Rick Adelman
Richard Leonard Adelman (born June 16, 1946) is an American basketball coach and former player, best known for his 23-season tenure as a head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he amassed 1,042 regular-season wins, ranking him 10th all-time among NBA coaches.[1][2] A former point guard who played professionally for the Portland Trail Blazers after starring at Loyola Marymount University, Adelman transitioned to coaching as an assistant under Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay in Portland before taking over as head coach there in 1989.[1] Adelman's NBA head coaching career spanned five franchises: the Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1994), Golden State Warriors (1995–1997), Sacramento Kings (1998–2006), Houston Rockets (2007–2011), and Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2014), during which he led his teams to the playoffs 16 times and achieved a .582 winning percentage (1,042–749) in the regular season.[2][1] He guided the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, earning Western Conference championships both years, and coached the Kings to five consecutive 50-win seasons from 2000 to 2005, including a franchise-record 61 wins in 2001–02.[2][1] Adelman's postseason record stood at 79–78 (.503), and he was selected as head coach for the NBA All-Star Game three times.[1][2] He earned NBA Coach of the Month honors seven times across his career.[2] Renowned for his tactical acumen, Adelman pioneered innovative offensive systems, including a read-and-react approach with the Trail Blazers that emphasized veteran players like Clyde Drexler and a high-paced, free-flowing "corners" offense with the Kings, blending elements of the Princeton strategy to promote constant movement, improvisation, and player empowerment.[1][3] This style influenced modern NBA coaching, with concepts adopted by figures like Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich, and helped elevate players such as Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Brad Miller during Sacramento's peak.[3] Adelman retired in 2014 after the Timberwolves season and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 for his contributions to the game.[1]Early life and education
Childhood and family background
Richard Leonard Adelman was born on June 16, 1946, in Lynwood, California.[4] He was the son of Gladys (née Olsen) and Leonard Joseph "L.J." Adelman, who had roots in North Dakota where they worked as teachers and farmers before relocating to California.[5] Growing up in the Lynwood area during the post-World War II era, Adelman was exposed to a supportive family environment that emphasized education and community involvement, influenced by his parents' professional backgrounds.[5] Adelman's early interest in sports emerged in his youth, with initial experiences in local youth leagues in nearby Compton, where he participated in baseball before gravitating toward basketball. His formative years in basketball truly took shape during high school at St. Pius X in Downey, California, where he developed his skills as a guard.[6] As a senior in the 1963-64 season, Adelman was a key contributor to the team's success, earning recognition as a flashy playmaker.[7] A pivotal moment came in the CIF Southern Section 3-A playoffs, where Adelman exploded for 17 points in the second half to lead St. Pius X to a 53-48 victory over La Salle in the championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center, securing the division title.[8] This accomplishment highlighted his emerging talent and competitive drive, setting the stage for his transition to college basketball at Loyola Marymount University.[6]College basketball at Loyola Marymount
Rick Adelman enrolled at Loyola Marymount University (then known as Loyola University of Los Angeles) in 1964 and played for the Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team from 1965 to 1968 as a guard.[9] During his sophomore season in 1965–66, the Lions finished with an 11–15 overall record and 7–7 in West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) play, placing fourth in the conference; Adelman averaged 16.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over 26 appearances.[10] In his junior year of 1966–67, he improved to 18.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game across 25 games, contributing to a stronger team performance of 16–10 overall and 10–4 in the WCAC, securing second place in the conference.[11] As a senior in 1967–68, Adelman led the Lions in scoring with 21.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 25 contests, helping the team achieve a 19–6 overall record and 11–3 mark in the WCAC for another second-place finish.[12] His senior-year total of 525 points ranked him among the WCAC's top scorers and made him the third player in program history to average over 20 points per game in a season.[13] Over his career, Adelman scored 1,415 points, placing him eighth on the program's all-time list at the time and seventh to reach the 1,000-point milestone.[13] He earned two-time All-WCAC honors, the 1968 John Donovan Memorial Trophy, and was named the WCAC Player of the Year in 1968.[13] Adelman graduated from Loyola Marymount in 1968 with a bachelor's degree, though his specific major is not publicly detailed in available records.[14] No records indicate significant non-basketball campus involvement during his undergraduate years. Following his college career, he was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the seventh round of the 1968 NBA draft.[9]Professional playing career
NBA tenure and teams
