John Thompson

Head Coach, Men’s Basketball North Carolina Wesleyan University

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

RIP Coach Adelman!

[NBA Coaches Assoc. @NBA_Coaches]

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.

Rick Adelman coached in the NBA for 29 years, serving as a Head Coach for 23 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Over his coaching career, Rick won 1,042 games (10th all-time), was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 and received the NBCA Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Coach Adelman also enjoyed an eight-year NBA playing career with the San Diego Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Jazz, and Kansas City-Omaha Kings.

Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community. Rick was a husband to Mary Kay for 56 years; father to Kathy, RJ, Laura, David, Caitlin, and Patrick; and a grandfather of twelve. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Adelman family during this difficult time.

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

Great being with my friend Bill Chambers today at the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame press conference announcing his induction! A well-deserved honor for an incredibly humble and outstanding person! Congratulations Coach! My Man!

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

Randolph Macon’s Josh Merkel and Howard’s Kenny Blakeney - Outstanding people, outstanding coaches and both helping to make our game better! Thanks for being a part of The Forum.

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

Dick Bender (Clemson) helping to make the game better. Many thanks!

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

40+years of coaching, now doing TV and more, Greg Herenda giving back to the game “From a Different Perspective.” 👊

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

Trey Morin (The Phelps School) providing great information on offensive spacing and more.

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

Thanks so much to Travis Pait (West Bladen) and Stephen Giles (Phoenix Suns) for sharing over the last couple of days.

[Mitch Buonaguro @MichaelBuonagu4]

Coach Thompson is a terrific coach and an even better person. I spoke at his coaches forum several years ago and had a great time. The year I spoke it was a Five Star reunion with Dave Odom and Pete Gillen the other speakers. Great event!

[John Thompson @_Coach_Thompson]

What a great dinner last night at Prime Smokehouse - thanks Ed and Yalem. Even greater than the meal was sharing it with My Man x 2 Reggie Barrett and Buck Williams and our families!