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 described Adelman as “one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA.” Silver added that Adelman’s leadership, innovation and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year coaching career.
“Rick Adelman was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game,” Silver said. “He was an even better person. I send my deepest condolences to Rick’s family and many friends throughout the league.”
Adelman coached for five teams across 23 NBA seasons, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals appearances in the 1990s. He also served as head coach for the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors.
The Portland Trail Blazers organization called Adelman “one of the most influential figures in franchise history,” noting his role in guiding the team to Finals runs in 1990 and 1992. The Minnesota Timberwolves stated that Adelman “exemplified leadership, integrity and professionalism” during his tenure with their team from 2011-14. Similarly, the Sacramento Kings highlighted his impact on their franchise.
Adelman began his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977 before joining the Trail Blazers as an assistant in 1983. He took over as Portland’s head coach in 1989 and led them to the NBA Finals twice.
The league recognized Adelman with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, a testament to his legacy. Indiana coach Rick Carlisle noted that Adelman “always found subtle ways to reinvent NBA basketball to help his players thrive.”