Nuggets coach David Adelman knows the Trail Blazers well.
For starters, his father, Rick Adelman, coached the Blazers to two appearances in the Finals back in the early ’90s. They haven’t been back since.
So the younger Adelman grew up in the Portland area and holds the city close to his heart. So it’s not surprising that the recent speculation surrounding the Blazers’ long-term future has clearly struck a nerve.
With the franchise seeking significant public funding to renovate the Moda Center ahead of a potential sale to Tom Dundon, whispers about relocation have followed. Adelman isn’t buying into that. He doesn’t want anyone else to, either.
“This was the best place to grow up,” Adelman said, via Ryan Clarke of the Oregonian. “I loved it here. Still do. They’ve got to keep the team here. They’ve got to find a way to do that. This is a basketball city. The Northwest deserves two teams. (The team leaving) would be crushing for this community.”
That’s coming from someone who lived it.
The Blazers are currently asking Oregon lawmakers for roughly $600 million in public funds to upgrade the arena, a request that has sparked debate well beyond basketball. Adelman understands the financial layers involved, but he views it through a different lens.
“I know there’s a lot to that, I know there’s financial things to it,” he said. “That’s not my department. Emotionally, I just know what this place is and what it means to have a professional basketball team here.”
To Adelman, the Blazers aren’t just another entertainment option.
“It’s not just something to go hang out at,” he added. “It’s something to go and be a part of. I hope this team maintains what’s going on here.”
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