Richard Leonard "Rick" Adelman (born June 16, 1946) is an American former basketball professional player and current basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA.^[1] Previously he served as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets.

Playing career[link]

Born in Lynwood, California, Adelman began his basketball career as a collegiate star at Loyola University of Los Angeles, now known as Loyola Marymount University. In the 1968 NBA Draft, he was selected by the San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) in the 7th round. He played two seasons in San Diego before being taken by the expansion Trail Blazers in the 1970 expansion draft; he then played three seasons in Portland. He also played for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans (now Utah) Jazz, and the Kansas City/Omaha (now Sacramento) Kings. He ended his playing career in 1975.

Coaching career[link]

From 1977 through to 1983, Adelman coached at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, after which he was hired by the Portland Trail Blazers (then coached by Jack Ramsay) as an assistant. When Ramsay was fired and replaced with Mike Schuler in 1986, Adelman was retained; when Schuler was in turn fired during the 1988-89 season (when poor team chemistry resulted in the team having a losing record), Adelman was promoted to interim coach. After leading the team into the playoffs that year (despite a 39–43 record), Adelman was given the coaching position on a full-time basis in the 1989 off-season.

The next three years were quite successful for Adelman and the Trail Blazers; the team went to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 (losing to the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls respectively) and went to the Western Conference finals in 1991 (losing to the Los Angeles Lakers). Adelman spent two more years with the team, but was dismissed after the 1993–1994 season.

In 1995, Adelman was hired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He was unable to duplicate his success in Portland, and was fired after only two years with the team.

After a year's absence from the sidelines, Adelman was hired by the Sacramento Kings in 1998. Under Adelman's guidance, the Kings were one of the most successful Western Conference teams, qualifying for the playoffs during every year of his Sacramento career.

During the Kings' 2000 playoff run, they met Phil Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers. Adelman questioned Jackson's motivational techniques when it was learned that Jackson compared Adelman to Hitler.^[2]

In 2002, the Kings made a serious run for the NBA Finals. After clinching the first seed in the competitive Western Conference, the Kings blazed through the opening two rounds but lost to the Lakers in a hard fought seven-game series in what some consider to be one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history.^[3]

In 2006, Adelman (in the final year of his contract) led the Kings to the playoffs. Despite the team struggling early in the regular season, the Kings rebounded and qualified for the playoffs as the #8 seed. Although competitive, they were defeated 4–2 by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Adelman's contract with the Kings expired at the end of the 2005–2006 season. On May 9, it was reported by the Sacramento Bee that his contract would not be renewed. The Kings have yet to reach the playoffs since.

The Houston Rockets brought in Rick Adelman as their new head coach, five days after the dismissal of Jeff Van Gundy, on May 18, 2007. Van Gundy had taken the Rockets to three playoff appearances in four years with no series wins. In his first season as head coach, Adelman guided the Rockets to a 22-game winning streak from January through March 2008, the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

In the 2009 season, the Rockets finished 5th in the West with a 53–29 record. They entered the playoffs without their star shooting guard, Tracy McGrady, due to an injury. Despite this loss, the Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 1997. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, but surprised many people and proved their resilience by taking the series to seven games even though their star center, Yao Ming, had a season-ending injury in Game 3 of that series.

Adelman won his 800th career game, 13th among coaches in NBA history, on March 24, 2008 against his old team the Sacramento Kings.^[4]

On April 18, 2011, Houston Chronicle reported that the Houston Rockets would not give Adelman a new contract, and would part ways after 4 seasons ^[5]

On September 13, 2011, the Minnesota Timberwolves confirmed the hiring of Rick Adelman as their new coach.^[1]

Coaching record[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Profile as a player
• Profile as a coach

Michael Beasley

Beasley with the Timberwolves
No. 8 – Minnesota Timberwolves
Small forward / Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1989-01-09) January 9, 1989 (age 23) Frederick, Maryland
Nationality	American
High school	Notre Dame Preparatory School
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Kansas State
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Miami Heat
Pro career	2008–present
Career history
2008–2010	Miami Heat
2010–present	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2009) Big 12 Player of the Year (2008) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2008) Pete Newell Big Man Award (2008) Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (2008) McDonald's All-American Game MVP (2007)
Medals Men’s basketball Competitor for USA FIBA U19 World Championship Silver 2007 Novi Sad Team competition FIBA Americas U18 Championship Gold 2006 San Antonio Team competition

