Run TMC

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Tim Hardaway
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Mitch Richmond
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Chris Mullin

Run TMC was the high-scoring trio of Hall of Fame basketball teammates consisting of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. Starting in 1989, they played together for two seasons with the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Coached by Don Nelson, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Warriors played a fast-paced, run-and-gun style, and Run TMC was the league's highest-scoring trio in the 1990–91 season. Despite their short time together, the popularity of Run TMC endured. Their name was a play on the hip hop group Run-DMC, with the first name initials of each member forming TMC. [1]

Contents

History

Run TMC thrived under coach Don Nelson. Don Nelson.jpg
Run TMC thrived under coach Don Nelson.

Mullin joined the Warriors in 1985, Richmond was drafted by Golden State in 1988, and Hardaway was a rookie in 1989. [2] They were the core of the Warriors' uptempo offense, known as "Nellie Ball" after their coach Don Nelson. [3] [4] Nelson was a Warriors vice president in 1987–88 before becoming their coach and general manager starting in 1988–89. [5]

The Warriors led the NBA in scoring in 1989–90 in Run TMC's first season. Early on, Hardaway was not as proficient a scorer as Mullin and Richmond. In a win over the Boston Celtics in the 38th game of the season, all three players surpassed 20 points in the same game for the first time. In their two seasons together, they accomplished the feat 48 times, going 30–18 in those games. [2]

The Warriors sold out every home game in 1990–91. In the season opener, they defeated the Denver Nuggets 162–158, the highest-scoring regulation game in NBA history. Despite their scoring prowess, the Warriors were limited defensively. On February 26, 1991, they lost 131–119 to the Orlando Magic despite the trio each scoring more than 30 points (the rest of the team totaled 21 points). [6] Golden State finished the season 44–38, their best record in nine years, and finished second in the league in scoring (116.6). Mullin finishing eighth in scoring (25.7), Richmond 10th (23.9), and Hardaway 11th (22.9), averaging 72.5 points as the league's highest-scoring trio. [2] [7] Their combined scoring average was the second highest in NBA history for a 20-point trio, [a] [9] surpassed only by the 76.7 by Denver's Alex English (28.4), Kiki Vandeweghe (26.7), and Dan Issel (21.6) in 1982–83. [b] The Warriors advanced to the playoffs, upsetting David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. [6]

On November 1, 1991, Run TMC was broken up when Golden State traded Richmond and Les Jepsen to the Sacramento Kings for 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) rookie Billy Owens, whose additional height compared to Richmond was the size that Nelson believed would complete the team. [2] [6] [11] Nelson said he "was under pressure to get [the team] bigger" to improve the Warriors from a good team to a great one. [5] In the trio's two seasons together, the Warriors had a cumulative record of 81–83, never finished higher than fourth place in the Pacific Division, and won one of two playoff series. [2] "I'd never make that trade again," Nelson lamented. [5]

Nickname

Hardaway, Richmond, and Mullin began the 1990–91 season being called the "Big Three". Midway through the season, The San Francisco Examiner sponsored a "Name the Warriors Trio Contest." [5] Over 1,500 entries were received in two weeks. The newspaper pared it down to the 50 best before presenting them to the players, who selected "Run TMC" over the other two finalists, "The Marks Brothers" and "Three-Mendous". [12] [13] Six entrants had entered "Run TMC", with musician Peter Elman declared the contest's winner in a drawing. [12] The name was a reference to hip hop group Run-DMC. "Run DMC was one of the first rap groups that most people really took notice of ... We definitely liked that nickname," remembered Richmond. [5] Former Laker Sam Perkins recalled that the Warriors even had Run–DMC perform at one of the Warriors–Lakers playoff games that season. [5]

Aftermath

Richmond was a six-time All-Star with Sacramento, and the Kings retired his number in 2003. [6] [14] Owens never provided his expected impact and played only three seasons with Golden State. [2] [6] They won 55 games and finished in 2nd place, two games behind the Portland Trail Blazers in 1992, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 1996, Hardaway was traded to the Miami Heat, [15] and the Warriors dealt Mullin the following year to the Indiana Pacers. [16]

