Run TMC Era

Lore & Background

Mullin was selected by the Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft, Richmond was drafted fifth overall by Golden State in 1988, and Hardaway was taken in the first round in 1989 with the 14th overall selection. They were the core of the Warriors' uptempo offense, known as 'Nellie Ball' after their coach Don Nelson. Nelson was a Warriors vice president in 1987–88 before becoming their coach and general manager starting in 1988–89. The Warriors finished second in the NBA in scoring in 1989–90, which was not Run TMC's first full season together. Early on, the rookie Hardaway was not as proficient a scorer as Mullin and Richmond. In a win over the Boston Celtics in the 38th game of the season, all three players surpassed 20 points in the same game for the first time. In their two seasons together, they accomplished the feat 48 times, going 30–18 in those games. The Warriors did not sell out every home game in 1990–91, though attendance was strong. In the season opener, they defeated the Denver Nuggets 162–158, the highest-scoring regulation game in NBA history. Despite their scoring prowess, the Warriors were limited defensively. On February 26, 1991, they lost 131–119 to the Orlando Magic despite the trio each scoring more than 30 points (the rest of the team totaled 21 points). Golden State finished the season 44–38, their best record in nine years, and finished second in the league in scoring (116.6). Mullin finishing eighth in scoring (25.7), Richmond 10th (23.9), and Hardaway 11th (22.9), averaging 72.5 points as the league's highest-scoring trio. Their combined scoring average was the second highest in NBA history for a 20-point trio, surpassed only by the 76.7 by Denver's Alex English (28.4), Kiki Vandeweghe (26.7), and Dan Issel (21.6) in 1982–83. The Warriors advanced to the playoffs, upsetting David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. On November 1, 1991, Run TMC was broken up when Golden State traded Richmond and Les Jepsen to the Sacramento Kings for 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) rookie Billy Owens. In the trio's two seasons together, the Warriors had a cumulative record of 81–83, never finished higher than fourth place in the Pacific Division, and won one of two playoff series.

In Their Own Story

The air smelled of stale popcorn and heated hardwood as Tim Hardaway attacked the rim, his crossover so violent it seemed to snap defenders' ankles before they even realized he'd crossed over. Before the defense could collapse, the ball zipped out to Chris Mullin, who rose up with a release so lightning-fast it felt like a glitch in reality—swish before the crowd could draw breath. Then came Mitch Richmond, a freight train in the post, demanding the rock with a glare that promised nothing but points. They weren't merely teammates; they were a hip-hop track played on a basketball court, a symphony of fast breaks and deep threes that left opponents dizzy and fans breathless, even if the trophy case remained stubbornly empty.

Reader's Guide

Hardaway, Richmond, and Mullin began the 1990–91 season being called the 'Big Three'. Midway through the season, The San Francisco Examiner sponsored a 'Name the Warriors Trio Contest.' Over 1,500 entries were received in two weeks. The newspaper pared it down to the 50 best before presenting them to the players, who selected 'Run TMC' over the other two finalists, 'The Marks Brothers' and 'Three-Mendous'. Six entrants had entered 'Run TMC', with musician Peter Elman declared the contest's winner in a drawing. The name was a reference to hip hop group Run-DMC. 'Run DMC was one of the first rap groups that most people really took notice of ... We definitely liked that nickname,' remembered Richmond. Former Laker Sam Perkins recalled that the Warriors even had Run–DMC perform at one of the Warriors–Lakers playoff games that season.

Did You Know?

• The trio's combined scoring average of 72.5 points in 1990–91 was the second highest in NBA history for a 20-point trio, behind only Denver's 76.7 in 1982–83.
• In the 1990–91 season opener, the Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets 162–158, the highest-scoring regulation game in NBA history.
• All three players were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Mullin in 2011, Richmond in 2014, and Hardaway in 2022.