Basketball coach Rick Adelman has died at the age of 79 after a brilliant sports career in the NBA in which he led five teams in 23 years, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers, whom he led to the championship final twice in 1990 and 1992, although without winning the title.

The Timberwolves, the team where he retired in April 2014, reported Adelman's death on their

“He exemplified leadership, integrity and professionalism throughout his distinguished career,” highlights the message of condolence from the Minneapolis team, which did not specify the reason for his death.

His playing career was not as prolific as his coaching career and only lasted seven years.

He entered the NBA in 1968, selected by the San Diego Rockets in the seventh round, and from there he jumped to the Trail Blazers in 1970.

He later played for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City Kings, where he retired in 1975.

In 1983, Adelman began his coaching career with the Trail Blazers, where he was an assistant until 1989, when he took over the reins of the team.

In the 1989-1990 campaign, his first complete command of the Oregon team, he achieved a record of 59 wins and 23 losses, the best in franchise history with Clyde Drexler as a star, and advanced to the finals, where they lost to the Pistons 4-1.

In 1990-1991, they raised the record to 63 victories, although they lost to Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

Their second NBA final was in the 1991-1992 season, where the Trail Blazers lost again, this time against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls 4-2.

In addition to Minnesota and Portland, he coached the Golden State Warriors (1995-1997), Sacramento Kings (1999-2006) and Houston Rockets (2007-2011) and twice coached the West team in the All-Star Game.

He joined the Timberwolves in 2011 and after three seasons, he decided to retire in April 2014 after failing to meet the goal of qualifying the team for the finals again, which was compounded by health problems for his wife, Mary Kay.

“He has been an eternal coach,” praised the then coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich.

Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, whom he made his NBA debut with the Timberwolves in December 2011, dedicated a message to Adelman on his X account on Tuesday upon learning of his death: "I love you, coach. One of a kind. Thank you for everything."

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