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Tuesday, June 24, 1997

Report: Rockets restructure, extend Tomjanovich's contract

HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Rockets are extending coach Rudy Tomjanovich's five-year contract by another year and boosting his salary, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted unidentified sources saying team owner Leslie L. Alexander took the step in the wake of a recent compensation spiral as other NBA teams hired coaches like Larry Brown, Larry Bird and Rick Pitino.

Tomjanovich would not comment on contract particulars but he said the deal is another sign of how serious Alexander is about securing the Rockets' future.

"My relationship with Les is not good, it's fantastic," Tomjanovich said. "He didn't have to do anything, I'm already under contract. But he has been so supportive of everything we've done.

"He wants to win as badly as I do, and he's always been in our corner when it comes to doing what's best for the team. He truly wants to bring a winner to the city again."

Details of the new contract are being finalized and the new agreement could be announced this week, the Chronicle reported.

The Rockets came close to getting another chance at the NBA Finals last season, but a devastating last-second shot by Utah's John Stockton eliminated them from the Western Conference finals.

Tomjanovich, who has coached the Rockets since February 1992, just finished the second season of a five-year deal that paid him about $1.3 million per season. Under the new contract, he would be with the team through the 2000-2001 season, the newspaper reported.

There was no word on Tomjanovich's new salary, but the newspaper's sources said the pay would befit a coach who has entrenched himself at the top of the profession.

"It's fair to say this will make Rudy's salary commensurate with the other top coaches in the league," an NBA source told the Chronicle.

Larry Brown signed a five-year contract with the 76ers last month that is worth $5 million per season. Larry Bird's deal with the Pacers reportedly will pay him in excess of $4 million per season.

Alexander already amended Hakeem Olajuwon's contract last year, adding five years on his deal at more than $13 million per season. That virtually assured that the All-NBA center will finish his career with the Rockets.

Also, Clyde Drexler was signed to a two-year, $11 million deal in November 1995, and Charles Barkley may be offered a one-year extension if he wants to play beyond next season. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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