When Sacramento Kings think of the best time in the franchise's history, it has to be the tenure of the late Rick Adelman as head coach. His eight seasons with the franchise led to eight straight playoff appearances. And the modern day incarnation of the Kings have to fight hard to live up to his legacy.
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.
— NBA Coaches Assoc. (@NBA_Coaches) June 1, 2026
Rick Adelman coached in the NBA for 29 years, serving as a Head Coach for 23 seasons with the Portland Trail… pic.twitter.com/ksRQzGkF9Z
The legendary Kings' coach passed away on June 1, 2026, a mere 15 days before his 80th birthday. Both a player and a coach during his long tenure in the NBA, Adelman entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 and received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
Adelman's playing career lasted from 1968 to 1975 with five different teams. That included a short stint with the then Kansas City-Omaha Kings to close his on court era out. After that, Adelman would coach from 1977 to 2014, serving as head coach to five different NBA franchises
Sacramento Kings head coach & former player Doug Christie is sharing some amazing stuff about his former head coach Rick Adelman right now on @Sactown1140.https://t.co/P6oPzMRici
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) June 2, 2026
That included the Kings. He rejoined the franchise in 1998, 13 years after the Kings left Kansas City for Sacramento and 23 years after he briefly played for them. Adelman's longest run as a head coach in the NBA was in Sacramento, where he saw great success before being let go.
Adelman set a bar in Sacramento that has yet to be reached again
In eight out of eight seasons with the Kings, Adelman reached the playoffs. The team made it as far as the Western Conference Finals in 2002, which they dubiously lost to the Lakers in seven games. The Kings chose to not renew Adelman's contract after the 2005-2006 season.
For half my time in Sacramento, Rick Adelman was the @sacramentokings HC. The respect he showed me, meant more than he could ever know. He treated me like the guys & I became a better, more confident reporter because of it. Thinking of his family, players&teammates. RIP Coach 💔 pic.twitter.com/vpOYiv2jNk
— Dana Jacobson (@danajacobson) June 2, 2026
Letting Adelman walk would end the only real period of success the franchise has seen since moving to Sacramento. It took 17 years for the Kings to reach the playoffs once again. Then, they fired the head coach who did it because that's what the Kings seem to enjoy doing.
It's been 20 years since the Kings let Adelman leave after setting a bar for success that has never been reached since. With his passing, it's now on the current Kings roster, front office, and management to honor the city, the fans, and the memory of the greatest Kings' coach ever
They can do that in two ways. First, put Adelman's number from his playing days with the Kings, which was 5, on the court and on jerseys. Second, just do better. Take this rebuild, turn it into something epic, and live up to the example Adelman set during his time at the helm.
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