Former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich will be inducted Tuesday into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.
Tomjanovich is among three members in the Hall of Fame’s third annual class, joining gymnast Mary Lou Retton and track star Carl Lewis. The class will be recognized at Tuesday’s Houston Sports Awards, which will be broadcast live on AT&T SportsNet Southwest at 7 p.m. Central.
The program to honor the city’s historic sports greats was created in 2018 by the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA).
Now 71 years old, Tomjanovich played for the Rockets from 1970 through 1981, and was head coach from 1992 through 2003. That run included Houston’s only two NBA titles in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
In his 11-plus seasons as head coach, Tomjanovich led the Rockets to a 503-397 (.559) regular-season record and a 51-39 (.567) mark in the NBA playoffs, headlined by the two championships.
But “Rudy T,” as he’s best known in Rockets’ circles, was also a dynamic player — with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game over 11 seasons. He was a five-time All-Star at power forward.
Tomjanovich received a standing ovation from fans during Monday’s Rockets game at Toyota Center when news of his Houston Sports Hall of Fame recognition was announced to the crowd.
Tomjanovich and the Rockets are also hoping for his induction into the broader Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with finalists for the 2020 class announced at the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in mid-February.
