Rick Adelman, Hall Of Fame NBA Coach And Ex-Player Passed Away At 79, Who Was He Married To?

Richard Leonard Adelman, also known as Rick Adelman, passed away at the age of 79. The news of his passing was confirmed by the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA), and it was reported that the coach bade farewell on June 1, 2026. The official cause of his death hasn’t been revealed just yet.

For the unversed, Rick coached the NBA for more than 20 years, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. His passing sparked a sense of grief around in the NBA world, and amid this, let’s have a look at his personal life!

Rick Adelman’s early life and his career as a player

Rick Adelman was born in Lynwood, California, to Gladys and Leonard Joseph “L. J.” Adelman, who were a teacher and a farmer. Rick’s basketball career began while he was at school. He played basketball at Pius X High School in Downey, California, before finding success at Loyola University of Los Angeles. In 1968, he was selected for the NBA draft by the San Diego Rockets and played for two seasons.

In 1970, he was selected by the Trail Blazers, following which, he played for Portland for three seasons. Apart from that, Rick Adelman also played for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans (now Utah) Jazz, and the Kansas City/Omaha (now Sacramento) Kings, with his playing career ending in 1975, as he found his true calling in coaching.

The National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) announced the passing of Rick Adelman, while giving a tribute to the legacy that he left behind, and he will be remembered forever. NBCA not only paid tribute to Rick Adelman as a coach and a player but also as a mentor to several members of the NBA community. While mourning the passing of such a talented individual, NBCA said, in a statement:

“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. Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community.”

Rick Adelman’s coaching career

Rick Adelman’s true calling was coaching, which he did for more than 2 decades. He coached the NBA for 29 seasons and 23 seasons as a head coach with the Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. While he was associated with several franchises throughout his decades-long career, his association with the Sacramento Kings was a significant one. The head coach of the Sacramento Kings for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006, which led the team into a powerhouse, as the team not only reached the playoffs for eight seasons, but also grabbed six Pacific Division titles. Adelman’s career as a coach ended in 2014, when he announced his retirement.

Rick Adelman’s personal life

Rick Adelman was married to Mary Kay for 56 years. It was in 2013, when Rick Adelman revealed that his wife, Mary, was diagnosed with seizures, and during that time, he proved himself to be a dutiful husband, staying by his wife. The couple shared six kids and 12 grandchildren. Some of Rick’s children are associated with the NBA, including his eldest daughter, Kathy Adelman-Naro, who is a high school basketball coach in Portland. Apart from that, Rick Adelman and Mary Kay’s eldest son, R.J., was a lawyer associated with several front office roles in the NBA. R.J. passed away in an auto-pedestrian accident in 2018. Rick’s another son, David Adelman, is the head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

We wish Rick Adelman’s family strength to deal with this tough time!

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