After many near misses, former Houston Rockets player and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich is finally poised for induction in 2020 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The news of Tomjanovich making the cut was first reported by Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. The official announcement is slated for Saturday in a televised special at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN.
Now 71 years old, Tomjanovich played for the Rockets from 1970 through 1981, and was head coach from 1992 through 2003. That run included Houston’s only two NBA titles in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
In his 11-plus seasons as head coach, Tomjanovich led the Rockets to a 503-397 (.559) regular-season record and a 51-39 (.567) mark in the NBA playoffs, headlined by Houston’s two championships in 1994 and 1995. He is by far the winningest coach in franchise history.
Wow! NBA sources: Former #Rockets Coach Rudy Tomjanovich elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 3, 2020
Doesn't matter why it took so long now, but I never had anyone say a negative word about Rudy Tomjanovich or question his worthiness for the Hall of Fame. Said a lot about him as a person and about his work as a coach that his peers and successors so badly wanted him in the Hall.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 3, 2020
But “Rudy T,” as he’s best known in Rockets’ circles, was also a dynamic player — with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game over 11 seasons. He was a five-time All-Star at power forward.
Tomjanovich had been the only coach in history with multiple NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal who was not in the Hall of Fame. He was the only NBA head coach among this year’s finalists.
Rudy! That is so great. Should be in an upper level on @BillSimmons @Hoophall pyramid https://t.co/9GOX2EsVHu
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) April 3, 2020
Tomjanovich was a finalist in 2017 and 2018 before not making the final group in 2019. In recent months, however, several renowned NBA coaches went out of their way to make the case for Tomjanovich’s long overdue induction — which likely raised his profile with voters.
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich asked if he’ll ever allow himself to be nominated for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: “The only name I would look for is Rudy Tomjanovich b/c it’s long overdue. It was great to c his name on that list.That’s the name everybody should look at” pic.twitter.com/ze3rdb0fW6
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 20, 2019
Jeff Van Gundy on Rudy Tomjanovich a candidate again for the Basketball Hall of Fame:"There are very few no-brainers.This was a no-brainer.I don't understand,for the life of me,how someone who could be casting a ballot,could say he's not worthy. It's nonsense. It's just nonsense"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 19, 2019
Tomjanovich and other members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 are scheduled to be enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Players to be inducted alongside “Rudy T” will include Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant.
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Rick Carlisle on the potential of Rudy Tomjanovich being elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: “Rudy’s one of the great coaches in history. His back-to-back titles and his Olympic championship are huge milestones in his career.” pic.twitter.com/A6fefcloJQ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 31, 2020
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball @Hoophall Class of 2020, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Formal announcements will be made on Saturday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2020