Run TMC

File:Don Nelson.jpg.]]

Mullin joined the Warriors in 1985, Richmond was drafted by Golden State in 1988, and Hardaway was a rookie in 1989.{{cite news|last=Howard-Cooper|first=Scott|title=Time can't fade indelible mark Run TMC left on Warriors, NBA|date=August 23, 2011|work=NBA.com|url=http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/08/23/remembering-run-tmc-warriors/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112010749/http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/08/23/remembering-run-tmc-warriors/index.html|archive-date=January 12, 2014|url-status=live}} They were the core of the Warriors' uptempo offense, known as "Nellie Ball" after their coach Don Nelson.{{cite news|title=Warriors retire Chris Mullin's jersey|date=March 20, 2012|newspaper=National Post|agency=Associated Press|url=http://nationalpost.stats.com/nba/story.asp?i=20120319215353838072908|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618083934/http://nationalpost.stats.com/nba/story.asp?i=20120319215353838072908|archive-date=June 18, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Eddy|first=George|title=Nellie Ball|date=October 9, 2012|work=FIBA.com|url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/colu/p/newsid/53805/arti.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220122855/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/colu/p/newsid/53805/arti.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2014|access-date=March 1, 2013}} Nelson was a Warriors vice president in 1987–88 before becoming their coach and general manager starting in 1988–89.{{cite news|last=Osborne|first=Ben|title=Original Old School: Run & Shoot & Shoot...|date=January 3, 2011|work=SlamOnline.com|url=http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/01/original-old-school-run-shoot-shoot/%7C|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514042038/http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/01/original-old-school-run-shoot-shoot/|archive-date=May 14, 2013|url-status=live}}

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 trio each scoring more than 30 points (the rest of the team totaled 21 points).{{cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Benjamin|title=Fascination Lingers for Three Stars of Warriors' Brief Run|date=February 16, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|url=http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/fascination-lingers-for-three-stars-of-warriors-brief-run/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221023800/http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/fascination-lingers-for-three-stars-of-warriors-brief-run/|archive-date=February 21, 2013|url-status=live}} 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,{{efn|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.{{cite news|first=Monte|last=Poole|title=Why Warriors should keep, not trade, Wiggins this offseason|date=September 17, 2020|website=NBCSports.com|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/why-warriors-should-keep-not-trade-andrew-wiggins-crucial-offseason|access-date=December 31, 2020}}}}{{cite news|title=A New Season|date=October 30, 1991| newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-30-sp-501-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914172743/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-30/sports/sp-501_1_exhibition-season|archive-date=September 14, 2015|url-status=live}} 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.{{efn|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.{{cite news|last=Yant|first=Larry|title=The Warriors' historic Big 3|date=February 10, 1991|newspaper=San Francisco Examiner|page=C-6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25752869/|access-date=November 27, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}}} The Warriors advanced to the playoffs, upsetting 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 {{convert|6|ft|9|in|adj=on}} rookie Billy Owens, whose additional height compared to Richmond was the size that Nelson believed would complete the team.{{cite news|last=Wolff|first=Alexander|title=The Golden West|date=December 2, 1991|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1991/12/02/125531/the-golden-west-who-would-have-figured----certainly-not-us----that-the-retooled-warriors-and-the-magic-less-lakers-would-be-the-big-winners-in-the-pacific-division|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219203821/http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&urlID=434965742&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1140072%2Findex.htm|archive-date=February 19, 2014|url-status=live}} 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.

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." 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".{{cite web|first=Larry|last=Yant|title=Trio unwraps its new nickname: Run TMC|date=February 24, 1991|work=San Francisco Examiner|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117639348/ C8]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117639357/|access-date=January 31, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|title=Sports of The Times; The Trade That Wasn't Made: Richmond to Miami|date=April 26, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/26/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-trade-that-wasn-t-made-richmond-to-miami.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153338/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/26/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-trade-that-wasn-t-made-richmond-to-miami.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live}} Six entrants had entered "Run TMC", with musician Peter Elman declared the contest's winner in a drawing. 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. Former Laker Sam Perkins recalled that the Warriors even had Run–DMC perform at one of the Warriors–Lakers playoff games that season.

