Trail Blazers legend Rick Adelman dies at 79

Rick Adelman, whose 1,042 NBA wins placed him 10th in league history, died at 79 after a coaching career that stretched across 29 years and 23 seasons as a head coach. The cause of death was not immediately announced. His record included 16 playoff trips in 23 seasons and two runs to the NBA Finals with Portland, a résumé that made him one of the most durable and respected coaches of his era.

The Portland Trail Blazers called Adelman a franchise legend and one of the most influential figures in team history. Portland said he was part of the inaugural 1970 team and later guided the Trail Blazers to Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. The team also praised his thoughtful leadership, integrity, and kindness, extending condolences to Mary Kay Adelman, his family and the broader basketball community.

The National Basketball Coaches Association said Adelman’s place in the game was secured well beyond the win column. It noted that he coached in the NBA for 29 years, won 1,042 games and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. The association also said he received its Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, recognition that reflected how his work resonated with coaches who valued player development, offensive detail and sustained competitiveness.

Adelman’s standing among peers was even stronger than his title count suggested. Only Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Jerry Sloan and George Karl coached more games and posted a better winning percentage, a measure of consistency that helped define his career. His teams remained relevant deep into the spring across multiple stops in the league, turning him into a coach whose influence was felt in the structure of the modern NBA as much as in any trophy case.

Adelman is survived by Mary Kay, his wife of 56 years, six children, Kathy, RJ, Laura, David, Caitlin and Patrick, and twelve grandchildren. Among them was David Adelman, now head coach of the Denver Nuggets, carrying the family name into another generation of NBA sideline leadership.