This is Rudy Tomjanovich’s year! He is finally getting the accolades he deserves from his epic and history-making career as a basketball player and then coach. As the Houston Chronicle aptly said of the announcement “Perhaps the greatest Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class ever has its coach.” And we couldn’t agree more!
At last, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame no longer will underestimate the accomplishments of a true champion. This week, Houston Rockets and NBA Legend Rudy T was named as part of the Hall of Fame 2020 class along with the late 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, and four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton for the men’s committee. The Class of 2020 will be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, on Saturday, August 29, 2020.
In his video for ESPN describing the HOF announcement, Tomjanovich can be seen high-fiving dogs as he describes his jubilant reaction to being elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame!
In January of this year, he was also inducted into Houston Hall of Fame, a well-deserved honor after decades of contribution to the Houston community- first as a player and then as the world championship-winning Rockets coach.
Tomjanovich played his entire career for the Houston Rockets, then coached the team to back-to-back NBA titles (and the city’s first world championships) in 1994 and 1995. Following his team’s sweep of Orlando in the 1995 championship, Tomjanovich delivered an iconic quote to those who doubted his team, saying “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.” Tomjanovich also coached the U.S. to Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000.
HFR founder Samir Becic is proud of his friend, who has deserved this honor for a long time. “Congratulations my Balkan brother, you deserve this honor twice over! Balkans are proud of you” said Samir.
Houston is so proud of you, Rudy T!
