Blazers legend Rick Adelman passes away at 79

With the Portland Trail Blazers under new ownership and looking to lock down a head coach, the one figure that will live forever in the team’s memory is Rick Adelman, who was announced to have passed away on Monday at the age of 79 years old. The Trail Blazers’ head coach brought major success to the franchise and other teams throughout his career, even playing in the NBA with Portland and other teams.

The unfortunate news was announced on Monday by the NBA Coaches Association, going over the abundance of honors that Adelman achieved throughout his career in the NBA. Coaching in the league for 29 years, being a head coach for 23 of them, he would take the Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.

Rick Adelman’s impact was felt with the Trail Blazers and rest of NBA

Also the head coach for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Adelman amassed 1,042 games, which is 10th all-time in history, being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2021. Playing also for eight years in the NBA from 1968 to 1975, he spent three years with Portland.

“The membership of the National Basketball Coaches Association joins the NBA family in mourning the passing of legendary Head Coach and Hall of Famer, Rick Adelman,” the NBA Coaches Administration wrote.

“Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community,” the association continued. “Rick was a husband to Mary Kay for 56 years; father to Kathy, RJ, Laura, David, Caitlin, and Patrick; and a grandfather of twelve. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Adelman family during this difficult time.”

Adelman will be remembered for his impact on the NBA, as his son, David, is the current head coach for the Denver Nuggets.