Rudy Tomjanovich wins Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

Rudy Tomjanovich is the recipient of the 2024 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association.

The organization announced Sunday the selection of Tomjanovich, one of nine coaches in NBA history to win back-to-back championship titles and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“Chuck Daly and Rudy Tomjanovich have many of the same amazing accomplishments and traits: both won back-to-back NBA titles, both coached the United States to Olympic gold, and both are absolutely beloved in the community coaches because of their great relationship with people,” Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who serves as president of the NBCA, said in a statement.

Tomjanovich, 75, was an NBA head coach for 13 seasons and compiled a 527-416 record with the Houston Rockets (1992-2003) and Los Angeles Lakers (2004-05).

His 1994 and 1995 teams, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, won NBA championships, bridging the gap between the three rounds won by the Chicago Bulls in the ’90s.

Tomjanovich has led his teams to the playoffs seven times and three conference finals.

He said he was stunned to receive the call about the award.

“I have to admit I was surprised because I didn’t know I was in the running,” he said in the statement. “I was with my son Trey when I received the call from Rick Carlisle informing me of receiving this grand prize. Trey saw the look on my face and the emotion in my eyes. As Rick m He spoke about some of the past winners of this award, all coaches that I admired and respected, then explained the principles that this award represented: the level of integrity of a coach, competitive excellence and. tireless promotion of basketball I was choked and humiliated, I didn’t know what to say.

“Rick continued and said, ‘This is one of the highest honors a coach can receive, voted on by your peers. You have touched a lot of people. You have been innovative and changed the game in a positive way. You deserve this award.’ .’ It took everything I had not to burst into tears in front of my son, not that I wouldn’t, I didn’t want to scare him because he didn’t know what it was. . He kept asking me what was wrong when I hung up.”

As a player, Tomjanovich was the second overall pick by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA draft. He spent 11 seasons with the franchise and was named to five All-Star teams.