Rick Adelman, NBA Hall of Famer and successful coach, passes away at 79

Rick Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, passed away on Monday at the age of 79. The National Basketball Coaches Association announced his death, but a cause has not been disclosed. Adelman had a 23-season career as an NBA head coach, leading teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He achieved a regular-season record of 1,042 wins and 749 losses and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Before his coaching career, Adelman played as an NBA point guard for seven seasons after being drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1968. He led the Trail Blazers to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. As head coach of the Sacramento Kings starting in 1998, he guided the team to the playoffs in all eight seasons and reached the Western Conference Finals in 2002. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement honoring Adelman's contributions to the league, highlighting his leadership and innovative coaching style. Adelman is survived by his wife Mary Kay, their six children, including Nuggets coach David Adelman, and 12 grandchildren.