Tomjanovich tickled to be a finalist again
LOS ANGELES — To others, Rudy Tomjanovich’s exclusion from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has been inexplicable or worse. To Tomjanovich, again being named a finalist on Saturday for induction was just another reason to share those cherished memories of a career like few others.
“Those things, they actually get better every year,” Tomjanovich said after he learned he was a finalist to be in the class of 2018 after falling short last year. “When I see who is left standing this year and the team that didn’t make it, how they are, but didn’t win it. It makes me appreciate it even more.”
Tomjanovich, one of three coaches to take teams to Olympic and NBA championships, is nominated as a coach, though he was also an All-American at Michigan and an All-Star with the Rockets.
“Rudy has two championships, (and was) an unbelievable player that probably could be in the Hall of Fame only being a player,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “What he has done for basketball is off the charts. I find it hard to believe he’s not in the (Hall). I hope this is the time. I think it is a shame he’s not there. He should have already been there.”
‘Not a negative thing’
His exclusion — despite taking the Rockets to consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995 and another USA Basketball team made up of players outside the NBA to a bronze medal in the World Championships — has inspired widespread condemnation. But Tomjanovich said the support itself has been rewarding.
“It’s not a negative thing,” Tomjanovich said. “It’s a good feeling to know you were appreciated. That’s the big positive of it. It feels good for people to say.
“It’s an honor being considered. It’s something to be proud of. That would be a wonderful honor. It doesn’t take away anything about my feelings about what happened in the past. All of a sudden, if this did happen, does that mean things were better than I remember them? If it doesn’t happen, does that mean somehow it wasn’t a tremendous accomplishment? No.”
Baylor’s Mulkey a nominee
The list of finalists is particularly strong and includes former Comets star Tina Thompson. Among players, Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Katie Smith and Chris Webber were named as finalists. Allen, Hill, Kidd, Smith and Nash are first-time finalists.
Among coaches in addition to Tomjanovich, Baylor’s Kim Mulkey and Lefty Driesell are finalists, along with official Hugh Evans. Wayland Baptist University was named a finalist as a team.
ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke and NBA photographer Andy Bernstein were winners of the Curt Gowdy media award.
Wayland Baptist coach Harley Redin and marketing pioneer Jim Host were named winners of the John Bunn lifetime achievement awards.
The class of 2018 will be named at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, with a chance that for Tomjanovich this will be the year. He believes it also could be for his former team.
“I think there is a heck of a good chance, a heck of a good chance,” Tomjanovich said. “Everybody said before it’s just the Warriors and that’s it, nobody is going to challenge them. I think it’s going to be interesting.”
After Saturday’s announcement, 2018 already is, with a chance to become worth the wait.