In a heartfelt announcement that has resonated across the college basketball community, Denver nuggets men’s basketball head coach David Adelman has been named the 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon. This rare and prestigious honor recognizes his exceptional humanitarian efforts, personal generosity, and lasting impact on communities both locally in……..

In a moment that has touched hearts across the basketball world, Denver Nuggets men’s basketball head coach David Adelman has been named the **2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon**, a rare and highly prestigious honor that recognizes leaders who have gone beyond the game to uplift lives through acts of generosity, service, and humanity.

Though widely respected for his coaching talents and tactical brilliance, Adelman is being honored not for his record on the hardwood—but for the powerful and lasting mark he continues to leave on the communities he touches.

David Adelman, son of legendary NBA coach Rick Adelman, has long been recognized as a cerebral basketball mind, but what has set him apart in recent years is his steadfast dedication to causes bigger than basketball. From Denver to his native Portland—and even internationally—Adelman has worked tirelessly to ensure that underserved children and families have access to the tools they need to thrive.

Through his foundation, *Adelman Impact Initiative*, the coach has launched multiple programs including free youth basketball clinics, after-school tutoring centers, and scholarship funds for first-generation college students. In just three years, his foundation has raised and distributed more than \$8 million to educational and athletic programs across the United States.

Coach Adelman doesn’t just talk about giving back—he lives it,” said Jacqueline Simmons, director of the College Basketball Humanitarian Council. “His work has helped kids see themselves as more than athletes, but as students, leaders, and change-makers.

One of Adelman’s most celebrated efforts is the **Courts and Classrooms Program**, which has combined his love for basketball with his passion for education. In partnership with the Denver Public Schools system and local nonprofits, the initiative has renovated public courts and turned underused recreation spaces into vibrant community hubs with adjacent study labs, mentorship centers, and free counseling services.

We’re not just giving kids a place to play,” Adelman said at a community ribbon-cutting event last summer. “We’re giving them a place to grow, to be safe, and to believe in their potential.”

The program, which has already impacted over 20 neighborhoods, has been praised by civic leaders and educators alike for its holistic approach to youth development.

Adelman’s reach has extended far beyond U.S. borders. In 2024, he launched *Hoops for Humanity*, a global initiative focused on using basketball to connect and uplift underprivileged communities in Africa and South America. Working alongside former players, coaches, and humanitarian groups, the initiative has brought clean water systems, educational supplies, and basketball courts to remote towns in Ghana, Brazil, and Kenya.

This is what the spirit of basketball is all about,” said former NBA star Luol Deng, who joined Adelman in Sierra Leone for a youth camp. “It’s about connection, empowerment, and giving back.

Upon receiving the award at the 2025 College Basketball Humanitarian Awards ceremony in Indianapolis, Adelman delivered a moving acceptance speech that highlighted the values instilled in him by his late father.

My dad used to say, ‘You coach people first, then players.’ That’s stuck with me my whole life,” he shared. “This award is not just about what I’ve done, but about the people who believed in these projects with me. My staff, the players, the communities—this belongs to all of them.

Adelman closed by challenging his peers in the sports world to use their platforms for good. “Basketball gave me a voice. I want to use it to lift others who may not be heard yet.

While Adelman’s coaching career continues to thrive, it’s clear that his greatest legacy may lie in the lives he touches off the court. As the 2025 College Basketball Philanthropy Icon, David Adelman sets an example for how sports figures can be a force for enduring change—on the scoreboard, and in society.