Last Updated on September 10, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Here’s detailed information about Rick Adelman:

  • Full Name: Richard Leonard Adelman
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 78 (born June 16, 1946)
  • Hometown: Lynwood, California
  • Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters)
  • Weight: 175 pounds (79 kilograms)
  • Position: Point guard / Shooting guard
  • High School: Pius X High School, Downey, California
  • College: Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) (1964–1968)
  • Draft: 1968, 7th round, 79th overall pick by the San Diego Rockets
  • Teams Played For:
    • San Diego Rockets (1968–1970)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1970–1973)
    • Chicago Bulls (1973)
    • New Orleans Jazz (1974–1975)
    • Kansas City/Omaha Kings (1975)
  • Head Coaching Career:
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1994)
    • Golden State Warriors (1995–1997)
    • Sacramento Kings (1998–2006)
    • Houston Rockets (2007–2011)
    • Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2014)
  • Accolades:
    • Hall of Fame:
      • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: 2021
    • Coaching Career Achievements:
      • NBA Head Coach for 23 seasons: (1988–2014)
      • 1,042 career wins: 8th-most in NBA history at the time of his retirement
      • Win Percentage: .582 (1,042 wins and 749 losses)
      • 2 NBA Finals Appearances: (1990, 1992 with the Portland Trail Blazers)
      • 4 Western Conference Finals Appearances: (1990, 1992 with Portland; 2002 with Sacramento; 2009 with Houston)
      • 11 Playoff Appearances: with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Houston Rockets
  • Spouse: Mary Kay Adelman
  • Kids: 6 children, including sons R.J. Adelman and David Adelman, both of whom have been involved in basketball coaching.
  • Siblings: Not much is publicly known about his siblings.

Adelman is known more for his successful coaching career than his playing days. He was widely respected for his offensive schemes, particularly during his time with the Kings, where his teams played fast, unselfish basketball.

Notes:

  • Adelman had a modest playing career, primarily as a backup guard before transitioning into coaching.

Fun Facts

  • He took over coaching the Houston Rockets after Jeff Van Gundy wasn’t re-signed. Van Gundy loved that Rockets team but pondered whether it was his time to step aside and let another coach try to help Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, and the Rockets reach their potential since he lost two series in a row against the Jazz in the playoffs. Ironically, the Van Gundy successor Rick Adelman didn’t have any interest in using Tracy McGrady once he returned from microfracture knee surgery, and the Rockets’ chances of success were gone anyway.