The
GAME
Rudy Tomjanovich played collegiately at the University of Michigan where he holds a rebounding record and averaged over 30 points a game in his last year. The 6’ 7’ forward was drafted with the second overall pick in the NBA draft. He played eleven seasons and was a five-time All-Star, but is probably best known as a coach of the Houston Rockets winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 95. Joel Blank: The man, the myth, the legend, the man that is long overdue going to the Hall of Fame very soon has decided to block out some time for us. He is sitting in boxer shorts and a tank top, no doubt somewhere in Florida. Coach, always great to catch up with you. No better time than coming up on the heels of this massive moment with you finally getting into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame. Congratulations and your thoughts as we get closer to that day. Rudy Tomjanovich: Joel, it’s always a pleasure for me to be with you and on your show, but if it’s OK, I don’t have the boxers on. Joel Blank: Hey, coach, whatever makes you comfortable, it’s retirement years. Rudy Tomjanovich: That’s right. That’s right. Well, I didn’t know I’m back working again, so. Joel Blank: That’s right. The Timberwolves. Rudy Tomjanovich: That’s right. Joel Blank: Everyone in Houston from the organization itself and all the players, Bull and Mario and so many of the guys lobbying for you. When you finally got that call and knew that that day was coming. Rudy Tomjanovich: Yeah, you know, waiting for this to happen was very interesting because I didn’t really think about it until, you know, that time of the year when I would start getting calls about how I felt and things like that. But all the people who spoke up for me. I cannot thank them enough for making me feel so good. And, you know, my players. But then the brotherhood of coaches, Coach Mike D’Antoni, Scot20 | Intown | July + August 2021
INTERVIEW WITH HOUSTON ROCKETS COACH
Rudy Tomjanovich
ty Brooks, and Jeff Van Gundy, as you know, spoke up for years. And I have a lot of gratitude for those guys. Joel Blank: Now, Rudy, back in the day we were a family. You let Worrell and myself and guys sit in with the team on the meetings. And I remember you grilling me about Clyde because I had worked with him before you made that trade and said to me I’m thinking about making a move that’s going to affect my team. Rudy Tomjanovich: Well, absolutely. Chemistry is so important, and if you wind up bringing in somebody that you’d never know if guys have a past with somebody that usually you do, but, you know, anything can happen with a big trade like that. You got to talk to your main guy. And of course, Clyde was just a perfect fit. Joel Blank: Because you now have time to reflect and we did it back when we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the titles are there certain things that happened that stick into your mind and say, if that doesn’t happen, maybe we don’t
win that one or we have as much success? Rudy Tomjanovich: Yeah, there were things like that, you know. You know, I thought a very pivotal situation was the first game in Orlando. During the regular season, they had owned us. They pretty well took care of us easily. And then they were doing it again. And we hung in there. We hung in there. And if Kenny doesn’t make that shot, put us in overtime, you know, we might not be talking about, you know, back to back. And we love the kiss of death shot from the corner with Mario. But that shot that Kenny made was just as big. And a lot of people don’t talk about it now. Nick Sharara: I don’t know if you’ve heard the news, but long-time broadcaster of the Houston Rockets Bill Worrell will call his final game this season. Your thoughts on Bill Worrell and B, should Vernon Maxwell take his spot? Rudy Tomjanovich: Could what could what Nick Sharara: Could Vernon Maxwell take his spot as the broadcaster?
