January 1, Basketball Legend Who Changed the Game Forever Dies at 79

Wyatt’s Take

• Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman, who racked up over 1,000 wins and revolutionized NBA offense, has passed away at 79
• From playing guard to coaching giants like Clyde Drexler, Adelman built championship-caliber teams everywhere he went
• His legacy lives on through his son David, now coaching in Denver, and countless players he mentored across three decades

Rick Adelman, the basketball mastermind who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, died on Monday. He was 79.

The National Basketball Coaches Association announced his passing. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Adelman spent 23 seasons as an NBA head coach, leading the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He compiled a 1,042-749 regular-season record and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Before coaching, Adelman played seven seasons as an NBA point guard after being drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1968. The man knew the game from both sides of the clipboard.

After taking over the Trail Blazers during the 1988-89 season, Adelman led a Clyde Drexler-led roster to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. Those Portland teams were powerhouses that thrilled fans with fast-paced, disciplined basketball.

In 1998, Adelman became the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. The Kings reached the playoffs in all eight of his seasons in Sacramento and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

That Kings squad ran one of the most beautiful offenses basketball fans have ever seen. Pure teamwork, constant movement, surgical precision.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement Monday honoring Adelman’s legacy.

“Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA.”

“Following his NBA playing career, Rick turned to coaching where his leadership, innovation and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year run. He was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person. I send my deepest condolences to Rick’s family and many friends throughout the league.”

Adelman is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Kay, their six children—including Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman—and 12 grandchildren. A family man who built something bigger than basketball.

Wyatt Matters

Rick Adelman represents the best of American sports—hard work, loyalty, and building something that lasts. He stayed married to the same woman for 56 years, raised six kids, and mentored young men without demanding the spotlight. He didn’t chase fame or big-market glitz. He just won games, earned respect, and passed his values to the next generation. That’s the kind of legacy that matters far beyond the basketball court.