Rudy Tomjanovich Loves the Depth Of Current Rockets, Thinks Ime Udoka’s Team Can Win It All This Season — Getting Championship Coach Blessed

Rudy T’s, the new faux diner concessions stand at Toyota Center that serves Dream Shakes and $19 Clutch City burgers, is all about nostalgia. But the man it is named after and inspired by is very much into these current day Rockets.

“They’ve got it now,” Rudy Tomjanovich tells PaperCity. “And I expect very, very big things. I don’t know if we ever had as much depth as they’ve got. The acquisitions in (Marcus) Smart, a tough defender who’s been there. And (Bogdan) Bogdanović, what a great shooter. They’re just powerful, man.

“Anybody they put in is going to make a positive effect on the game.”

The only coach who’s ever won a championship with Houston’s NBA franchise knows the Ketchup and Mustard looks its sweetest when it’s being worn by game changers. This now 4-0 Rockets team just might have more impact players on its roster than any Western Conference team outside of Oklahoma City (and after Jalen Williams’ fractured leg, the Rockets having more than the Thunder is an actual argument). And yes, that includes the defending conference champion San Antonio Spurs, whose depth outside of its killer now three-guard starting lineup can start to look questionable.

The Rockets show the strength of their options on opening night when sure Hall of Famer Kevin Durant and 23-year-old forward Jabari Smith Jr. both score 30 points. With Durant marveling at how easy Smith made his 30-piece look, with the still young player never forcing anything. On night two, it’s Alperen Şengün scoring with Victor Wembanyama on his back and Amen Thompson rejecting the 7-foot-4 unicorn at the rim in the last second of the game, a swat felt all the way to Rome. On night three, it’s Reed Sheppard sliding into the starting lineup and putting up a 19-point, seven-assist, six-rebound line while splashing in five threes in a win at Atlanta. And Tari Eason and Bogdan Bogdanović combining for 30 points off the bench.

All with the Rockets sitting starting point guard Fred VanVleet, backup point guard Marcus Smart and center Steven Adams on an emotional and grueling back-to-back, coming off that swat back of the Spurs.

Then on Monday night, with the Atlanta Hawks in Houston, it’s Şengün absolutely punishing Atlanta coach Quin Snyder for thinking they can guard him one on one, putting up 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and six steals while missing only four shots all night. Heck, even the usually stern-faced Rockets coach Ime Udoka is absolutely beaming after Reed Sheppard hits a three to put the Hawks away for good, pulling an equally delighted Sheppard into a hug. Durant even gets to take the whole fourth quarter off.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Tomjanovich says. “They were a good team last year. They had some missing pieces. Especially their leader in (point guard) Fred (VanVleet). Now he’s back. They’re healthy. They’re a year older. And the system is more.”

Kevin Durant can already see the difference, the burden lifted off of so many.

“Last year we started in our backcourt, Twin (Amen Thompson) and Josh Okogie,” Durant says. “And a lot of time those guys are being left at the 3-point line. And their men are helping guard guys in the paint. So when we’ve got Fred and Marcus Smart out there who can keep the defense honest at the 3-point line and then Twin just roaming around just doing everything. Grabbing offensive rebounds, making assists, dunks, floaters, everything.

“That put everybody into a good position. That settle everybody into what they do best. You’ve seen how efficient Alpe was. Bari Everybody’s just more efficient when they’re just in their roles, doing what they do. Everybody had to play point guard by committee last year. And I think having a few natural point guards on our team, that’s going to help everybody.”

“They’ve got it now. And I expect very, very big things. I don’t know if we ever had as much depth as they’ve got. — Houston Rockets championship coach Rudy Tomjanovich

Much of NBA Twitter loves to obsess over how the Rockets are getting along, but this 4-0 start shows what a difference everyone being in comfortable roles can make to any team’s psyche. This is the type of roster Rockets general manager Rafael Stone, Tilman Fertitta and Patrick Fertitta envisioned putting together all along.

Nothing will be proven for this franchise until the playoffs, but that does not mean you cannot recognize and relish the progress along the way. These Rockets are already much more fun to watch than last season’s hindered version. Entertainment value matters in big-time professional sports, no matter how much some try to pretend that’s like Elizabeth Holmes telling Nathan Fielder she’s never told a lie in her life.

