What? You mean when Yao Ming was printing money for the rockets ? It wasn’t because Rudy t wanted more money than Jeff van gundy He just wanted a chance to be a Rocket again @Reeko money has zero influence in this topic
Yeah, Yao helped bring the money in a hospitable inclusive of a new fanbase type of way. But regardless of ethnicity, the young to moderate basketball fan is emulating Kobe Bryant from his shoes to his jersey. The Lakers are worth more than the Rockets for a reason... As much as you despise Tracy McGrady, his talents were brought in to pair with Yao for a specific reason. But TMac isn't Kobe Bryant in terms of international stardom due to bad luck and work ethic but the comparable talents were there.
Dude, do you know the time frame that this happened? This was BEFORE TMAC. @Reeko This has NOTHING to do what the Lakers are worth. It's about the Rockets and Rudy and how he was treated. Rudy only lasted half a season and stepped down because of health and probably Kobe, but he was treated MUCH BETTER by Jerry Buss and the Lakers than he did with the previous Rockets ownership There's a reason you didn't read this thread and went off on a tangent Rudy T going to Jerry Buss's memorial Rudy T going to Kobe's last game Rudy T even feeling bad for Kermit Washington Rudy T out in Hollywood Lakers were treating him as he was one of their own. It's not like the Knicks and Charles Oakley
My point is the Lakers are richer and more bullet proof compared to the Rockets. They can afford to cater to big name coaches better and not take a financial hit. The Rockets are a franchise with something to prove with less means to sustain wealth even back then... They need to concentrate on efficient healthy coaches to win games to keep the fanbase in their seats and secure international and national televised games to keep affloat.
I don’t know why you make this point cause it doesn’t relate to how Rudy T Felt betrayed . Don’t really think anyone watched any of the teams based on coaches. nobody watched the games for JvG or Rudy
Wow..the coaching productivity usually translates to wins. If the Rockets have to use an interim while Rudy is on leave for years they get a less productive team on the court winning less games while generating less revenue. The Rockets organization isn't and wasn't a well oiled machine like the Spurs where any of Popovich's assistants could step in and they don't miss a beat nor are they established like the Lakers and Knicks and have a huge self-generating market. I get that he is a legendary Rockets Coach but you have to cut your losses at some point...
Dude just admit you weren't alive when this happened @Reeko You are just throwing curveballs in the sand
We're just arguing for the sake of arguing...but im nearing 40 FYI... I like that Rudy took Yao in under his wing not only as a coach but mentor with quotes like Ming isn't a mistake player. The way he said it let the correspondent know that they spent quality time preparing for the NBA game. He is an open minded person that mitigated background differences while reinforcing that we aren't all that much different.
But all the stuff you mentioned was not applicable to the situation. The Cliff Notes: Rudy got cancer, had to step down. Replaced by Van Gundy. Rudy got better and worked under Dawson. When he got healthy : (The who really knows part) 1. Wanted to be the coach of the Rockets again and thought Van Gundy was just a sub coach. 2. Wanted to be part of the coaching or organization instead. 3. Something else happened. 4. Didn't return to the Rockets in any capacity. 5. Signed with the Lakers. 6. Those LA Times articles about what happened (in my post) reveal he felt "BETRAYED" 7. Stepped down as coach of the Lakers. 8. Stayed on the Lakers organization and lived in Los Angeles for 12 years with his son being part of the Lakers as well with him. 9. Always welcomed to Staples and other Laker events. 10. Jerry Buss dies. Rudy attends his memorial. 11. Magic and Rob clean house, Rudy T finally out as a member of the Lakers. 12. Rudy T recently sells his house in LA. 13. Rudy T seen around Memorial by 99ers playing golf.
Let's not forget JVG wasn't treated well either at his end. They were interviewing Rick Adelman WHILE JVG was still coaching. https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2878281 After sitting out a season, the 60-year-old Adelman was introduced at a news conference Wednesday, ending a strange, two-week courtship that began before Houston fired Jeff Van Gundy. Adelman met owner Les Alexander for the first time on May 11 and shared his ideas on making Yao and McGrady more dynamic offensive players. @Air Yordan
Yes it was. The Rockets are about productivity and winning. By the time Tomjonavich is ready but not really the team has moved on. As mentioned before this team doesn't have the same capacities of the super elites as explained before. Rudy Tomjonavich would be let go or worse by the other 20 plus teams in the league as he is owed nothing but the memorial already showcased and available. He was not betrayed. It is you delusion that he was...
Rudy t brought experience for sure. Don't forget rockets swept Shaq when Shaq was with the Orlando magic!
Jerry Buss was a great owner. Huge reason why the lakers are the most successful nba team the last 30-40 up until he died.
dude it's like you said you saw star wars and you said Chewbaka was Han Solo's father. @Reeko This crap has nothing to do with 'capacity' of the Lakers . The Rockets had plenty of money to pay anyone. The Rockets didn't want Rudy T back, not because he wanted so crazy money. Memorial and showcased? Dude went to a guy's memorial cause the owner died. Rudy T isn't some desperate dude who needs another job. No. None of that stuff you mentioned was relevant. There are lots of people here who lived this part of history as functional adults. @Rocket River
The Rockets were the most viewed team because we just got Yao Ming and had a talented team. We were must watch TV and were on TNT all the time. The Spurs and Lakers have nothing to do with Van Gundy staying and Rudy T not coming back. @Os Trigonum @Clutch Hey boss, this newb might tell you that you are wrong about the history you lived in