Hall of Fame NBA coach Rick Adelman, whose innovative offenses reshaped modern basketball, died on Monday at the age of 79. The National Basketball Coaches Association announced his passing; a cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Over 23 seasons, Adelman compiled a 1,042-749 regular-season record, ranking him 10th in NBA history. He led the Portland Trail Blazers to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, and guided the Sacramento Kings to the Western Conference Finals in 2002. He also coached the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Adelman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Before coaching, he played seven seasons as an NBA point guard, drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1968.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Adelman "one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA," praising his leadership, innovation, and genuine love for the game. Adelman is survived by his wife Mary Kay, six children, and 12 grandchildren.