Tag: Hall of Fame

Legendary coach calls for Robert Horry to be inducted into Hall of Fame

During the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, legendary NBA coach Rudy Tomjanovich called for Robert Horry to be inducted.

Former NBA head coach Rudy Tomjanovich was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame yesterday, and in his speech, he called for Robert Horry to be inducted into the hall.

Horry, who attended the University of Alabama from 1988-1992, is known for his seven NBA Championship rings, which he earned over the course of his 16-year career with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs.

Tomjanovich coached Horry on the Rockets, and offered nothing but high praise for the forward.

“He’s got seven rings to prove it, this is where he belongs,” said Tomjanovich. His shout out to Horry was met with applause from the audience.

Legendary coach calls for Robert Horry to be inducted into Hall of Fame

During the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, legendary NBA coach Rudy Tomjanovich called for Robert Horry to be inducted.

Former NBA head coach Rudy Tomjanovich was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame yesterday, and in his speech, he called for Robert Horry to be inducted into the hall.

Horry, who attended the University of Alabama from 1988-1992, is known for his seven NBA Championship rings, which he earned over the course of his 16-year career with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs.

Tomjanovich coached Horry on the Rockets, and offered nothing but high praise for the forward.

“He’s got seven rings to prove it, this is where he belongs,” said Tomjanovich. His shout out to Horry was met with applause from the audience.

NBA Hall of Fame: What Thunder players could one day be inducted?

With NBA Hall of Fame inductions taking place this weekend, see OKC Thunder players from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony who could one day join.

The 2020 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted. Kobe Bryant, Time Duncan and Kevin Garnett led a group of basketball legends who joined the Hall of Fame this weekend.

Those three were inducted as NBA players. Tamika Catchings was inducted from the WNBA. Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens were inducted as coaches and FIBA executive Patrick Baumann was inducted as a contributor to the game.

With that group in the Hall, let’s take a look at players who have been on the Thunder who have a shot at making it into basketball’s highest honor.

Former Rockets coach Rick Adelman named to 2021 Hall of Fame class

Adelman is the fourth-winningest coach in Rockets history, going 193-135 (.588) over four seasons from 2007-08 through 2010-11.

Former Rockets head coach Rick Adelman is being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the new 2021 class. Adelman joins legendary Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who was inducted Saturday as part of the delayed Class of 2020.

Adelman began his NBA career as a player from 1968 until 1975, including a stint with the San Diego Rockets in his first two seasons. Adelman played for five teams, averaging 7.7 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Adelman’s Hall of Fame candidacy, however, is based on his success as a head coach — where he was known as an innovator with free-flowing, motion offenses. As a coach, Adelman had the lead gig in Portland (1989-1994); Golden State (1995-1997); Sacramento (1999-2006); Houston (2007-2011); and Minnesota (2011-2014). While he never won an NBA title, he got deep into the playoffs on many occasions — including the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals with the Trail Blazers and the 2002 Western Conference Finals with the Kings, which might have resulted in a championship if not for questionable officiating.

With the Rockets, Adelman went 193-135 (.588) over four seasons, giving him the fourth-most wins of any head coach in franchise history. (The top three are Tomjanovich, Mike D’Antoni, and Bill Fitch.) His .588 winning percentage ranks third, trailing only D’Antoni and Kevin McHale.

Under Adelman’s watch, the Rockets had a historic 22-game winning streak in the 2007-08 season, and they won their first-round playoff series versus Portland in the 2008-09 season. That represented the franchise’s first series victory in the NBA playoffs in 12 years.

While the Rockets never seriously contended for a championship in either of those years, it was largely for reasons out of Adelman’s control — with All-Star center Yao Ming having both seasons cut short due to serious foot injuries. Those injuries eventually forced Yao to retire much earlier than expected and pushed the Rockets into something of a rebuilding cycle, for which a veteran coach like Adelman wasn’t an ideal fit.

Nonetheless, his tenure with the Rockets should be remembered fondly, and now he’ll be recognized alongside Tomjanovich at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. With a 1,042-749 career record (.582), Adelman currently ranks at No. 9 all-time in NBA coaching wins.

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Rockets legend Rudy Tomjanovich inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

With Rockets franchise icons Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon there to present him, “Rudy T” happily accepted his induction on Saturday.

Legendary Rockets player and coach Rudy Tomjanovich was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night. He was honored at the enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts, with Houston franchise icons (and fellow Hall of Famers) Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon there to present him.

Murphy was a close friend of Tomjanovich from their playing days, while Olajuwon was the star player during his coaching era.

Upon induction, Tomjanovich said:

I fell in love with basketball the first time I saw it. And as a young boy, I carved into my headboard of my bed, ‘I love basketball.’ And I went to sleep with my hand on that carving and I dreamed — I dreamed of one day getting to the NBA. After today, I can say that my life turned out better than my wildest dreams.

To Murphy and Olajuwon on stage, Tomjanovich said:

Calvin, during my playing days, you were my teammate, my roommate, my neighbor, my best friend and most of all, my brother. We shared so many experiences together, it means so much that you are here to share this with me.

