Famous Basketball Coach Rick Adelman Dies at 79

Rick Adelman started coaching at a small community college in Oregon. He worked there for six years before getting his big break. In 1983, Jack Ramsay hired him as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. This job changed his whole life and started his professional basketball career.

When Adelman became head coach in 1988, he used a different style than most coaches. He didn't yell at players or try to control everything they did. Instead, he let them make decisions and be creative during games. The players really liked this approach and played better because of it.

The Sacramento Kings became Adelman's most creative team in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They played a beautiful style of basketball that fans loved to watch. Their arena was one of the loudest in the NBA, with fans ringing cowbells. Unfortunately, they never won a championship, but they came very close in 2002.

Adelman's family was very involved in basketball throughout his life. His wife Mary Kay supported him through his long coaching career. Several of their children became coaches too, showing that basketball was truly a family tradition. His son David now coaches the Denver Nuggets professional team.