Rick Adelman has sadly passed away at the age of 79. He made history as the winningest coach in Sacramento Kings history. The Basketball Hall of Fame also inducted him in 2021.
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Following the news of his death, the Kings released a statement via social media.
"The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world," the statement, which was posted on X, said.
As the statement continued, it focused on Adelman's success while coaching the franchise and the impact he had on the DNA of the Kings.
"During his eight seasons in Sacramento, he led the team to unprecedented success and helped create some of the most memorable moments in franchise history," the statement continued. "For an entire generation of Kings fans, Coach Adelman represented the very best of Sacramento basketball, and he will be remembered for the way he inspired those around him - with humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork. His leadership helped establish a culture that continues to resonate throughout our organization today.??"
Rick Adelman Also Coached Other Teams Around the NBA
Adelman began his NBA coaching journey in 1983, when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach. He held that role for six seasons before the Trail Blazers appointed him head coach in 1988. He then led them to two Western Conference championships in 1990 and 1992.
The Hall of Famer spent six years in Portland's hot seat, taking his tenure with the franchise to 12 years in total.
In 1995, Adelman joined the Golden State Warriors as head coach. During his first season with the team, he led them to a 36-46 record. In his second season, the Warriors went 30-52. Those two years were a far cry from the success he'd enjoyed in Portland.
However, in 1998, Adelman agreed to take over the head coaching role of the Kings. It was there that his legacy as one of the greats was cemented. The Kings made the playoffs in all eight of Adelman's seasons in charge.
"The Kings went 16 years without a playoff appearance after Adelman left, and they haven't won a playof series since 2004," TMZ reported.
In total, Adelman coached 1,791 regular-season NBA games. He earned 1042 win and suffered 749 losses. His postseason record was 79-78. As such, Adelman retired with a winning record as an NBA head coach.
Currently, there are no details regarding his impending funeral. That information is expected to remain private.
