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.
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