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The Sacramento Kings and Rick Adelman have mutually agreed that a renewal of his contract for the 2006-07 season will not be pursued, it was announced today by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“During my individual discussions over the past several days with Joe and Gavin Maloof and Rick, it became apparent that going forward it would not be feasible for any of the parties involved,” said Petrie. “I want to thank Rick personally and professionally for his hard work and determination. He leaves as the winningest coach in Sacramento Kings history. My respect and admiration for him as a coach remains undiminished.

“I also want to thank Pete Carril, Elston Turner, T.R. Dunn and Bubba Burrage for their hard work and loyalty to Rick and the Kings. It has been an honor to work with them over the years. Their contracts will also not be renewed. The coaches will all be given ongoing leaves of absences with no responsibilities to the Kings through the expiration of their contracts.”

Adelman guided the Kings to playoff appearances in each of his eight seasons, including back-to-back Pacific Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03. In addition, Sacramento won 50 or more games in five consecutive seasons (2000-01 – 2004-05) under his leadership.

Adelman became the winningest coach in Kings’ franchise history on March 19th when Sacramento defeated the Indiana Pacers, 94-92 at Conseco Fieldhouse as he recorded his 296th win with the organization, passing Les Harrison on the all-time victories list.

Owning a lifetime NBA record of 752-481 (.610) in 16 seasons as a head coach with Portland (1988-89 – 1993-94), Golden State (1995-96 & 1996-97) and Sacramento (1998-99 – 2005-06), Adelman has recorded the fourth-most wins among active NBA coaches behind Phil Jackson (LA Lakers), Larry Brown (New York) and Jerry Sloan (Utah). He is the fourth coach to win 60 or more games with two different teams.

When Adelman signed on as the 19th head coach in Kings’ franchise history on September 17, 1998, he inherited a team that had won only 27 games the year before (1997-98). In each of his eight seasons as the Kings’ skipper, Sacramento finished with a record above the .500 mark. The Kings’ climb to 61 wins during the 2001-02 campaign marked a 34-win improvement over a four-year span, which was the highest jump among NBA teams. Prior to Adelman’s arrival to the Capitol City, no Sacramento-era Kings squad (since 1985-86) had registered a winning record.

Known around the league as a basketball teacher with an ability to mold the team’s style of play around the strengths of his players, Adelman’s coaching highlights include a pair of NBA Finals appearances with the Trail Blazers in 1990 and 1992. He led Portland to four consecutive 50-plus win seasons, including a league-best mark of 63-19 in 1990-91. Adelman has been runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year honors three times (1990-91 with Portland and 2000-01 and 2001-02 Sacramento). He has coached the West Team in the NBA All-Star Game on three separate occasions (1991 with Portland, and 2001 and 2003 with Sacramento). Adelman has been named NBA Coach of the Month on five occasions.

Adelman played seven seasons in the NBA, primarily with the San Diego Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers before closing out his career with the then Kansas City-Omaha Kings. Originally selected by the Rockets in the seventh round (#79 overall) of the 1968 NBA Draft, Adelman played two seasons in San Diego before being chosen by Portland in the 1970 NBA Expansion Draft.

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