Rudy Tomjanovich

Rudy Tomjanovich was drafted second overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA Draft. In 2003, when Rudy T. left the Rockets – now based in Houston – the Hamtramck, Michigan native had spent more than half his life with the organization. A fearless player, Tomjanovich brought that same mentality to the profession of coaching. In only his second full season at the helm, Tomjanovich led the Houston Rockets to the 1994 NBA championship. Space City was on top of the world, and Tomjanovich, though once reluctant to take the head job, found his groove patrolling the sidelines. The Rockets led with Hakeem Olajuwon on both ends of the floor, so Tomjanovich found a way to involve lesser-known players Otis Thorpe, Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, and Vernon Maxwell. The formula worked. A year later, with Clyde Drexler now in the lineup, the Rockets featured Olajuwon and the same supporting cast to win the franchise’s second title. Tomjanovich followed up his encore performance with another outstanding run in the 2000 Olympics leading the United States to the gold medal.