November 13, 2025
‘Lenny Wilkens represented the perfect of the NBA – as a Corridor of Fame participant, Corridor of Fame coach, and one of many sport’s most revered ambassadors,’ acknowledged NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Legendary former NBA participant and coach Lenny Wilkens is useless on the age of 88.
In keeping with NBA.com, the household of Wilkens introduced to the world on Nov. 9 that he had died. Wilkens, who spent a part of his enjoying profession and the majority of his teaching profession with the Seattle SuperSonics (the franchise relocated to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008 and is now often called the Thunder), was acknowledged by the NBA in a video posted on social media.
The legend was surrounded by family members when he died, and no reason for demise has been launched. The 88-year-old has the excellence of being enshrined within the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame thrice, as a participant, a coach, and as an assistant coach on the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball squad, higher often called “The Dream Workforce” that featured NBA gamers for the primary time within the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver launched a press release:
“Lenny Wilkens represented the perfect of the NBA – as a Corridor of Fame participant, Corridor of Fame coach, and one of many sport’s most revered ambassadors. A lot in order that, 4 years in the past, Lenny obtained the distinctive distinction of being named one of many league’s 75 best gamers and 15 best coaches of all time.
“However much more spectacular than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his dedication to service – particularly in his beloved neighborhood of Seattle, the place a statue stands in his honor. He influenced the lives of numerous younger folks in addition to generations of gamers and coaches who thought of Lenny not solely an amazing teammate or coach but additionally a rare mentor who led with integrity and true class.”
Nobody has coached extra NBA video games than Wilkens, who has the report of doing it for two,487 video games. After successful the 1994 NBA Coach of the 12 months Award whereas guiding the Atlanta Hawks, he retired from teaching with 1,332 wins. That was a league report that was later surpassed by Don Nelson (1,335) and Gregg Popovich (1,390).
He coached the SuperSonics for 11 seasons (two separate stints, successful the championship in 1979), the Portland Path Blazers for 2 seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Hawks for seven seasons, the Toronto Raptors for 3 seasons, earlier than ending his teaching profession with the New York Knicks after main them for elements of two seasons.
As a participant, the New York Metropolis-born and raised Wilkens performed 15 seasons after being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks. He then performed for the SuperSonics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Portland Path Blazers. The nine-time All-Star grew to become the primary particular person to have received 1,000 video games as an NBA coach and was the second particular person inducted into the Basketball Corridor of Fame as a participant and coach.
Wilkens was just lately honored with a statue outdoors Local weather Pledge Enviornment in June.
He’s survived by his spouse, Marilyn; their kids, Leesha, Randy, and Jamee; and 7 grandchildren.
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