1. Overview
Rudolph "Rudy" Tomjanovich Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach, widely recognized for his significant contributions to the sport. Born on November 24, 1948, Tomjanovich's career spanned over three decades, marked by both personal adversity and remarkable team success. As a player, he spent his entire professional career with the San Diego / Houston Rockets as a power forward, earning five NBA All-Star selections. His playing career was notably impacted by a severe on-court injury in 1977, which he courageously overcame, demonstrating profound resilience.
Transitioning to coaching, Tomjanovich led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, a testament to his unique coaching philosophy centered on teamwork, adaptability, and unwavering confidence in his players, famously encapsulated by his quote, "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!" Beyond the NBA, he achieved international success as the head coach for the U.S. men's national basketball team, securing a bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship and a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Tomjanovich's career, particularly his response to the Kermit Washington incident, serves as a poignant reminder of the ethical considerations in sports regarding player safety and the profound human element of overcoming physical and mental challenges. His enduring legacy is further cemented by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
2. Early life
Rudy Tomjanovich was born in Hamtramck, Michigan, on November 24, 1948. He is the son of Catherine Modich and Rudolph Tomjanovich Sr. Tomjanovich is of Croatian descent, a heritage he learned more about from his parents later in life, having initially thought he was Polish.
2.1. Childhood and education
Tomjanovich spent his childhood in Hamtramck, Michigan, where he attended Hamtramck High School. During his high school years, he was a basketball teammate of ABA player John Brisker. Following high school, he continued his academic and athletic pursuits at the University of Michigan, attending from 1967 to 1970.
3. Playing career
Tomjanovich's playing career began in college, where he established himself as a dominant force, leading to a successful professional career entirely with the San Diego/Houston Rockets.
3.1. College career
From 1967 to 1970, Rudy Tomjanovich played collegiate basketball for the University of Michigan. During his time there, he set career rebounding records that continue to stand within the Michigan program. His exceptional performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1968, followed by first-team honors in both 1969 and 1970. In his final collegiate year, 1970, he was recognized as an All-American. He also holds the single-game scoring and rebounding records at Crisler Arena, the home venue for Michigan basketball. In recognition of his outstanding college career, his number 45 jersey was honored by the University of Michigan in 2003.
3.2. Professional career
In the 1970 NBA draft, Rudy Tomjanovich was selected as the second overall pick by the San Diego Rockets. The franchise later relocated to Houston in 1971, and Tomjanovich remained with the team for the entirety of his 11-year NBA playing career, from 1970 to 1981. His last name, being quite long, led to his jerseys often reading "RUDY T." on the back for brevity. He was also drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA in both 1970 and 1974.
Throughout his professional playing tenure, Tomjanovich achieved a scoring average of 17.4 points and a rebounding average of 8.1 rebounds per game. He amassed a total of 13,383 points and 6,198 rebounds. His field goal percentage was an impressive 50.1%. Tomjanovich earned five All-Star Game selections during his career, appearing consecutively from 1974 to 1977 and again in 1979. He is the fourth-leading scorer in Rockets franchise history, trailing only James Harden, Calvin Murphy, and Hakeem Olajuwon. His playing career included five playoff appearances with the Rockets: in 1975, 1977, and consecutively from 1979 to 1981. Upon his retirement from playing, the Houston Rockets honored him by retiring his number 45 jersey.
3.2.1. Kermit Washington incident
On December 9, 1977, Rudy Tomjanovich was involved in a severe incident during a game between his Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. While attempting to intervene in a fight at center court, Tomjanovich was struck by a punch from Lakers power forward Kermit Washington. The blow tragically shattered Tomjanovich's face and caused life-threatening head and spinal injuries, forcing him to be sidelined for five months. This traumatic event highlighted the serious risks of violence in professional sports and prompted increased discussions about player safety.
Despite the gravity of his injuries, Tomjanovich demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. He made a full recovery and returned to play in the NBA for three more seasons, even earning an NBA All-Star Game selection in the subsequent 1978-79 NBA season. The incident and its profound aftermath are thoroughly documented in John Feinstein's book The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever, which delves into the personal and ethical dimensions of the event, and also in Tomjanovich's 1997 autobiography A Rocket at Heart: My Life and My Team. His recovery and return to the court became a symbol of perseverance in the face of extreme adversity, underscoring the physical and psychological challenges athletes can face.
4. Coaching career
Rudy Tomjanovich transitioned from his playing career to coaching, where he achieved even greater success, particularly known for his leadership of the Houston Rockets and the U.S. Men's National Team.
4.1. Coaching philosophy and style
Tomjanovich was renowned for his distinctive coaching approach, characterized by an instinctive managerial style and an intense focus on preparation for each game. While often self-deprecating, he placed immense pressure on himself and his assistant coaches to be thoroughly prepared, sometimes leading to exhaustion that required hospitalization. Despite the "genius" label often assigned to other champion coaches like Chuck Daly and Phil Jackson, Tomjanovich consistently deflected such praise after winning back-to-back titles.
