Timberwolves coach Adelman retires after 23 seasons

Minneapolis (AFP) - Minnesota Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman announced his retirement after 23 seasons which included two trips to the NBA Finals with Portland in 1990 and 1992.

Adelman, 67, ranks eighth in wins on the NBA all-time coaching list with a career record of 1,042-749.

"It's time," said Adelman. "You always second-guess yourself in this line of work, but I always felt I had good people around me.

"There's no doubt I'll miss it."

Adelman, who will remain with the Timberwolves as a consultant, took over a Minnesota squad in 2011 that had won only 15 and 17 games in its prior two campaigns and improved each year to 26, 31 and 40 wins over the past three seasons, although he was unable to produce a winning record.

"I would like to thank Rick for all he has done for our organization," said Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. "Under Rick's leadership, our team has improved each of the past three seasons."

Last April, Adelman won his 1,000th career triumph in his 1,703rd game, fifth fastest in NBA coaching history.

"Coach Adelman is truly one of the greatest coaches in our game's history, and he has helped restore credibility and respectability to the Timberwolves franchise," said team president of basketball operations Flip Saunders.

Adelman has guided Portland, Golden State, Sacramento and Houston as well as the Timberwolves, reaching the Western Conference final four times and winning four division crowns.

"Rick Adelman established himself as one of our game's great coaches, manning the NBA sidelines for the better part of a quarter century," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "Rick's versatility and rapport with his players ultimately led to that legacy of success."

Adelman's teams reached the NBA playoffs in 16 of his 23 seasons as a coach.

As a player, Adelman spent seven seasons in the NBA with the San Diego Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City-Omaha Kings.