities planned as NBA.com detailed.
The patches reads: “Santa Fe HS.” It’s one of several tributes the team plans following Friday’s shooting. Eight students and two teachers died at the school, located 30 miles from downtown Houston.
The school’s high school choir will perform the national anthem. There will be a moment of silence and a video tribute before tipoff.
Santa Fe’s senior class and administrators have been invited to attend the game as guests of owner Tilman Fertitta. The Rockets also will honor first responders on the court.
Proceeds from Thursday night’s charity raffle will go to the Santa Fe Strong Memorial Fund.
Chris Paul was one of several NBA players to speak out after the tragedy. Paul implored that action must be taken after eight Santa Fe students and two teachers passed away.
“First and foremost aside from the playoffs that’s going on, which is minor compared to what’s taken place down in Santa Fe,” Paul told Sports Illustrated. “Our prayers go out to the victims and the families having to deal with that situation. We have a lot of fan support there, and those people come out and support us night in and night out, so this is very minor compared to what those people are dealing with…It’s scary that that’s becoming the norm here. We got to do something about it because I can’t imagine something like that taking place with my kids.”
You can watch Paul’s full interview below.
Chris Paul: “First and foremost aside from the playoffs that’s going on which is minor compared to what’s taken place down in Santa Fe. Our prayers go out to the victims and the families…It’s scary that that’s becoming the norm here. We got to do something about it.”
The Rockets also passed out red shirts to all the fans in attendance for Game 5 with the words “Houston Strong” on the front of the shirt.
“It’s so much more meaningful than what we do,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni explained to the Houston Chronicle. “If (Thursday night) moves two or three people to understand that we’ve got to have some change, that would be great. Your heart goes out to them and it puts you back in reality real quick. It’s just time for something to change. We just can’t go on (like this).”
Travis Scott took a moment before the game to honor the first responders and the senior class in attendance.
Travis Scott saluting the Santa Fe seniors and first responders at the #Rockets game