Hamblen Tries Open-Door Policy

Frank Hamblen, reluctant Laker coach, talked to Rudy Tomjanovich, former Laker coach, and tried to make one last offer that couldn’t be refused.

Hamblen called Tomjanovich and appealed to him Friday, two days after one of the more striking news conferences in Laker history, but Tomjanovich’s answer was firm.

“I thought he should come back,” Hamblen said. “I still held the door open for him. His mind was already made up.”

Tomjanovich left Saturday for Hawaii with his wife, Sophie, and Laker owner Jerry Buss, a gesture of goodwill from Buss piled on top of the $9 million he agreed to pay Tomjanovich for half a season’s worth of coaching and two more seasons of consulting. Tomjanovich signed a five-year, $30-million contract last July.

The Lakers, meanwhile, played Sunday in the city that used to be Tomjanovich’s, leading to more questions and answers about Tomjanovich’s sudden resignation last week. Tomjanovich spent more than 30 years with the Houston Rockets as a player, scout, assistant coach and head coach.

One of his closest friends, Rocket General Manager Carroll Dawson, was concerned for Tomjanovich in the days before his resignation.

They spoke often while Tomjanovich was in Los Angeles, sometimes while he was stuck in traffic on the way to Staples Center, but Dawson didn’t hear back from him after he missed a Jan. 30 game because of a stomach virus. In fact, he didn’t hear from Tomjanovich for several days.

“I left about 10 messages for him before he finally called back,” Dawson said Sunday.

By that time, Tomjanovich had all but decided to leave the Lakers.

“Rudy always feels good about doing the right thing and he said this was the right thing,” Dawson said. “Rudy put a lot of thought into it. I don’t think he had any second thoughts about it. He kept telling me how well he had been treated by the Lakers. He did feel bad about that.”

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Kobe Bryant did some light shooting and lifted weights before Sunday’s game, but his availability this week is still doubtful. The Lakers have three games in the next four days. ... Guard Tony Bobbitt did not suit up because of a sprained right ankle. ... Hamblen on Tomjanovich: “You could see him deteriorating daily, mood swings and all, just suffering. I talked to him a few times, tried to get him going, just couldn’t do it. He was probably, in reality, making himself sick.”

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TONIGHT

at Atlanta, 4:30 PST, Channel 9

Site -- Philips Arena.

Radio -- XTRA (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 24-21; Hawks 9-37.

Record vs. Hawks -- 1-0.

Update -- This is the biggest break the Lakers get as far as opponents on the five-game trip. The Hawks have the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Hawk forward Antoine Walker is averaging 19.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists, all team highs.