Adelman was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the seventh round (79th overall pick) of the 1968 NBA Draft out of Loyola Marymount University.[4] He spent his first two professional seasons with the Rockets from 1968 to 1970, primarily as a reserve point guard.[4] In the 1970 NBA expansion draft, Adelman was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played for the next three seasons through 1973, continuing in a backup role while contributing to the team's early development.[4][15] Prior to the 1973-74 season, Adelman was traded to the Chicago Bulls, for whom he played 55 games that year and appeared in 12 more the following season.[4] During the 1974-75 campaign, he also suited up for the New Orleans Jazz in 28 games after another trade.[4] His playing career concluded with a brief appearance for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in 1975.[4] Spanning seven seasons from 1968 to 1975, Adelman's NBA tenure marked him as a journeyman who moved across five teams, often serving as a reliable bench contributor rather than a starter.[4][1] As a 6-foot-1 point guard, he emphasized playmaking and steady ball-handling, averaging 3.5 assists per game over his career while providing defensive effort on perimeter players in limited minutes.[16] Adelman retired from playing after the 1974-75 season.[4]Playing achievements and style
Rick Adelman enjoyed a seven-season NBA career as a point guard, primarily serving as a backup who provided steady contributions off the bench across multiple teams.[4] His most notable individual performance came in a regular-season game where he dished out a career-high 17 assists, highlighting his playmaking prowess in facilitating fast-paced offenses.[4] Additionally, he recorded personal bests of 27 points and 12 rebounds in single games, demonstrating his versatility as a guard capable of contributing in scoring and rebounding when called upon.[4] In the playoffs, Adelman had a standout series during the 1969 Western Division Semifinals with the San Diego Rockets, where he averaged 11.7 points per game across six contests against the Atlanta Hawks, including a high of 26 points in Game 2.[4] This performance underscored his ability to elevate his game in high-stakes situations as a young reserve. Adelman's playing style centered on efficient playmaking and adaptability, peaking at 5.2 assists per game during the 1971-72 season with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he focused on quick ball movement and setting up teammates.[4] As a backup guard, he excelled in perimeter roles, using his 6-foot frame to navigate defenses and provide scoring punch when starters rested, often transitioning seamlessly between starting and bench duties.[4] Throughout his tenure, Adelman shared the court with several contemporaries, including forward Nate Williams during his rookie year with the San Diego Rockets in 1968-69.[4] These interactions exposed him to varied offensive schemes under coaches like Jack McMahon, influencing his understanding of team-oriented basketball that later informed his coaching philosophy.[4]Playing statistics
Regular season
Adelman's NBA regular season career spanned seven seasons from 1968 to 1975, during which he appeared in 462 games across five teams, primarily as a point guard known for his playmaking abilities.[4] The following table summarizes his year-by-year regular season totals, including games played, points, assists, rebounds, and field goal percentage:| Season | Team | G | PTS | AST | TRB | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–69 | SDR | 77 | 485 | 238 | 216 | .394 |
| 1969–70 | SDR | 35 | 260 | 113 | 81 | .389 |
| 1970–71 | POR | 81 | 1,023 | 380 | 282 | .422 |
| 1971–72 | POR | 80 | 809 | 413 | 229 | .437 |
| 1972–73 | POR | 76 | 501 | 294 | 157 | .408 |
| 1973–74 | CHI | 55 | 182 | 56 | 69 | .376 |
| 1974–75 | 3TM | 58 | 319 | 112 | 95 | .423 |
Playoffs
Adelman's NBA playoff career spanned three appearances over 21 games, during which he averaged 5.8 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 rebounds per game.[17] His postseason contributions were modest, reflecting his role as a reserve guard on teams that achieved limited success, with no advancement beyond the conference semifinals.[4] In the 1969 playoffs, Adelman played all six games for the San Diego Rockets in the Western Division Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in the series loss 2-4.[17] His scoring peaked at 26 points in Game 2, but the Rockets were eliminated in the first round.[17] During the 1974 playoffs with the Chicago Bulls, Adelman appeared in nine games across two rounds, averaging 4.3 points, 0.8 assists, and 1.1 rebounds.[17] In the Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Pistons, he played five of seven games as the Bulls won 4-3, then featured in all four Conference Finals games versus the Milwaukee Bucks, where Chicago was swept 0-4.[17] His limited minutes underscored the Bulls' deeper postseason exit compared to his prior and subsequent runs.[4] Adelman's final playoff stint came in 1975 with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, where he played all six games in the Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls, averaging 2.0 points, 0.5 assists, and 0.3 rebounds in the Kings' 2-4 series loss.[17] This appearance marked his last postseason action, with the Kings failing to advance further.[4]| Year | Team | Round | Games Played | PPG | APG | RPG | Series Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | San Diego Rockets | Western Division Semifinals | 6 | 11.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 | Lost 2-4 vs. Atlanta Hawks |
| 1974 | Chicago Bulls | Conference Semifinals | 5 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | Won 4-3 vs. Detroit Pistons |
| 1974 | Chicago Bulls | Conference Finals | 4 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | Lost 0-4 vs. Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1975 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | Conference Semifinals | 6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | Lost 2-4 vs. Chicago Bulls |