Richmond was a six-time All-Star with Sacramento, and the Kings retired his number in 2003.{{cite news|title=Guard led Kings in scoring for seven years|date=December 29, 2003|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1679503|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026032042/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1679503|archive-date=October 26, 2012|url-status=live}} 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. In 1996, Hardaway was traded to the Miami Heat,{{cite news|last=Payne|first=Terrence|title=RUN TMC: HOW TWO SEASONS IN THE BAY CHANGED THREE LIVES FOREVER|date=August 15, 2011|magazine=Dime|url=http://dimemag.com/2011/08/run-tmc-how-two-seasons-in-the-bay-changed-three-lives-forever/2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514042038/http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/01/original-old-school-run-shoot-shoot/|archive-date=May 14, 2013|url-status=live}} and the Warriors dealt Mullin the following year to the Indiana Pacers.{{cite news|last=Simmons|first=Bill|title=How to Annoy a Fan Base in 60 Easy Steps|date=March 21, 2012|work=grantland.com|url=http://grantland.com/features/how-annoy-fan-base-60-easy-steps/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502122648/http://grantland.com/features/how-annoy-fan-base-60-easy-steps/|archive-date=May 2, 2014|url-status=live}}

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.

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.{{cite web|last=King|first=Tom|title='Run T.M.C.' reunited at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|date=August 12, 2011|work=masslive.com|url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/08/run_tmc_reunited_at_naismith_m.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513061806/http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/08/run_tmc_reunited_at_naismith_m.html|archive-date=May 13, 2013|url-status=live}} Nelson was inducted the following year.{{cite news|last=Ostler|first=Scott|title=Don Nelson built Hall of Fame resume in odd style|date=March 1, 2013|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/ostler/article/Don-Nelson-built-Hall-of-Fame-resume-in-odd-style-3442896.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730141154/http://www.sfgate.com/sports/ostler/article/Don-Nelson-built-Hall-of-Fame-resume-in-odd-style-3442896.php|archive-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=live}} In 2014, Richmond was also voted in, while Hardaway was admitted as part of the Hall's class of 2022.{{cite news|last=Winderman|first=Ira|title=It's official: Mourning, Richmond to enter Hall; Zo: 'I'm humbled'|date=April 7, 2014|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-alonzo-mourning-s040714,0,7505735.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407234243/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-alonzo-mourning-s040714,0,7505735.story|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lopez|first=Andrew|title=Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen among 13-member Hall of Fame class|date=April 2, 2022|website=ESPN.com|url=https://www.espn.com.au/espn/story/_/id/33654923/manu-ginobili-tim-hardaway-swin-cash-lindsay-whalen-13-member-hall-fame-class}}

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.{{cite news|last=Spears|first=Marc J.|title=Celtics relying on the three again|date=October 14, 2007|newspaper=The Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2007/10/14/celtics_relying_on_the_three_again/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402204602/http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2007/10/14/celtics_relying_on_the_three_again/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|last=Hartlaub|first=Peter|title=A tribute to the Warriors Run-TMC era|date=March 2, 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/03/02/a-tribute-to-the-warriors-run-tmc-era-photos/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818131719/http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/03/02/a-tribute-to-the-warriors-run-tmc-era-photos/|archive-date=August 18, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Limited Edition Run TMC bobblehead Series|work=nba.com/warriors|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/tickets/run_tmc_bobblehead_series.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118120828/http://www.nba.com/warriors/tickets/run_tmc_bobblehead_series.html|archive-date=January 18, 2014|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|title=Chris Mullin: Warriors Should Retire 'Run TMC' Jerseys|date=August 12, 2011|work=slamonline.com|url=http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/08/chris-mullin-warriors-should-retire-run-tmc-jerseys/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514024645/http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/08/chris-mullin-warriors-should-retire-run-tmc-jerseys/|archive-date=May 14, 2013|url-status=live}} He called his time with Hardaway and Richmond "the most fun I had playing basketball in my whole life."

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |title=Run TMC's time together on the Warriors was short-lived but incredibly cool |work=SB Nation |date=July 6, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcuiB4a2C8c |via=YouTube }}
• [https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/run-tmc-nickname-creator-explains-origin-story-behind-iconic-warriors-moniker# NBC Bay Area Sports report on how Run TMC nickname came to be]

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Category:Nicknamed groups of NBA players

Category:1989–90 NBA season

Category:1990–91 NBA season

Category:1990s in California