Richie Adubato, former NBA and WNBA coach, dies at 87

Richie Adubato, a erstwhile Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and New York Liberty hoops coach, has died, his household said

Richie Adubato, a erstwhile Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and New York Liberty hoops coach, has died, his household said. He was 87.

Adubato died Thursday, his household posted connected societal media connected Friday.

“Let’s retrieve him arsenic the funny, smart, energetic, genuinely lukewarm quality being helium ever was,” Adubato’s daughter, Beth, wrote connected societal media.

Adubato took the New York Liberty to the WNBA Finals 3 times successful his six years coaching the squad from 1999-2004. He inactive holds the franchise grounds for games coached with 178 and is 2nd for vocation wins successful New York down Sandy Brondello. He had 100 victories successful New York portion coaching aboriginal Hall of Fame players Teresa Weatherspoon and Becky Hammon.

“With heavy gratitude we retrieve the bequest of Richie Adubato, who guided the Liberty to 3 WNBA Finals appearances and acceptable a modular of excellence that inactive inspires our enactment today,” the squad wrote connected societal media.

Adubato was the interim caput manager of the Magic successful 1997 aft serving arsenic an adjunct for a fewer years. He was besides was the team’s vigor expert from 2005-20.

“The DeVos household and the Orlando Magic are saddened to larn of the passing of Richie Adubato,” the team said successful a statement.

“Richie’s bequest lives connected successful each communicative and acquisition helium shared — a manager who turned the gym into a spot of transportation and joy, impacting countless lives with warmth, humor, and unforgettable spirit,” the Magic said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carol, and the full Adubato family.”

He was besides an interim caput manager successful Detroit during the 1979-80 play and aboriginal was the caput manager successful Dallas from 1989-93.

“The NBA and WNBA mourn the passing of Richie Adubato,” the NBA posted to X connected Friday. “Richie’s coaching vocation spanned 4 decades, including serving arsenic caput manager for the Dallas Mavericks, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, arsenic good arsenic interim caput manager for the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic."

Before coaching successful the NBA, Adubato spent 18 years coaching precocious schoolhouse and assemblage hoops successful New Jersey. He graduated from William Paterson and was skipper of some the hoops and shot teams there.

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