Michael Paul Beasley, Jr. (born January 9, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays both forward positions, and shoots his jump shot left-handed, though he is also ambidextrous. Beasley played college basketball for Kansas State University for one year before declaring for the NBA draft on April 14, 2008.^[1] He is regarded as one of the greatest freshman college basketball players of the 2000s.^[2]

High school[link]

Beasley was born in Frederick, Maryland. While growing up in Maryland, Beasley played for one of the country's most successful AAU youth teams at the time, the PG Jaguars. Beasley won multiple national championships with this team alongside future fellow blue-chip recruits Kevin Durant (Texas)^[3] and Chris Braswell (UNC Charlotte). Beasley later moved on to play AAU ball for DC Assault's 17 & Under team, playing alongside such players as former KSU teammate Ron Anderson, Nolan Smith (Duke), Chris Wright (Georgetown), Austin Freeman (Georgetown), and Julian Vaughn (Georgetown). During this time Beasley also attended a number of high schools including Bowie High School (Bowie, Maryland), National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Maryland), The Pendleton School (a section of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida), Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Maryland), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia), and Notre Dame Preparatory School (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)).^[4] As a high school senior he averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds per game.^[4]

Beasley was named as a 2006 USA Men's U18 National Team member on June 26, 2006. Beasley averaged team highs of 13.8 ppg. and 8.3 rpg at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men in San Antonio, Texas. He ranked fifth in rebounds per game (8.3 rpg) among all 2006 tournament leaders, and he ranks third all-time in the USA Men's U18 record book. He was named to the McDonald's All-American team.^[5] In the 2007 McDonald's All-American Boys Game he won the MVP with 23 points and 12 rebounds.^[6] Rivals.com rated Beasley No. 1 in the class of 2007 high school basketball prospects.^[7]

Collegiate career[link]

Beasley at Kansas State.

Beasley began his freshman year at Kansas State in the fall of 2007. In the 2007–2008 regular season, Beasley was one of the most dominant players in the country. His 26.2 points (third-leading) and nation-leading 12.4 rebounds were the most by a Big 12 player in any season. His 866 total points and 408 rebounds ranked third and second among all freshmen in NCAA history. He also led the nation in double-doubles (28), 40-point games (three), 30-point, 10-rebound games (13), and 20-point, 10-rebound games (22).^[8] His 28 double-doubles broke the freshman double-double record previously held by Carmelo Anthony^[8] who had 22 double-doubles in his only season at Syracuse in 2002–03. On February 23, 2008, Beasley scored a Big 12 record 44 points in a 86–92 loss at Baylor.^[9] (This mark has since been matched by Kansas State's Denis Clemente.^[10]) Beasley became known as an unstoppable force when shooting, finishing the season shooting 53.7 percent from the field (282 of 525). He also finished the season shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range.

Beasley holds 30 Kansas State career, single-season and freshman records as well as 17 Big 12 single-game and single-season marks. Beasley guided the Wildcats to a 20–10 record and a 10–6 Big 12 Conference record. Some of the key conference victories were a win at Oklahoma and, a home victory against Texas A&M, and a victory against then-unbeaten No. 2 Kansas, marking the first time in over four years that Kansas State defeated a Top 10 team at home (Kansas State beat No. 10 Texas, 58–48 on March 6, 2004), the first time K-State beat Kansas in Manhattan since 1983 and the first-ever victory against the Jayhawks in Bramlage Coliseum. The win partially backed up a boast he had made before the season about K-State's prospects against the Jayhawks:

On March 1, 2008, his boast did not come true, as Kansas won the return match in Lawrence, 88–74 despite 39 points and 11 rebounds from Beasley. He matched a Big 12 record by equaling former Kansas player Drew Gooden's record for most double-doubles in a season (25).^[12] With his 33-point, 14-rebound effort against Colorado on March 4, he eclipsed Mitch Richmond's 20-year-old school single-season points record (768; 1987–88), while he broke the Big 12 record for double-doubles in a season with his 26th for the year.^[13] He is just the 27th player in NCAA Division I history to post 26 or more double-doubles in a season and the first since Utah's Andrew Bogut (26) did it in 2004–05.

