Adelman passed away at the age of 79; he was hailed as one of the most influential coaches in the NBA.

June 2nd - Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and legendary NBA head coach Rick Adelman passed away on Monday at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by the National Basketball Coaches Association; the specific cause of death has not yet been released.

Adelman played seven seasons in the NBA as a player before transitioning to coaching and becoming one of the most successful coaches in league history. He achieved 1,042 regular season wins in his coaching career, ranking 10th on the NBA's all-time coaching wins list .

During his coaching career, he led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice and coached several teams including the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors. While coaching the Kings, he built an offensive system centered around Webber, Divac, and Stojakovic; during his time with the Rockets, he led the team to a 22-game winning streak, the fourth longest in NBA history.

In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described Adelman as an "outstanding strategist and basketball mentor." Numerous teams and players also posted tributes, praising his professionalism, integrity, and teamwork that profoundly impacted countless players and team cultures.

Adelman has led more than 200 players to the NBA during his coaching career and is considered one of the most influential coaches in the NBA.

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