In today’s era of social distancing amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, former Rockets player and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich wasn’t able to celebrate Saturday’s Basketball Hall of Fame announcement with his former Houston players and teammates.
He was, however, able to enjoy it at home with canine companions.
After Saturday’s reveal of the Class of 2020, Tomjanovich appeared on ESPN’s televised special for a brief interview. His comments:
It was a very suspenseful day because I’ve been in this position before. And I’ve got the ‘Sorry, not this year’ response.
So I was hanging on every word that John spoke. And when he said, ‘You’re in,’ the first thing that happened was an unbelievable sigh of relief.
And then, slowly but very powerfully, complete jubilation! We’re going to Springfield!
Rudy Tomjanovich on ESPN: pic.twitter.com/64HgyPJzAR
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
After that, Tomjanovich high-fived both of his dogs — who, appropriately, were coached by ‘Rudy T’ on how to do it — in celebration.
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.
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
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. After a long wait and narrowly missing out in 2017 and 2018, he further elaborated on his feelings in an interview with Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman.
Rudy Tomjanovich, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports: “You don’t know how you’re gonna feel. I know how I felt when I didn’t hear what we wanted to hear and it was disappointing. It didn’t ruin my life, but hearing that call, unbelievably the things that popped up into my head..” pic.twitter.com/8bSB6ynA5z
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
Rudy Tomjanovich on being a member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: “It’s almost surreal..It’s almost a numbness that happened when we won the championships. It didn’t really sink in until I went to another state & I saw some highlights of us & oh my God,that’s us..” pic.twitter.com/vAGYMktjpE
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 4, 2020
Rudy Tomjanovich on joining the best of the best in @Hoophall: “It’s just really awesome to think about those kind of things. I was such a fan of the game.When I was a kid we didn’t have much money and my mother would go to the second hand stores and get me all these yearbooks..” pic.twitter.com/FezRCnCLlM
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) 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 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 are scheduled to be enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Former NBA players to be inducted will include Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant.
[lawrence-related id=27817,27806]
Congratulations to longtime @nbacoaches Member, two-time @nba Championship Head Coach, and Olympic Gold Medal Head Coach, Rudy Tomjanovich for being enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame!#20HoopClass #NBACoaches @hoophall pic.twitter.com/eBUCkb85JS
— NBA Coaches Assoc. (@NBA_Coaches) April 4, 2020