Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Richie Adubato has died at 87, the Orlando Magic announced Friday.
Adubato was a longtime Mavericks assistant before taking over as the franchise’s head coach in the 1990s. He originally landed in Dallas in 1986, working as an assistant under Dick Motta and John MacLeod until the 1989-90 season. Adubato was hired as the Mavericks’ interim head coach when MacLeod was fired in November 1989.
Adubato stuck around as the Mavericks’ head coach until 1993, leading the team to a 94-170 record. He guided the Mavericks to the playoffs during the 1989-90 season, where the team fell in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Adubato’s coaching career included stints with the Detroit Pistons (1978-80), New York Knicks (1982-86), Cleveland Cavaliers (1993-94), Orlando Magic (1994-97), New York Liberty (1999-2004) and the Washington Mystics (2005-07).
Mavericks
He served as the Orlando Magic’s interim head coach in 1997. According to the Magic, Adubato was the team’s radio analyst from 2005-20.
“Richie’s legacy lives on in every story and lesson he shared — a coach who turned the gym into a place of connection and joy, impacting countless lives with warmth, humor and unforgettable spirit,” the Magic wrote on X/Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carol, and the entire Adubato family.”
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.