Awards and honors[link]

Beasley and Bob Boozer are the only players in Kansas State history to earn first team All-America honors from the Associated Press. Boozer, the school's only consensus first team All-American, was named to the first team after his outstanding 1959 season. Overall, Beasley is just the fifth player in school history to earn recognition to any of organization's three All-America teams, joining Rolando Blackman (third team – 1980); Bob Boozer (second team – 1958; first team – 1959), Mike Evans (third team – 1978) and Dick Knostman (third team – 1952; second team – 1953). Beasley was selected to the 10-member 2008 John R. Wooden Award All-America team as well as one of five finalists for the prestigious John R. Wooden Player of the Year Award, which was awarded to Tyler Hansbrough on April 11 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He became the second consecutive standout freshman (after Kevin Durant the previous year) to win both Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year accolades.^[14]

Beasley became the fourth player in school history to be honored as the league's Player of the Year and the first since the inception of the Big 12. He joined Lon Kruger (1973 and 1974), Mike Evans (1977 and 1978) and Rolando Blackman (1980) as Wildcats to be named to conference Player of the Year. He was the first player to earn the distinction of league Freshman of the Year and the 12th overall to be selected as either Freshman or Newcomer of the Year since 1970. Six freshmen (Bob Zender – 1970; Steve Mitchell – 1971; Lon Kruger – 1972; Mike Evans – 1975; Curtis Redding – 1977 and Ed Nealy – 1979) in school history have been named Newcomer of the Year. He earned his second major National Player of the Year honor as he was selected to the honor by Rivals.com. He was also named the organization's National Freshman of the Year and to its All-America first team.

In addition to earning Player of the Year accolades from both CBS Sports.com and Rivals.com, Beasley was named one of four finalists for the 2008 Naismith Player of the Year Award, which was awarded to Tyler Hansbrough, presented by AT&T and the Atlanta Tipoff Club. He, along with fellow finalists Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough and UCLA's Kevin Love, traveled to the Final Four on April 6, 2008, where the trophy was presented at the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Guardians of the Game awards program. He also was one of 10 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year award and one of 25 for the John R. Wooden Award, which was also claimed by Tyler Hansbrough.

In addition to his National Player of the Year awards, Beasley was named National Freshman of the Year by four organizations, including CBS Sports.com, Rivals.com, The Sporting News and U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).^[15] He has also been selected a first team All-American by numerous outlets, including CBS Sports.com, Dick Vitale, ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and U.S. Basketball Writers Association. In addition, he was chosen as a first team Freshman All-American by CBS Sports.com and Rivals.com, while teammate Bill Walker was announced to CBS Sports.com's Freshman All-America third team.^[16]

College statistics[link]

^[17]

Post-season information[link]

Beasley led the Wildcats to a 10–6 record in conference play, earning a number 3 seed in the 2008 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Wildcats faced the No. 6 seed Texas A&M Aggies and lost 77–71. Beasley had 25 points and 9 rebounds, one board short of a double-double. He shot 10–21 from the field and 1–4 from behind the three-point line. He also registered three blocks.

The Wildcats earned a berth in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region. They beat the No. 6 seed USC Trojans. Beasley had 23 points and 11 rebounds for his 27th double-double of the year.^[18] However, the Wildcats lost 72–55 to No. 3 Wisconsin in the second round of the tournament. Beasley added 23 points (only 6 scored in the second half) and 13 rebounds against the Badgers his 28th and final double-double.^[19]

On April 14, 2008, Beasley announced that he would enter the NBA Draft and thus forgo his last 3 years of eligibility.^[20] At the Draft combine Michael was measured at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) without shoes despite being listed at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) throughout his college and professional career.^[21]

NBA career[link]

Miami Heat (2008–2010)[link]

Beasley during his tenure with the Heat

On June 26, 2008, Beasley was selected 2nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat.^[8] He signed with the Heat on July 2.^[22] In his NBA Summer League debut on July 7, Beasley scored 28 points and grabbed 9 rebounds (and had 2 assists^[23]) in 23 minutes played.^[24][25] He was second in the league in rebound average, and tied for third in scoring average in the 2008 Summer League.^[26] During his first official practice with the Heat, he was accidentally hit in the chest with an unidentified teammate's elbow.^[27] He was evaluated and returned to the team a day later with chest bruising, but only participated in non-contact play.^[28] He had slightly cracked his sternum, and resumed contact drills 2 days after that.^[29]