Hakeem, you more than anyone are responsible for me being here. You are the best player to ever wear a Houston Rockets jersey and one of the best of all time. You gave us your excellence, your leadership and your big heart. And you taught me something very valuable; the importance of spirituality in all phases of my life.

Tomjanovich also thanked a number of other players from his 1990s Rockets teams, including Kenny Smith, Otis Thorpe, Clyde Drexler, Vernon Maxwell, Sam Cassell, Mario Elie, and Carl Herrera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJv-_gh5i-s

Now 72 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.

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.

“I want to thank the fans for their undying support,” Tomjanovich said on Saturday from the Hall of Fame stage. “We couldn’t have done it without you. I feel your spirit right here, Houston.”

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 the 2020 inductees, who had their enshrinements delayed by nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Players to be inducted alongside “Rudy T” in the Class of 2020 included Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant.

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Paul Pierce’s 34 biggest games as a Boston Celtic

In honor of No. 34, here are Pierce’s 34 biggest games as a Celtic.

With Paul Pierce likely poised to become an official Hall of Fame inductee, we thought it appropriate to celebrate No. 34 with a look back at his 34 biggest games with the Boston Celtics across the course of his 15 seasons wearing green and white.

In our own subjective interpretation of what his “biggest” games were, we’ve listed them in ascending order from No. 34 to No. 1, putting a little extra weight in playoff games — but also detracting a little in the big games that came in losses.

We’ve done our best to dig up photos from those games as well, though we’ve had to sub in a few from the games against the same opponent as close as we could get in time — evidently, a career spanning 19 seasons that ended four years past has had a little leakage to the sands of time.

With all that said, let’s dive in.

Hall of Famer: Top career moments for Rockets legend Rudy Tomjanovich

With his Hall of Fame induction set for Saturday, we look back at some of the top career moments for “Rudy T” as an NBA player and coach.

On Saturday night, legendary Houston Rockets player and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich will be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“Rudy T” will be formally presented by fellow Hall of Famers Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon. Tomjanovich played with Murphy throughout his 11-year career from 1970 until 1981, while Olajuwon was the star player during his two NBA titles in the 1990s as a coach.

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.

Besides his extensive accomplishments as a coach, “Rudy T” was also a dynamic player ⁠— with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game. He was a five-time All-Star at power forward.

Over those years, Tomjanovich had his share of spectacular moments. Here’s our look back at some of the most memorable days.

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Todd Helton selected for induction into College Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Tennessee baseball player Todd Helton has been selected for induction into College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Former Tennessee baseball player Todd Helton has been selected for induction into College Baseball Hall of Fame.

He is one of 14 members to be selected to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, which will be inducted on June 26.

Helton recorded a .370 batting average, 38 home runs and 238 RBIs from 1993–95 at Tennessee. He was the No. 8 overall selection by the Colorado Rockies in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.

The former Vol played for Colorado from 1997-2013. His career batting average was .316, while totaling 2,519 hits, 369 home runs, 1,406 RBIs and 1,401 runs.

Helton was a five-time all-star (2000-04), a three-time Gold Glove Award winner (2001, 2002, 2004) and a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2000–2003). His No. 17 is retired by the Rockies.

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Watch: Isaac Bruce gets his Hall of Fame gold jacket

Isaac Bruce’s gold jacket was delivered ahead of his enshrinement ceremony in August.

Rams legend Isaac Bruce was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year as part of the Class of 2020, finally breaking through in his sixth year of eligibility and after being a finalist four times. However, due to the pandemic, the enshrinement ceremony was postponed for Bruce’s class.

As a result, he’s had to wait even longer than expected. But on Tuesday, he got a special delivery. The Rams shared a video of Bruce opening his gold jacket for the first time as he gets closer to officially being enshrined with a ceremony on Aug. 7 in Canton.

Bruce selected former Rams executive Tony Wylie, who was with St. Louis when Bruce was drafted in the second round in 1994, as his Hall of Fame presenter.

“He’s a person that knows my career from a very intimate standpoint and he’s very knowledgeable of my ups, my downs,” Bruce said last April. “He’s been there for every impactful moment I’ve had as far as being a professional football player.”

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Hakeem Olajuwon, Calvin Murphy to present ‘Rudy T’ at Hall of Fame induction

Murphy was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993, while Olajuwon joined him in 2008. On May 15, 2021, Tomjanovich joins both of them.

Former Houston Rockets player and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich will have franchise icons Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon formally present him into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, according to the Hall’s official announcement. Tomjanovich is a part of the Class of 2020, which will have its enshrinement ceremony on May 15, 2021.

Tomjanovich played with Murphy throughout his 11-year career from 1970 through 1981. Olajuwon was the star player during his two NBA championships as a coach, 1994 and 1995. The full list of players to be inducted, along with their presenters, is available here.

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.

Besides his extensive accomplishments as a coach, “Rudy T” was also a dynamic player ⁠— with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game. He was a five-time All-Star at power forward.

Others being inducted in the Class of 2020 include Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and the late Kobe Bryant.

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