His approach with players was often described as hands-off and easy-going, earning him a reputation as a "players' coach." This style fostered an environment where veteran players were eager to join his teams, trusting his leadership and respect for their abilities. Notable stars who specifically requested trades to Houston during his tenure, and were granted them, included Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen. This philosophy emphasized empowering players and building a cohesive team identity, a key factor in his championship successes.
4.2. U.S. National Team
In 1998, Tomjanovich volunteered to serve as head coach for the U.S. men's senior basketball team for the 1998 FIBA World Championship held in Greece. This tournament presented a unique challenge as no active NBA players participated due to ongoing contract negotiations. Despite this, Tomjanovich skillfully guided a hastily assembled roster of players primarily from European leagues, the CBA, and college programs to a bronze medal, a significant achievement given the circumstances.
His exceptional service and leadership at the 1998 World Championship, combined with his stellar professional resume, led to his selection as the head coach for the U.S. men's senior team at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. Under his guidance, Team USA achieved an undefeated 8-0 record and clinched the gold medal. Tomjanovich's commitment to national team basketball continued, as he was named director of scouting for USA Men's Basketball on February 15, 2006.
4.3. NBA coaching
Rudy Tomjanovich's NBA coaching career is primarily defined by his successful tenure with the Houston Rockets and a brief period with the Los Angeles Lakers.
4.3.1. Houston Rockets
After retiring as a player in 1981, Tomjanovich spent two years as a scout for the Houston Rockets before being named an assistant coach in 1983. He served in this capacity under head coaches Bill Fitch and Don Chaney. In February 1992, following Don Chaney's resignation, Tomjanovich was appointed the Rockets' interim head coach. He nearly guided the team to a playoff berth in that partial season, earning him the permanent head coaching position.
In his first full season as head coach, the 1992-93 NBA season, Tomjanovich led the Rockets to the Midwest Division title, making him the first head coach in NBA history to take a team from the lottery to a division championship in their inaugural full season. Building on this momentum, he famously coached the team to back-to-back NBA championships in the 1994 NBA Finals and 1995 NBA Finals. The Rockets were the only team other than the Chicago Bulls to win multiple championships during the 1990s, with their titles bookended by the Bulls' two runs of three consecutive championships each. In their remarkable 1995 playoff run to the second title, the Rockets became the lowest seed (sixth) to win an NBA championship, and the only team in league history to defeat the teams with the four best regular-season records in the playoffs. It was after securing their second championship that Tomjanovich delivered his iconic and inspiring proclamation: "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!" This phrase encapsulated his belief in the power of perseverance and teamwork.
During his more than 11 seasons as the Rockets' head coach, Tomjanovich compiled a regular-season record of 503 wins and 397 losses, achieving a .559 winning percentage. In the playoffs, he posted a record of 51 wins and 39 losses, with a .567 winning percentage. Both his career wins and winning percentage stand as Rockets franchise records. After the 1998-99 season, the Rockets experienced a period of decline and did not make the playoffs for the remainder of his coaching tenure, consistently finishing lower in their division. Tomjanovich left the team after the 2002-03 NBA season when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He has since made a full recovery from his illness. His departure concluded a 33-year association with the Rockets franchise, encompassing its first 32 years in Houston, as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
4.3.2. Los Angeles Lakers
In 2004, Rudy Tomjanovich signed a five-year contract worth 30.00 M USD to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, replacing the highly successful Phil Jackson. However, his tenure with the Lakers was brief. He resigned after coaching just 43 games during the 2004-05 Los Angeles Lakers season, citing mental and physical exhaustion. He clarified that this exhaustion was unrelated to his previous bout with bladder cancer. The Lakers subsequently paid him a 10.00 M USD settlement, which led to speculation that his contract had been terminated by the organization. Following his resignation, Tomjanovich continued his association with the Lakers as a consultant for 14 years.
5. Personal life
Rudy Tomjanovich maintains a private personal life, residing in Houston, Texas, with his longtime girlfriend, Lisa Marcussen. He has two daughters and one son from his previous marriage to Sophie.
Beyond his contributions to basketball, Tomjanovich has also engaged in significant social contributions. He has actively participated with the Texas Children's Cancer Center, dedicating his efforts to help raise funds for vital cancer research. Additionally, he established a scholarship program through the Tomjanovich Foundation, which has provided educational opportunities for hundreds of students to attend college, underscoring his commitment to community well-being and youth development. Tomjanovich is also an avid supporter of local Houston sports teams, including the Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, and Houston Astros, as well as his alma mater, the University of Houston and the University of Michigan. He also remains a strong supporter of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
6. Legacy and honors
Rudy Tomjanovich's career is marked by a comprehensive list of accomplishments as both a player and a coach, cementing his significant legacy in basketball. As a player, he is the all-time leader in rebounds for the University of Michigan and ranks second on their all-time list in points per game. He was also an All-American in 1970 and holds the single-game scoring and rebounding records at Crisler Arena. In the NBA, he earned five NBA All-Star selections between 1974 and 1977, and again in 1979, averaging 17.4 points per game with 50.1% shooting over his career. His number 45 jersey was retired by the Houston Rockets.