In his first preseason game, Beasley scored 16 points against the Detroit Pistons.^[30] He followed those performances with 21 points and 7 rebounds,^[31] 12 points and 11 rebounds,^[32] 14 points and 6 rebounds,^[33] 19 points and no rebounds,^[34] 14 points and 3 rebounds,^[35] and 19 points and 9 rebounds.^[36] On opening night of the 2008–09 regular season, Beasley scored 9 points in a loss against the New York Knicks. He posted double-digit point totals for the next nine straight games, including a season-high 25 points in a loss to Charlotte on November 1.^[37]

After the Heat's first round exit from the 2009 playoffs, it was reported that Beasley, along with fellow rookie Mario Chalmers, had been fined multiple times throughout the season for violations of team policy.^[38]

During the 2009–10 season he was a starter for the entire season. On February 19, 2010 he led the Heat to victory over the Memphis Grizzlies with a career-high 30 points along with 8 rebounds.^[40] For the season, he averaged 14.8 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. In the Heat's first-round playoff series loss to Boston, those averages declined to 10.4 and 5.8, respectively.^[41]

Minnesota Timberwolves (2010–present)[link]

On July 12, 2010, Beasley was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for 2011 and 2014 second-round draft picks. Beasley was traded in order to clear salary cap space for Miami, allowing them to sign free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and to re-sign Dwyane Wade.^[42]

On November 10, 2010, he led the Timberwolves to victory over the Sacramento Kings with a career-high 42 points along with 9 rebounds.^[43] He finished the season averaging 19.2 points per game which was ranked top 20 in the league.^[44] In the 2011-12 season, Beasley sprained his foot against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 2012 which kept him out for 11 straight games. Shortly after he returned from injury, he led the Timberwolves to victory over the Houston Rockets with 34 points.^[45]

Off court issues[link]

On September 3, 2008, at the NBA's Rookie Transition Program, Beasley was involved in an incident along with fellow rookies Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur. Police responded to the hotel room of Chalmers and Arthur following a fire alarm at 2 am and claimed that the room smelled strongly of burning marijuana, but none was found and no charges were filed. Chalmers and Arthur were excused from the camp^[46] because of the incident and were later fined $20,000 each for missing the rookie camp, but were not fined or suspended for any drug-related violations. Both later denied any involvement with marijuana.^[47] Originally, ESPN reported that Beasley was also present in the room,^[48] but was not asked to leave camp. The story was later updated and any mention of Beasley was removed from the article.^[49]

On September 18, 2008, Beasley was fined $50,000 by the league for his involvement in the incident after Pat Riley forced him to confess to league officials that he had slipped out the door when the police arrived.^[50][51][52]

On August 24, 2009, Beasley reportedly checked into a Houston rehab center, just days after he posted pictures of himself on his Twitter page with what some have speculated to be marijuana in the background.^[52] It is unknown if the rehab was drug related; as a report states, he was receiving counseling for stress-related issues.^[53]

On June 26, 2011, Beasley was driving in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka when he was pulled over by a policeman for speeding. The policeman noticed that the car smelled of a strong odor of marijuana. The officer allegedly found marijuana in a plastic bag under the front passenger seat. However, Beasley said the marijuana was not his, but belonged to a friend whom he had just dropped off. Beasley was consequently fined and ticketed.^[54]

Later in 2011, Beasley was on a NYC streetball tour with good friend and all-star Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. On August 4, 2011, Beasley was participating in a streetball game at Dyckman Park in the Inwood neighborhood of New York City. In the game Beasley played on the 914 team (Green Shirts) and Durant on Team Nike (Black Shirts). Beasley was being heckled throughout the game. Deciding he had enough while a member of the black team was shooting free throws, Beasley walked up to the heckling fan. They argued and exchanged words, then Beasley gave the fan the open hand, pushing his face away.^[55]

Personal[link]

Beasley's parents are Fatima Smith^[56] and Michael Beasley, Sr.^[57] He has two brothers, Leroy Ellison and Malik Smith, and two younger sisters, Mychaela Beasley and Tiffany Couch.^[58] His god-brother is NBA journeyman, DerMarr Johnson.^[58] He has a daughter Mikaiya, born in May 2009^[59] and a son Michael III, born in November 2010.^[60] Beasley grew up with Kevin Durant and Nolan Smith, and remains friends with both players.^[61][62]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

See also[link]

• 2006 high school boys basketball All-Americans
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Michael Beasley

• Michael Beasley on ESPN
• Michael Beasley at NBA.com
• DraftExpress.com profile
• DraftExpress 06-07 McDonald's All American game recap
• Collegehoops.net Bio
• B-Easy Does It
• Official Web Site of Michael Beasley