Richie Adubato Passes Away: NBA and WNBA Basketball Legend at 87 Years Old

Richie Adubato, Legendary Basketball Coach, Passes Away

The basketball community mourns the loss of Richie Adubato, a coach with a decades-long career in the NBA and WNBA. His family announced his passing on Thursday, at the age of 87. Adubato left a significant mark on the sport, coaching teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, New York Liberty, and Washington Mystics.

Let’s remember Richie as the fun, intelligent, energetic, and genuinely warm human being he always was.

Beth Adubato, Richie’s daughter

In his time in the WNBA, Adubato led the New York Liberty to three finals in six seasons (1999-2004). He still holds the franchise record with 178 games coached and is second in wins (100). The Liberty team expressed their gratitude for Adubato’s legacy, highlighting his impact on the organization.

Richie Adubato, a former NBA and WNBA coach, has died at the age of 87. pic.twitter.com/lWj0zBv6yJ

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 24, 2024

Adubato also coached the Washington Mystics for two and a half seasons (2005-2007). In 1997, he was interim coach of the Orlando Magic, where he also served as a radio analyst from 2005 to 2020. The Orlando Magic team issued a statement expressing their sadness at Adubato’s passing, highlighting his ability to connect with people and his unforgettable spirit. In the 1979-80 season, Adubato was interim coach in Detroit and later coached the Dallas Mavericks from 1989 to 1993. The NBA and WNBA mourned the passing of Adubato, remembering his extensive coaching career. Before his time in the NBA, Adubato spent 18 years coaching basketball in high schools and colleges in New Jersey. He graduated from William Paterson, where he captained the basketball and baseball teams.