Rudy Tomjanovich

Two-time NBA champion head coach and Hall of Famer who spent his entire playing career with the Rockets.

Rudy Tomjanovich is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He won two NBA Championships with the Houston Rockets (1994, 1995) and coached Team USA to the gold medal in men's basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Quick Facts

Born: 24 November 1948
Birthplace: Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S.
High school: Hamtramck (Hamtramck, Michigan)
College: Michigan (1967–1970)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 2
Drafted by: San Diego Rockets
Career position: Power forward

Lore & Background

Rudolph Tomjanovich Jr. was born on November 24, 1948, in Hamtramck, Michigan. He played his entire NBA career (1970–1981) with the San Diego / Houston Rockets. He was a 5-time NBA All-Star forward (1974–1977, 1979). On December 9, 1977, he was punched by Kermit Washington, ending his season after 23 games; he recovered and played three more seasons. After being an assistant coach, he served as head coach of the Rockets from 1992 to 2003, leading them to two consecutive NBA championships (1994, 1995). He also coached the Los Angeles Lakers during part of the 2004–05 season before resigning. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on May 16, 2021. In 2024, he was scheduled to be included in the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Tomjanovich is the fourth-leading scorer in Rockets history behind James Harden and Hall of Famers Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon. He averaged 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his NBA career. His jersey number 45 was retired by the Rockets and by the University of Michigan. He was selected second overall in the 1970 NBA draft by the San Diego Rockets.

Did You Know?

Tomjanovich was a 5-time NBA All-Star, with four consecutive selections from 1974 to 1977 and again in 1979.
He made the playoffs five times: in 1975, 1977, and consecutively between 1979 and 1981.
After the Kermit Washington punch, he was awarded $3.3 million in damages by a federal jury in 1979.
Tomjanovich's autobiography is titled 'A Rocket at Heart: My Life and My Team'.
He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, and the 1995 team was the lowest seed (sixth) to win a title.