All three enjoyed successful careers after the breakup. Mullin and Hardaway came close to winning an NBA championship, while Richmond won one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002, albeit with limited playing time. [15]

Legacy

Mullin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. [2] He acknowledged that his career "took off" when Richmond and Hardaway arrived with Warriors. [17] Nelson was inducted the following year. [18] In 2014, Richmond was also voted in, while Hardaway was admitted as part of the Hall's class of 2022. [19] [20]

Run TMC's short time together belied their enduring popularity. [6] "It was only [a couple of] years, but it seemed longer," Mullin said. [21] The Boston Globe in 2007 wrote the trio had "probably the best nickname" ever. [7] As of 2013, Run TMC T-shirts were still available for sale online. Online tributes are authored by bloggers who were too young to have seen them play, and YouTube is filled with their highlights. [6] NBA.com in 2011 attributed Run TMC's popularity to "romanticism of a loyal fan base that hasn't had much to cheer about." [2] The New York Times opined that their enduring nature "will likely remain a mystery." [6]

The Warriors gave away promotional Run TMC bobbleheads in 2012, with Mullin's likeness being handed out in conjunction with his number being retired by the Warriors. [22] [23] Mullin thought that Hardaway and Richmond should have had their numbers retired at the same time. "To me, it doesn't always have to be about one person. I know I'd feel more comfortable. That would feel natural to me." Mullin said. [21] He called his time with Hardway and Richmond "the most fun I had playing basketball in my whole life." [3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Surpassed in the three seasons from 2016 though 2019 by the Warriors trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant with combined averages of 72.7, 72.8 and 74.8. [8]
  2. ↑ There have been higher scoring trios than Denver's if the 20-point player restriction is removed, including the Los Angeles Lakers high-scoring duo of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West along with a third average scorer, or a very high scorer like the Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain (record 50.4 per game in 1961–62) along with two normal scorers. [10]

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The 1990–91 NBA season was the Warriors' 45th season in the National Basketball Association, and 28th in the San Francisco Bay Area. The trio of Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, and second-year star Tim Hardaway were given the name "Run TMC" during the season. In the opening game, the Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets 162–158, the highest-scoring regulation game in NBA history. Despite their scoring prowess, the Warriors were limited defensively. The team got off to a solid start winning seven of their first nine games, but later on played around .500 along the way. On February 26, 1991, they lost 131–119 to the Orlando Magic despite the Run TMC trio each scoring more than 30 points. At midseason, the team signed rookie guard Mario Elie after a brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Warriors held a 26–20 record at the All-Star break, and won their final five games of the season, finishing fourth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record.

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Warriors' 46th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th in the San Francisco Bay Area. On the first day of the regular season, Run TMC was broken up when the Warriors traded star guard Mitch Richmond to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for top draft pick, and 6' 8" Syracuse forward Billy Owens, who was selected 3rd overall by the Kings in the 1991 NBA draft. Owen's additional height compared to Richmond's 6' 5" height was the size that head coach Don Nelson believed would complete the team. Nelson said he "was under pressure to get [the team] bigger" to improve the Warriors from a good team to a great one. "I’d never make that trade again", Nelson lamented. The Warriors started their season winning their first four games, then won 11 of their 15 games in February including an 8-game winning streak. The team held a 29–15 record at the All-Star break, and finished second in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record, the most wins in a season for the franchise since 1975–76.

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Warriors' 44th season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the 14th pick in the 1989 NBA draft, the Warriors selected Tim Hardaway from the University of Texas-El Paso. Hardaway teamed with All-Star forward Chris Mullin, and second-year star Mitch Richmond to form the threesome later known as Run TMC. The Warriors got off to a bad start losing 14 of their first 18 games, but posted two six-game winning streaks afterwards winning 12 of their next 15 games, and held a 23–24 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Winston Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, midway through the season, they struggled and fell below .500, missing the playoffs by finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 37–45 record.

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Warriors' 47th season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th in the San Francisco Bay Area. This season is most memorable when the Warriors drafted Latrell Sprewell from the University of Alabama with the 24th overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Jeff Grayer. The Warriors were severely bitten by the injury bug all season losing their top players; Chris Mullin missed half the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb, only playing just 46 games, Tim Hardaway missed 16 games with a bruised right knee, Šarūnas Marčiulionis broke his right leg and dislocated his right ankle in a jogging accident before the season, returned to play 30 games, then sat out the rest of the year with Achilles tendonitis; and second-year star Billy Owens only played just 37 games due to a knee injury.