As a coach, Tomjanovich's most celebrated achievements include leading the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. He also successfully coached the U.S. men's national basketball team to a bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship and a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
His contributions to the sport have been recognized with numerous inductions into various halls of fame:
- Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
- Houston Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 2019)
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted on May 16, 2021), notably as the first basketball player from the University of Michigan to receive this honor.
- Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame (to be included in 2024).
In 2024, he was also awarded the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, further acknowledging his enduring impact on the game.
7. Career statistics and records
Rudy Tomjanovich's career statistics as a player and his coaching record are detailed below.
7.1. Playing statistics
7.1.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-71 | San Diego | 77 | 13.8 | .383 | .652 | 4.9 | .9 | 5.3 | |||
| 1971-72 | Houston | 78 | 34.5 | .495 | .723 | 11.8 | 1.5 | 15.0 | |||
| 1972-73 | Houston | 81 | 36.7 | .478 | .746 | 11.6 | 2.2 | 19.3 | |||
| 1973-74 | Houston | 80 | 40.3 | .536 | .848 | 9.0 | 3.1 | 1.1 | .8 | 24.5 | |
| 1974-75 | Houston | 81 | 38.7 | .525 | .790 | 7.6 | 2.9 | .9 | .3 | 20.7 | |
| 1975-76 | Houston | 79 | 36.9 | .517 | .767 | 8.4 | 2.4 | .5 | .2 | 18.5 | |
| 1976-77 | Houston | 81 | 38.6 | .510 | .839 | 8.4 | 2.1 | .7 | .3 | 21.6 | |
| 1977-78 | Houston | 23 | 36.9 | .485 | .753 | 6.0 | 1.4 | .7 | .2 | 21.5 | |
| 1978-79 | Houston | 74 | 35.7 | .517 | .760 | 7.7 | 1.9 | .6 | .2 | 19.0 | |
| 1979-80 | Houston | 62 | 29.6 | .476 | .278 | .803 | 5.8 | 1.8 | .5 | .2 | 14.2 |
| 1980-81 | Houston | 52 | 24.3 | .467 | .235 | .793 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .4 | .1 | 11.6 |
| Career | 768 | 33.5 | .501 | .262 | .784 | 8.1 | 2.0 | .7 | .3 | 17.4 | |
7.1.2. Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Houston | 8 | 38.0 | .563 | .833 | 8.0 | 2.9 | .1 | .5 | 23.0 | |
| 1977 | Houston | 12 | 38.1 | .505 | .784 | 5.4 | 2.0 | .6 | .3 | 20.3 | |
| 1979 | Houston | 2 | 32.0 | .391 | .400 | 7.0 | 1.0 | .5 | .5 | 10.0 | |
| 1980 | Houston | 7 | 26.4 | .375 | .143 | .692 | 5.7 | 1.4 | .3 | .0 | 8.3 |
| 1981 | Houston | 8 | 3.9 | .111 | .000 | .667 | .8 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .8 |
| Career | 37 | 28.1 | .489 | .100 | .771 | 5.1 | 1.6 | .3 | .2 | 13.8 | |
7.2. Coaching record
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W-L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW-L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 1991 | 30 | 16 | 14 | .533 | 3rd in Midwest | - | - | - | - | Missed Playoffs |
| Houston | 1992 | 82 | 55 | 27 | .671 | 1st in Midwest | 12 | 6 | 6 | .500 | Lost in Conf. Semifinals |
| Houston | 1993 | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 1st in Midwest | 23 | 15 | 8 | .652 | Won NBA Championship |
| Houston | 1994 | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3rd in Midwest | 22 | 15 | 7 | .682 | Won NBA Championship |
| Houston | 1995 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 3rd in Midwest | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Lost in Conf. Semifinals |
| Houston | 1996 | 82 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2nd in Midwest | 16 | 9 | 7 | .563 | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| Houston | 1997 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 4th in Midwest | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost in First round |
| Houston | 1998 | 50 | 31 | 19 | .620 | 3rd in Midwest | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost in First round |
| Houston | 1999 | 82 | 34 | 48 | .415 | 6th in Midwest | - | - | - | - | Missed Playoffs |
| Houston | 2000 | 82 | 45 | 37 | .549 | 5th in Midwest | - | - | - | - | Missed Playoffs |
| Houston | 2001 | 82 | 28 | 54 | .341 | 5th in Midwest | - | - | - | - | Missed Playoffs |
| Houston | 2002 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5th in Midwest | - | - | - | - | Missed Playoffs |
| L.A. Lakers | 2004 | 43 | 24 | 19 | .558 | (resigned) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Career | 943 | 527 | 416 | .559 | 90 | 51 | 39 | .567 | |||