Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Adelman, the winningest coach in Sacramento Kings history, has passed away at the age of 79.
Adelman led the Kings from 1998 to 2006, guiding the franchise to eight consecutive playoff appearances and recording a team-record 395 victories.
He finished his NBA coaching career with 1,042 regular-season wins, ranking among the league’s all-time leaders.
“The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world,” the Kings said in a statement.
Before Sacramento, Adelman coached the Portland Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals appearances and later held head coaching positions with the Warriors, Rockets and Timberwolves.
“Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community,” the NBA Coaches Association wrote.
Rick Adelman, Kings coaching legend and Hall of Famer, dead at 79 https://t.co/8BPR57sDMW pic.twitter.com/J2Pyg5KpEp
— New York Post (@nypost) June 1, 2026
