NBA legend Lenny Wilkens, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, died Sunday inside his home at age 88.
Wilkens was part of an elite group – just one of five men ever to make the Hall of Fame twice. He joined basketball giants John Wooden, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Russell in this rare achievement.
As a player, the 6-foot-1 point guard dominated the court for 15 years. He made nine All-Star appearances and led the league in assists twice.
He averaged an impressive 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The Brooklyn native nearly won MVP in the 1967-68 season, finishing second in the voting.
What made Wilkens truly special was his ability to coach while still playing. He pulled double-duty for four seasons – three with Seattle and one with Portland – before hanging up his sneakers to focus on coaching full-time.
He led the Sonics to the 1979 NBA championship and later won Coach of the Year in 1994.
“It lets people know Seattle has rich history,” Wilkens told The Seattle Times in 2022 on what was proclaimed “Lenny Wilkens Day.”
“I’m so happy to be a part of that history. This is basketball country. We should have never lost our team and I hope that this helps in some way get another team back. Everywhere I go, people talk about the Sonics and about that time when we won a championship. I don’t think that team gets the credit that it deserves. Gus [Williams], Fred [Brown], Jack [Sikma], and all of those guys became a part of this community and most of them still live here. It was a wonderful time.”
Wilkens Won Third-Most Games In NBA History
His coaching career was nothing short of legendary. Wilkens racked up 1,332 wins – the third highest total ever – while leading six different NBA teams before retiring in 2005.
No coach in NBA history has patrolled the sidelines more than Wilkens. He coached an incredible 2,487 games over his career.
His teams made the playoffs in 20 of his 32 seasons as head coach.
Beyond the NBA, Wilkens coached the U.S. Olympic team to gold in 1996 and was selected to coach the NBA All-Star Game four different times.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised Wilkens after learning of his death:
“Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors,” Silver said. “So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league’s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.”
Silver added that Wilkens’ impact went far beyond basketball.
“But even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service – especially in his beloved community of Seattle where a statue stands in his honor. He influenced the lives of countless young people as well as generations of players and coaches who considered Lenny not only a great teammate or coach but also an extraordinary mentor who led with integrity and true class.”
The commissioner extended condolences to Wilkens’ wife Marilyn, their children Leesha, Randy and Jamee, and everyone touched by his leadership and generosity.
