Rick Adelman, one of the most respected coaches in NBA history and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, has passed away at the age of 79. His death was announced by the National Basketball Coaches Association on Monday.
“Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA,” commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Following his NBA career, Rick turned to coaching where his leadership, innovation and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year run. He was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person.
Adelman is survived by his wife and six children, including David Adelman, who currently serves as head coach of the Denver Nuggets
“I send my deepest condolences to Ricks’ family and many friends throughout the league.”
The Kings, in paying tribute, said Adelman “will be remembered for the way he inspired those around him — with humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork.”
Adelman’s path to the NBA, as a coach, was unintentional.
He thought he would become a high school coach, though his lack of experience was a deterrent. He then started his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon.
“We had great success there,” Adelman said in his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech. “The one thing I did not realize is Jack Ramsey was following my team.”
Ramsey was coaching the Portland Trail Blazers, and invited Adelman to interview when a position opened on his staff. Adelman worked under Ramsey for three seasons and Mike Schuler for 2 1/2 more, then took over as interim coach with 35 games left in the 1988-89 season.
“We had a team that was ready to win,” Adelman said in 2021.
Blazers owner Paul Allen told Adelman he could coach the 1989-90 season. The rest is history. Portland won 59 games that season with Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Buck Williams leading the way, getting to the NBA Finals and falling to Detroit.
Adelman was off and running. He took the Blazers back to the NBA Finals two years later, falling then to Chicago. After his Portland era, Adelman coached two years at Golden State and then went to Sacramento — where he had eight winning seasons in an eight-year stint, with players like Vlade Divac, Peja Stojaković, Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Bobby Jackson and current Kings coach Doug Christie.
Adelman had 210 players appear in at least one NBA game for him. Rick Adelman
“He actually challenged me and poured into trusting me,” 20-year guard Kyle Lowry said Monday night. “That was important for me. He didn’t have to. He could have done everything else, he could have played other players, but he believed in me. … He just trusted his players. He just wanted to win. And if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what career I would have. It’s a sad day.”
Among Rick Adelman’s accomplishments: He engineered a 22-game winning streak with Houston in 2008, a run that is the fourth-longest in NBA history.
“Coach Adelman guided the Rockets with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the game,” the Rockets said in a release. “His role in leading the team during the 22-game winning streak in 2008 remains one of the most remarkable achievements in franchise history and will always be remembered by Rockets fans.”
The Blazers noted that not only did Adelman lead the team to the finals twice, but he was a player on the inaugural Portland team in 1970.Rick Adelman
“Rick was one of the most influential figures in franchise history,” the Blazers said.
Legacy and Achievements
- Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021
- Won the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (2023)
- Guided teams to 16 playoff appearances
- Known for innovative offensive systems and player development
Adelman was widely respected not only for his basketball mind but also for his leadership and mentorship across generations of players and coaches. Rick Adelman
Final Thoughts
Rick Adelman leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of basketball’s greatest minds—an elite strategist, a mentor, and a Hall of Famer whose impact shaped multiple NBA eras. His contributions to the game will be remembered for generations. Rick Adelman