Nostalgia matters too. And the Rockets organization is refreshingly tapping into that with the long-awaited new uniforms, Rudy T’s diner stand and more. For his part, Tomjanovich is clearly enjoying the call backs. The 77-year-old happily dressed up like a diner employee, tilted hat included, and posed for photos with every fan who wanted one on opening night.

Championship Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich himself serving burgers and Dream Shakes at the new Rudy T’s diner concession stand at Toyota Center for opening night. Tomjanovich has his diner hat and red Rudy T’s apron on to the delight of the fans. pic.twitter.com/375F26syug

— Chris Baldwin (@ChrisYBaldwin) October 21, 2026

Like many of the championship Rockets, Tomjanovich loves being connected with the current Rockets.

When you can please your fans and your legends in one fell swoop, you’re doing something right.

“It’s a great idea and very creative,” Tomjanovich says recreating Rudy T’s after the idea started in those catchy commercials teasing the new uniforms. “Then people started asking when it’s going to open. Where it’s going to be. My grandson called me up and said, ‘Grandpa, how come you didn’t tell us about this diner?’

“Now it’s real. And here it is.”

How long before some creative Houston restaurateur tries to recreate Rudy T’s in a real diner setting outside of the arena? Talk about a tourist and diehard fan attraction.

Out on the court, in a Toyota Center that’s been remodeled for both a better look and the arrival of the Houston Comets, the Rockets are playing faster, moving the ball to all their different options, playing under a welcome new reality. Udoka’s team has 30 or more assists in three of its four games, already ranking among the early league leaders in sharing the basketball.

This is not just about Fred VanVleet returning from injury and Marcus Smart coming on through free agency. Houston’s young core of Şengün, Thompson, Smith, Sheppard and Eason are already showing clear signs of having improved during the offseason. That’s what any forward leap requires. It’s not optional. And these still young Rockets seem to have seized on that, making the most of their summers.

They are still challenging each other too. With Şengün seeing what Jabari Smith does against the Hawks Monday night — 16 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and five assists — and pushing  for more.

“Not up and downs anymore,” Şengün says when I ask him how he’s seen Smith grow as a player. “Because he has like every ability to do that. Like can shoot. Can rebound. Can go to the rim. Can pass. He has all those kind of things. I just keep telling him he needs to know he’s no limit. He can do whatever he wants. And starting the season, he’s been amazing.

“I told him the other day in (the first) Atlanta game, ‘You’re not scoring right now. You’ve got to affect the game somehow. Rebound and defense. And he’s been on the board evert time. . . When the ball’s stuck somewhere, you’ve seen him moving. You’ve seen him set a screen somewhere. That’s real unselfishness. Helps the team. Helps him get going too.

“Really proud of him. Just think he’s got to keep it up. He’s an amazing player. We trust him,”

All these Rockets suddenly seem to trust each other. This is much better, much more complete team. And Rudy T is eager to be there to see where it all leads.

“I’m a part of this community,” Tomjanovich tells PaperCity. “And I want to be around. I love the game of basketball on so many levels. I love burgers too.”

The Rockets’ Championship Coach Times Two laughs. It is awfully fun to be around Ime Udoka’s team these days.

Championship teams are not made in October. But the foundation can start to be laid. “The teams that get there, they do it in the clutch,” Tomjanovich says. “You’ve got to be able to be a good fourth quarter team. When people are coming back at you and making the big play. Getting the balls to the right guys — and that guy making the right play.

“It’s about execution.”

“They’re more poised,” McCollum says. “Battle tested. Obviously Freddy’s back, so he kind of keeps them under control. They play through Şengün a lot. Obviously, Seven (Durant) is still really good. You have to double him. You’re basically in rotations the whole game and their guys are getting more comfortable making plays on the second side. Whether that’s finishing, shooting threes.

“Everybody kind of knows their roles and I think that always helps. There’s really good clarity on their team as to who they play through. And who needs to touch the ball. And I think the pecking order has been established and they all fall in line.”

It’s been 32 seasons since the Houston Rockets last won an NBA Championship, their second straight under Rudy Tomjanovich in 1995. The Championship Coach believes the drought could end this season.

“I’m hoping they get there,” Tomjanovich says. “And I think they will.”