Rick Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, died on Monday at the age of 79. The National Basketball Coaches Association confirmed his passing, though the cause has not been disclosed.
Adelman had a notable career spanning 23 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, during which he managed teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. His regular season record stood at 1,042 wins to 749 losses, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Before coaching, Adelman played as a point guard after being drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1968, where he spent seven seasons.
Starting with the Trail Blazers in the 1988-89 season, he guided Clyde Drexler and the team to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. In 1998, Adelman took on the role of head coach for the Sacramento Kings. Under his leadership, the Kings made the playoffs every season for eight years, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2002.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement reflecting on Adelman’s impact, calling him one of the greatest coaches in the league’s history. He noted that Adelman’s leadership and innovative approach left a significant legacy for players and coaches alike. “He was a great strategist and teacher of the game, and an even greater human being,” Silver added, extending his condolences to Adelman’s family and friends.
Adelman is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Kay, along with six children, one of whom is Nuggets coach David Adelman, and 12 grandchildren.
