Rick Adelman says he might quit coaching Timberwolves
Rick Adelman says he might walk away after this season to be with his family as his wife works through health issues.
The Timberwolves have had inconsistent success the past several seasons largely because of injuries, but they've had good fortune about one thing: having Rick Adelman on the bench.
One of the brightest offensive minds, well, ever, Adelman has installed some very sound principles to a young team and has overseen the development of guys like Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.
But via NBA.com, Adelman says he might be done after this season to be with his family as his wife works through health issues.
Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, after twice contemplating quitting this season, may resign in the summer if his wife continues to have health issues, he told NBA.com on Thursday.
“They’ve been terrific with everything,” he said of management, as wife Mary Kay was hospitalized and doctors tried to determine the cause of seizures. Now, clearly worn down by difficult months on the personal front and a challenging season on the court as the Timberwolves drown in a flurry of injuries, he admitted, “there’s a couple times I really struggled whether I should come back.” He later added: “I’m sure I’ll be thinking more about it as we move on here (through the season).”
Adelman was away from the team for 11 games in January to be with his wife, but returned when the situation improved. Without him, the Wolves went just 2-9 under assistant Terry Porter.
Adelman said he's not making any decisions now while the season is still going and also said his wife's condition is improving.
"She’s just on a lot of medicine. We’ll just have to wait and see. We go back to the doctor in April and see what they have to say.” When asked about the possibility of not returning in 2013-14, Adelman told NBA.com, “I think it’s something I’m just going to have to sit down with my wife and family and just talk about and see where we’re going with this. The most important thing is where we’re going with her health. Whatever happens will happen naturally.”
As for seriously considering it, Adelman said it's not fair for him to openly discuss it all right now. He's still coaching this team, still focused on finishing out the season.
“It’s unfair for me to talk about that when I’m asking these guys to finish the season off and compete,” Adelman, a private man, said before the Timberwolves played the Kings at Sleep Train Arena. “And that’s all I’m trying to do now. I think there will be a right time to look at everything. I don’t want to really talk about those types of things until it’s done.”
The Wolves have had awful luck the past two seasons with injuries, but there's a talented roster there. And Adelman is the right man to coach them. The Wolves seemingly had to pry him out of retirement to convince him to take the head seat on their bench a couple seasons ago and it's proven to be worth it.
If he steps away after this season, it would just be another in a long line of losses for the Wolves.
