Rick Adelman, the Hall‑of‑Fame‑caliber coach whose career spanned more than three decades, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79. He sits 10th on the NBA’s all‑time wins list with a career record of 1,042‑749.
Adelman’s coaching journey took him from the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and, most recently, the Houston Rockets. In his first two seasons with the Rockets he guided the club to more than 50 victories and playoff berths, and the 2008‑09 team pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to a seven‑game series in the second round. The Rockets also enjoyed a 22‑game winning streak that season, one of the longest in league history.
A Family Continuing the Journey
His son, David Adelman, now serves as head coach of the Denver Nuggets, extending a basketball lineage that began when Rick played two seasons with the San Diego Rockets from 1968 to 1970.
The National Basketball Coaches Association honored Rick with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, recognizing his contributions to the game and the coaches he inspired.