As first reported by Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman, former Rockets player and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich was indeed selected to the Hall of Fame in Saturday’s official Class of 2020 reveal.
When Tomjanovich is enshrined later this year, he’ll join former Rockets legends such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Calvin Murphy at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
After Saturday’s announcement, Berman caught up with those previously enshrined Hall of Famers from the Rockets for their reaction.
Olajuwon was NBA Finals MVP during both of Houston’s championship runs in 1994 and 1995. Regarding his coach, Olajuwon said:
It’s no question it’s well deserved. I’m very, very happy it finally came true. I’ve been hoping it would happen for a long time. What he has done for the game of basketball speaks for itself. I’m proud of him.
Hakeem Olajuwon (@DR34M) on Rudy Tomjanovich joining him in @Hoophall: “It’s no question it’s well-deserved.I’m very, very happy it finally came true.I’ve been hoping it would happen for a long time. What he has done for the game of basketball speaks for itself. I’m proud of him”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
Drexler and Murphy echoed Olajuwon’s sentiment, with Drexler saying that Tomjanovich “finally gets his just due among the great coaches that have been a part of this game.”
Clyde Drexler on Rudy Tomjanovich joining him in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (@Hoophall): “Finally, Rudy T gets in the Hall of Fame. He gets his just due as a coach. He could’ve been in as a player as well. He was a phenomenal player. Rudy’s a great guy…” pic.twitter.com/CWfnAsFPlM
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
Calvin Murphy (@CalvinMurphyHOF) pumped for his friend & former teammate Rudy Tomjanovich: “Rudy is going into the Hall of Fame & he’s gonna have time to reflect back on his career & what he’s done in the sport of basketball… to get a chance to really enjoy what he’s done.”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
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.
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 spent 34 consecutive seasons with the Houston Rockets organization as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He’s the man who taught us, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion!” We congratulate 2x NBA Champion Rudy Tomjanovich. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/0UMVBzYWA4
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 4, 2020
Besides his extensive accomplishments as a head coach, Tomjanovich was also a dynamic player for the Rockets — with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game over 11 seasons from 1970 through 1981. He was a five-time All-Star at power forward.
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.
[lawrence-related id=27806,27780]
🏆 2-Time NBA Champion
🥇 Gold Medalist
⭐️ 5-Time NBA All StarA HALL OF FAMER! pic.twitter.com/xWnMOuNhzL
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 4, 2020