Rick Adelman, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and one of the NBA’s all-time winningest coaches, has passed away. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, is the father of Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that Adelman was “one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA.” He noted that after his playing career, Adelman’s coaching leadership, innovation, and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over nearly three decades. Silver described Adelman as “a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person,” extending condolences to Rick’s family and league friends.
The Portland Trail Blazers organization described Adelman as a “franchise legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer” who was “one of the most influential figures in franchise history.” They highlighted his two NBA Finals appearances with the team in 1990 and 1992.
The Minnesota Timberwolves added that Adelman served as head coach from 2011-14 and exemplified “leadership, integrity, and professionalism throughout his distinguished career.”
The Sacramento Kings stated that Adelman’s leadership helped define an era of Kings basketball during his eight seasons with the team, creating “unprecedented success” for the franchise.
Adelman was drafted by the San Diego Rockets out of Loyola Marymount in 1968. He played parts of seven NBA seasons for the Rockets, Trail Blazers, Bulls, New Orleans Jazz, and Kansas City-Omaha Kings. After beginning his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977, he joined the Trail Blazers as an assistant coach in 1983. As head coach from 1989 to 1994, he led the team to the NBA Finals twice. Following a firing in 1994, Adelman took over the Golden State Warriors in 1995 and later coached the Sacramento Kings.
The coaches’ association noted that Adelman would be “remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community.”