Rockets Hall of Fame Coach Rudy Tomjanovich Wins 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

The NBA announced Sunday morning that former Houston Rockets legend Rudy Tomjanovich will be the recipient of the 2024 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tomjanovich coached for 12 years leading the Los Angeles Rockets and Lakers. He spent 11 years on the sideline in Houston and posted a 503-397 regular season record and a 51-39 playoff record, all franchise records.

Tomjanovich remains one of nine coaches in league history to win back-to-back NBA titles (1994 and 1995), a feat Daly accomplished in 1989 and 1990 as coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Tomjanovich is tied for fifth all-time in league titles and sixth all-time in conference championship wins with two. He also ranks 25th on the all-time playoff wins list with 51 wins and 29th all-time with a regular season winning percentage at 55.5 percent. Tomjanovich was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

“I am honored to receive the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award,” Tomjanovich said in a statement. via the league. “Afterward, I cried. They were tears of gratitude for the many people who have helped me throughout my coaching career. I want to thank owners Charlie Thomas, Leslie Alexander and Jerry Buss for m “hired to coach their teams I want to thank coaches Del Harris, Bill Fitch and Don Chaney for the opportunity to be an assistant on their team and learn from them.”

Before establishing himself as the greatest coach in Rockets history, Tomjanovich played 11 seasons with the franchise. They drafted him with the second overall pick in 1970, where he became a five-time NBA All-Star.

Tomjanovich’s best year came in the 1973-74 season, averaging a career-high 24.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. He played his collegiate career at the University of Michigan. Tomjanovich became a two-time All-American and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree. The Wolverines and Rockets respectively retired his jersey number (45).

“I want to thank all of my assistant coaches for their hard work and loyalty. They had my complete trust and I still consider them family today,” Tomjanovich said.

“I want to thank Carroll Dawson, who was my right hand man, a great basketball coach and teacher, he gave me everything he had, especially the feeling that my big brother was sitting right next to me on this bench. And I want to thank all the players I have had the privilege to work with. You are what the NBA is. Thank you for your hard work and cooperation. You made this award possible for me.

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