Tonight, Tim Hardaway will enter the Hall Of Fame along with Manu Ginobili, George Karl and Swin Cash. For his induction, the former leader of the Heat chose in particular his two former friends from the Warriors, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond. The three of them formed the “Run TMC”. A trio of attackers who shook the whole NBA. An ephemeral trio to the great regret of Tim Hardaway, and even of Don Nelson who was angry with himself for having transferred Mitch Richmond to the Kings in exchange for Billy Owens.
“Nellie still regrets it” confirme Tim Hardaway. “It only lasted two years. If we had stayed five or six years together, we could have done something, and gone far in the playoffs. No doubt we would have won everything. »
“Even today, it hurts me”
The real problem is that the Warriors had a fire attack, but it wasn’t defending. In 1991, on 21 occasions, they will exceed the bar of 125 points, and the “Run TMC” was the most prolific trio in the NBA with 25.7 points per game for Chris Mullin, 23.9 pts for Mitch Richmond and 22.0 for Tim Hardaway .
« Opponents were downright scared to play us recalled the All-Star point guard. ” You could catch fire at any time. We were playing smart basketball. We were selfless. Who knows what we would have done if we had been together for six years… »
Transferred, Mitch Richmond never forgot…” Still today, it hurts me he confided to ESPN. ” The fact that we were separated, the fact of being traded for the first time, the fact that for the first time one didn’t want me anymore… It was a lot… I integrated it into my game. that I entered on a ground, I had the rage. »
“Chris and Mitch are more like Steph and Klay. They play, and say nothing”
Unlike the Curry-Green-Thompson trio, the “Run TMC” did not have the chance to grow together, and yet they were just as complementary.
« It’s one thing to appreciate your teammate and respect them, but when you already have that, and you need your teammate, it takes the whole thing to a whole new level. says Chris Mullin. ” Draymond needs Steph and Klay’s shot… Steph and Klay need Draymond’s passing and defense… Steph needs Klay’s size to defend. When you put it all together, you get the best threesome ever. »
And precisely, in terms of character, are there any comparisons? ” Draymond is like me » conclut Tim Hardaway. « I am the voice. I’m that damn titular who gets things started. Chris and Mitch are more like Steph and Klay. They play, and say nothing. They play and do their job.«
