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D'Antoni: Tomjanovich should be in Hall of Fame, 'no question'

REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

New Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni has taken exception to the fact Rudy Tomjanovich - who coached the team from 1991-2003 - hasn't been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hanging on the wall above the Rockets' practice court are the retired numbers of several franchise legends, including Tomjanovich's. What makes D'Antoni's blood boil when he looks up is not seeing the winningest coach in franchise history's name alongside them with the appropriate description.

"You look at (Clyde) Drexler and Moses (Malone), Calvin (Murphy) and (Hakeem) Olajuwon - all unbelievably deserved to be in the Hall of Fame," D'Antoni said. "Then you see Rudy. His jersey is up there, but there's nothing under it. It should say, 'Hall of Fame,'" D'Antoni told the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

"He's one of the best coaches ever. He's won two titles. He was the national team Olympic coach. He was an unbelievable player. But besides all that, his coaching, are you kidding me? He's not in? I look up and say, 'That's not right. That's not right.' I'm thinking of getting a marker and writing it up there. He should be there in the Hall of Fame, no question."

Tomjanovich's No. 45 was retired by the organization after 11 seasons from 1970-81. He averaged 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds on 50.1 percent shooting, making five All-Star teams.

He ranks 27th in NBA history with a 527-416 (.559) career record on the sidelines, and was responsible for the Rockets two championship wins, in 1994 and 1995. Tomjanovich also coached the U.S. men's Olympic team to a gold medal in 2000, and a bronze medal at the 1998 World Championships.

D'Antoni will hope to have similar success leading the Rockets. He was named the new coach June 1 on a four-year contract, replacing J.B. Bickerstaff.

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