After only a few short months with the team, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni articulated why he thinks former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich has been snubbed off the Hall of Fame.
“You look at (Clyde) Drexler and Moses (Malone), Calvin (Murphy) and (Hakeem) Olajuwon – all unbelievably deserved to be in the Hall of Fame,” D'Antoni told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “Then you see Rudy. His jersey is up there, but there's nothing under it. It should say, ‘Hall of Fame'.”
A Michigan alum, Tomjanovich's No. 45 was retired after playing 11 seasons for the Rockets from 1970-81. He had averages of 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and two assists per game on 50.1 percent field goal shooting, and was part of five All-Star teams in his illustrious career.
“He's one of the best coaches ever,” said D'Antoni. “He's won two titles. He was the national team Olympic coach. He was an unbelievable player. But besides all that, his coaching, are you kidding me? He's not in? I look up and say, ‘That's not right. That's not right.' I'm thinking of getting a marker and writing it up there. He should be there in the Hall of Fame, no question.”
Tomjanovich ranks 27th in NBA history with a 527-416 (.559) win-loss career mark as a coach. He spearheaded the Rockets' two championship wins, in 1994 and 1995 and coached the U.S. Men's Olympic team to a gold medal in 2000 and a bronze medal at the 1998 World Championships.
“Rudy T” as he is known by those close to him, is known for his charisma and his ability to relate to players, young and veteran, as he was one himself. His reputation in the sidelines is impeccable, a brilliant mind with a talent for Xs and Os.
To this day, Rudy Tomjanovich is the all-time rebounds leader at the University of Michigan and is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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