Rick Adelman

Lore & Background

Adelman was born in Lynwood, California, and played college basketball at Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University). He was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the 7th round of the 1968 NBA draft and later taken by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 expansion draft. After his playing career, he coached at Chemeketa Community College before joining the Trail Blazers as an assistant. He became interim head coach during the 1988–89 season and led the team to the playoffs despite a 39–43 record. His Blazers reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 and the Western Conference Finals in 1991. He later coached the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, retiring in 2014.

In Their Own Story

The roar of the Moda Center—then the Rose Garden—fills the air as the clock winds down on a tight fourth quarter. Rick Adelman stands at the sideline, clipboard in hand, his eyes scanning the hardwood not just for open shots, but for the flow of the game itself. He doesn't shout; he trusts the system he has built over fifteen years. A quick pass from Drexler to the corner, a cut by Terry Porter, and suddenly the defense is scrambling. It's chaos in motion, but to Adelman, it looks like a symphony. As the ball swishes through the net, he offers a subtle nod. No need for celebration; this is simply how they play.

Reader's Guide

Adelman's coaching career included 1,042 regular-season wins, which at the time of his death was the tenth-highest in league history. He won his 800th career game on March 24, 2008, and his 1,000th on April 6, 2013. He went 79–78 in playoff games. His teams never won a championship, but he led the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice (1990 and 1992) and the Western Conference Finals once (1991). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Did You Know?

• Adelman never won NBA Coach of the Year.
• He coached the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, losing to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls respectively.
• Adelman's son David is an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets.
• Rick Adelman is alive as of this writing.