“For nearly three decades, CD was a cornerstone of our franchise, helping shape the careers of stars like Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. A proud Texas native, CD was the only coach on all four of Houston’s NBA Finals appearances, including teams that won back-to-back titles. As GM, he brought iconic talent like Charles Barkley, Steve Francis, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady to Houston while assembling the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets.”
It is with these words that The Rockets announced Former Rockets assistant and GM Caroll Dawson dies at age 86. “Nothing would have happened without him. There would have been no success without him. People don't realize how important he was.” reacted Rudy Tomjanovichthe former Rockets coach, two-time NBA champion at the head of the franchise.
Appointed GM in 1996
But the Rockets were so aware of it that Dawson's initials (CD) are on the ceiling of the Toyota Center, alongside the retired jerseys of Calvin Murphy, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, Yao Ming, Tomjanovich and of course Hakeem Olajuwon.
It was Del Harris who brought him to the Rockets in 1979, when he had neither played nor coached in the NBA. Carroll Dawson would never leave… and he would take care of creating systems to get the best out of Hakeem Olajuwon. He was the one who convinced Rudy T. to take the reins of the team after Don Chaney was fired, and we know what happened next with two NBA championship titles in 1994 and 1995. A year later, he was promoted to GM, and he would get Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, but also select Steve Francis, Yao Ming… He was also the one who put together a huge trade to bring in Tracy McGrady.
A live wire
“He was an extraordinary man,” Tomjanovich continues. “Life is interesting. You meet people. Sometimes, something clicks. I was a city boy from the north. He was a country boy. He brought a lot to my life. Yesterday, when I heard that things were getting closer, so many memories went through my head. I thought I was very lucky to have him in my life. He was happiest when he made others happy. He loved to make people laugh. I knew all his jokes and jokes, we went out together…. Once you made him laugh, it gave him even more energy. He made people cry. That’s when he was happiest. I’ve heard those jokes a thousand times, and they worked every time. And he knew it.”
Extended in 2005 by the owner at the time, Dawson finally decided to leave his position in 2007. To replace him, he opted for his assistant, a certain Daryl Morey…
