The 90’s Mixtape: Run TMC
The Golden State Warriors have featured several great runs throughout their franchise. Of course, one that stands out is their dynasty run through the 2010s. However, there was a team in the 1990s who brought flavor and style every time they stepped on the court.
The NBA was transitioning to a new era in the early 90s. Throughout the 80s, fans witnessed the rivalry of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird battle for NBA championships for multiple seasons. There was also the Detroit Pistons who came onto the scene in the late 80s and showed signs of being the NBA’s next dynasty. Then there were other great teams like the Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, and others who wanted to make their mark as title contenders.
The 1990–91 season sparked a new beginning for the Warriors. This was not a team many fans had as a title contender. However, fans were in store for a great run that was about to take place. The Warriors were young, hungry, and determined to prove to the league that they belonged and could compete with the top dawgs of the NBA.
In recent years, Golden State had the Splash Brothers which consisted of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In 1991, there was Run TMC. Yes, it’s a similar name to the Hip Hop group, Run DMC. But this was a trio of players the Warriors front office believed could take their franchise to the next level. TMC consisted of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin.
All three players had high expectations to produce at the highest level. Hardaway, Richmond, and Mullin were all college stars who eventually became first-round draft picks. Mullin was drafted by the Warriors in 1985 while Richmond joined the team in 1988, followed by Hardaway completing the trio in 1990.
Warriors head coach Don Nelson saw the vision with his trio. He loved their style of play as they brought a flavor to the court that kept the game exciting. With that being said, the Warriors ran a fast-paced motion offense that included great ball movement and easy transition points. Their offensive style made it difficult for NBA teams to set their half-court defense and slow them down on the break.
1991: The Introduction
1990–91 was a big year for Oakland. Hip Hop legend Too Short continued to represent his city with the release of his album “Short Dog’s in the House”. While Short was the golden child of the city, the Warriors began to play winning basketball. Fans filled up the arena on a nightly basis as they anticipated a great performance from their team. Golden State wasn’t favorites in the Western Conference but certainly gained respect from their peers.
November 2, 1990, was a date the Warriors proved they were an elite offensive team. It was opening night and they traveled to Denver to face the Nuggets. It was a new beginning for the team and it showed how their big three could lead a team. It’s safe to say they didn’t disappoint as they put on an offensive clinic in the first game of the season.
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Scoring 162 points in regulation was rare during the 1990s. If a team scored that amount of points, it means that the defense was non-existent. The Nuggets had no answer for the Warriors’ fast-paced offense. They could run down the floor while also being in a position to score. Run TMC were offensive juggernauts in this game, combining for 89 points on 58 percent shooting. While the Warriors and Nuggets continued to be in a shootout, it was Golden State who began their season with a four-point win.
As the season progressed, the Warriors continued to put points on the board. The opposing team’s game plan was to outscore them. But the question was how could they if they couldn’t slow down Golden State on offense. Run TMC played their role to perfection. Hardaway continued to drop times with his gifted passes while Richmond and Mullin continued to torch the defense from all three levels on offense.
The big three would display more top-tier performances like they did in their season opener. In February, the Warriors went into a double-overtime thriller against the Houston Rockets. Hardaway, Richmond, and Mullin combined for 99 of the teams 135 points scored. Down the stretch of regulation, the three stars made big plays down the stretch to extend the game to overtime. Unfortunately, they took the loss as the Rockets scored 143 points.
Playoff Success
The Warriors finished the season with a 44–38 record and clinched the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Mullin led the way in scoring with 25.7 points along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals. Richmond averaged 24 points and six rebounds while Hardaway also contributed 23 points and 9.7 assists. After the regular season, the Warriors had to prepare for their first-round matchup against the second-seed San Antonio Spurs.
Defensively, the Warriors were in for a dogfight. The question was how could they defend the ball movement and execution of the Spurs? Coach Nelson prepared his team for a hard-fought series. While the Spurs walked away with a win after game one, Golden State made adjustments that would benefit them the rest of the series.
Golden State handled business in game two. They played with a sense of urgency all 48 minutes and their run in the second half carried them to a 13-point win on the road. The big three did the little things that helped the team get a win. They got key stops defensively as their hard work resulted in easy baskets on offense. Also, can’t forget about the production of Šarūnas Marčiulionis, who scored 16 points off the bench.
Eventually, the Warriors’ play style was too much for San Antonio to contain. Even with the dominance of David Robinson, the Warriors found a way to win three games in a row and advance to the second round. Run TMC once again was shining when it mattered most. Once the series transitioned to Oakland they were off to the races and displayed fun and competitive basketball.
Unfortunately, the momentum couldn’t translate to the next round as the Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite Chris Mullin exploding in game two for 41 points, it wasn’t enough to give the Warriors a chance at winning the series. The series was decided after five games due to the heroics of Magic Johnson and others. Despite the loss, it was a great beginning of a new era for Golden State.
Conclusion: The End of TMC
The Run TMC era only lasted a couple of seasons. The reason was because Mitch Richmond was traded to the Sacramento Kings at the beginning of the 1991–92 season. Decades later, the trade is still confusing to the players and Warriors fans. How could the front office break up a good thing? Did they prevent the Warriors from building a potential dynasty? Those are still questions that fans have had several years later.
Despite Run TMC coming to an abrupt end, it’s great to reflect on their time together. During their run, they played a big role and bringing pop culture to the NBA. Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin collectively delivered a flavor and style to basketball that influenced the culture several decades later.
