Bill Fitch, a top 10 all-time NBA coach in wins, told Sports Headliners new Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman “gets the most out of nothing.”
Fitch lives in Houston where in retirement he watched Adelman coach the Houston Rockets for four seasons. He also coached against Adelman when Adelman had jobs with other NBA teams years ago.
“I think it’s a good hire,” Fitch said. “You hired for what you need there. You got what you don’t have − experience, stability, very good with people. He’s a good coach. His teams share the ball and hustle on defense.
“The teams he’s had down here have over achieved with the material he was given. He had no center with Yao (Ming) going down (injured). There were a lot of trades. He had a general manager that played potential too much. You don’t win with nine potentials. Winning is now.”
Adelman and the Rockets parted with one another after last season. His record in Houston was 193-135, a .588 winning percentage and the best in franchise history. It’s widely accepted by NBA authorities, including Fitch, that Adelman didn’t always have much talent to work with in Houston. That has also sometimes been his reputation at other places he’s coached during a 20 year career in the league.
Fitch said part of Adelman’s success is attributable to hiring exceptional assistant coaches. It wouldn’t surprise Fitch if Adelman’s staff in Minneapolis includes former NBA center Jack Sikma who worked for Adelman in Houston.
Adelman is the type of coach who could have been hired in recent years by even the league’s glamour franchises like Boston and the L.A. Lakers, according to Fitch who approves of Adelman’s demeanor. “He doesn’t get too high or too low,” Fitch said.
Fitch, who won a world championship with the Celtics in 1981 and once coached the Gophers, said Adelman didn’t have a say in personnel decisions in Houston. “I would think he would have some assurances on personnel in taking the (Timberwolves) job,” Fitch said.
Adelman, 65, has known Kevin Love since the Wolves star forward was in high school and Fitch said that relationship can’t hurt in keeping Love here long term. He said Adelman excels at teaching big men and isn’t a coach who “makes waves.”
“He (Love) won’t leave because of Adelman, and Adelman can be a reason to stay,” Fitch said.
Fitch has 944 career wins and ranks ninth on the league’s all-time win list. Adelman moved ahead of Fitch at the end of last season and has 945 wins, ranking eighth all-time.
After Adelman tied him last season at 944, Fitch sent a congratulatory note teasing him to get his own number.