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Run TMC was the high-scoring trio of 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, 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–D.M.C., with the first name initials of each member forming "TMC".
Contents
History
Mullin joined the Warriors in 1985, Richmond was drafted by Golden State in 1988, and Hardaway was a rookie in 1989. They were the core of the Warriors' uptempo offense, known as "Nellie Ball" after their coach Don Nelson. Nelson was a Warriors vice president in 1987–88 before becoming their coach and general manager starting in 1988–89.
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.
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 threesome each scoring more than 30 points (the rest of the team totaled 21 points). 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. Their combined scoring average was the second highest in NBA history for a 20-point trio, 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. The Warriors advanced to the playoffs, upsetting the David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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. Nelson said he "was under pressure to get [the team] bigger" to improve the Warriors from a good team to a great one. 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. "I’d never make that trade again," Nelson lamented.
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." The newspaper took the best suggestions to the players, who selected "Run TMC". The name was a reference to hip hop group Run–D.M.C. "Run DMC was one of the first rap groups that most people really took notice of ... We definitely liked that nickname," remembered Richmond. Former Laker Sam Perkins recalled that the Warriors even had Run–D.M.C. perform at one of the Warriors–Lakers playoff games that season.
Aftermath
Richmond was a six-time All-Star with Sacramento, and the Kings retired his number in 2003. Owens never provided his expected impact and played only three seasons with Golden State. 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. The Warriors did not advance past the first round of the playoffs again until 2007. In 1996, Hardaway was traded to the Miami Heat, and the Warriors dealt Mullin the following year to the Indiana Pacers.
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.
Legacy
Mullin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. He acknowledged that his career "took off" when Richmond and Hardaway arrived with Warriors. Nelson was inducted the following year. In 2014, Richmond was also voted in, while Hardaway was a finalist for the second consecutive year.
Run TMC's short time together belied their enduring popularity. "It was only [a couple of] years, but it seemed longer," Mullin said. The Boston Globe in 2007 wrote the trio had "probably the best nickname" ever. 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. NBA.com in 2011 attributed Run TMC's popularity to "romanticism of a loyal fan base that hasn't had much to cheer about." The New York Times opined that their enduring nature "will likely remain a mystery."
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. 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. He called his time with Hardway and Richmond "the most fun I had playing basketball in my whole life."