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Warriors’ 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the off-season, the Warriors acquired Ricky Pierce and top draft pick Carlos Rogers from the Seattle SuperSonics. After having finished 50–32 the previous season, the Warriors made a number of deals to toughen the team in the middle by trading Billy Owens to the Miami Heat in exchange for Rony Seikaly. Before the season even started, second-year star Chris Webber began the season by exercising his option to become a restricted free agent, claiming irreconcilable differences with head coach Don Nelson. He asked to be traded, and the Warriors obliged, sending him to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Tom Gugliotta, who would later on be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for top draft pick Donyell Marshall midway through the season.

The 1993–94 NBA season was the Warriors' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1993 NBA draft, the Warriors selected Penny Hardaway from the University of Memphis with the third overall pick, but soon traded him to the Orlando Magic in exchange for top draft pick Chris Webber from the University of Michigan. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Avery Johnson. Without All-Star guard Tim Hardaway and sixth man Šarūnas Marčiulionis, who both missed the entire season with knee injuries, and with Chris Mullin missing the first 20 games with a finger injury, the Warriors struggled losing three of their first four games, but soon recovered later holding a 27–20 record at the All-Star break. The team improved over the previous season as they posted an 8-game winning streak in April, finishing third in the Pacific Division with a solid 50–32 record.

References

  1. ↑ LeBoutillier, Nate (2006). The Story of the Golden State Warriors. The Creative Company. ISBN   9781583414071 . Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Howard-Cooper, Scott (August 23, 2011). "Time can't fade indelible mark Run TMC left on Warriors, NBA". NBA.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Warriors retire Chris Mullin's jersey". National Post. Associated Press. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ Eddy, George (October 9, 2012). "Nellie Ball". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Osborne, Ben (January 3, 2011). "Original Old School: Run & Shoot & Shoot..." SlamOnline.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hoffman, Benjamin (February 16, 2013). "Fascination Lingers for Three Stars of Warriors' Brief Run". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Spears, Marc J. (October 14, 2007). "Celtics relying on the three again". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ Poole, Monte (September 17, 2020). "Why Warriors should keep, not trade, Wiggins this offseason". NBCSports.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. ↑ "A New Season". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1991. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ Yant, Larry (February 10, 1991). "The Warriors' historic Big 3". San Francisco Examiner. p. C-6. Retrieved November 27, 2018– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ Wolff, Alexander (December 2, 1991). "The Golden West". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Yant, Larry (February 24, 1991). "Trio unwraps its new nickname: Run TMC". San Francisco Examiner. pp. C1, C8 . Retrieved January 31, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Araton, Harvey (April 26, 1998). "Sports of The Times; The Trade That Wasn't Made: Richmond to Miami". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Guard led Kings in scoring for seven years". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 29, 2003. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
  15. 1 2 Payne, Terrence (August 15, 2011). "RUN TMC: HOW TWO SEASONS IN THE BAY CHANGED THREE LIVES FOREVER". Dime. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  16. ↑ Simmons, Bill (March 21, 2012). "How to Annoy a Fan Base in 60 Easy Steps". grantland.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ King, Tom (August 12, 2011). "'Run T.M.C.' reunited at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame". masslive.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013.
  18. ↑ Ostler, Scott (March 1, 2013). "Don Nelson built Hall of Fame resume in odd style". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012.
  19. ↑ Winderman, Ira (April 7, 2014). "It's official: Mourning, Richmond to enter Hall; Zo: 'I'm humbled'". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ Lopez, Andrew (April 2, 2022). "Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen among 13-member Hall of Fame class". ESPN.com.
  21. 1 2 "Chris Mullin: Warriors Should Retire 'Run TMC' Jerseys". slamonline.com. August 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  22. ↑ Hartlaub, Peter (March 2, 2012). "A tribute to the Warriors Run-TMC era". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Limited Edition Run TMC bobblehead Series". nba.com/warriors. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014.


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