Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Adelman died on Monday, June 1. He was 79.
One of Adelman’s former teams, the Sacramento Kings, and the NBA Coaches Association (NBCA) announced the news that day. A cause of death has not been revealed.
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Adelman spent 29 seasons as a coach in the NBA and reached the playoffs 16 times, including two Finals appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers. The coach, known for his stoic nature, had stints with the Kings, Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He is 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins and 12th in total games coached at 1,791.
The Kings said the organization was “deeply saddened” by Adelman’s death.
“During his eight seasons in Sacramento, he led the team to unprecedented success and helped create some of the most memorable moments in franchise history,” the team said in a statement. “For an entire generation of Kings fans, Coach Adelman represented the very best of Sacramento basketball, and he 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 created a basketball family. His younger son, David, shadowed him growing up and is now the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. His older son, RJ, was an assistant coach for him with the Rockets and then the director of player personnel for the Timberwolves before he was killed when he was hit by a car in 2018. His oldest daughter, Kathy, won a basketball state championship in high school and was a girls high school basketball coach in the Portland area for more than 20 years.
Tributes poured in from across the internet mourning the passing of the 2021 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee.
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Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors pay tribute to Rick Adelman
Many of the teams Rick Adelman coached for mourned his passing on social media. Besides the Kings tribute, the Warriors and Rockets also shared fond memories of the coach.
“The Houston Rockets and the Fertitta Family mourn the passing of Rick Adelman, one of the most respected and influential figures in NBA history,” the Rockets said in an X post. “During his four seasons in Houston, Coach Adelman guided the Rockets with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the game. 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.”
“Rick Adelman left an indelible mark on the NBA during his nearly four decades in the league, both as a player for seven seasons and as a coach for 29 seasons, including two seasons with the Warriors (1995-97),” the Warriors said in a statement. “His creativity and ingenuity led his teams to 1,042 wins during his illustrious coaching career, the 10th-most in NBA history, and earned him entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and the hundreds of lives he impacted, both on and off the court, throughout a legendary career.”
Journalists celebrate life of Rick Adelman
Several journalists paid respects to Rick Adelman and gave insight into his life as an NBA coach and father. Two of his children, David and Kathy, are still carrying on his legacy as coaches.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rockets, Warriors pay tribute to late Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman
