Lenny Wilkens Passes Away at 88
Lenny Wilkens, renowned as both a player and coach, has died at the age of 88. His contributions to basketball were immense, and he was honored as a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in both capacities.
Wilkens had a 15-year NBA playing career, and interestingly, he spent four seasons serving as a player-coach. He is one of only five individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame in both roles, joining notable figures like John Wooden and Bill Russell.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his condolences, stating, “Lenny Wilkens embodied excellence in the NBA, both as a player and coach. His legacy was further recognized when he was named one of the top 75 players and one of the 15 greatest coaches in the league’s history just four years ago.”
Over his career, Wilkens was selected for the NBA All-Star team nine times and, at just above 6 feet tall, he left a significant mark after a stellar college career at Providence College. He led the Friars to their first appearance in the NIT in 1959 and reached the finals the following year. In 1996, he became the first player at Providence to have his jersey retired.
After being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1960, Wilkens faced a challenge in his second season due to military service, but he returned to become a key player for the Hawks. Despite not playing basketball in high school until his senior year, he managed to make an impact, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.9 rebounds over eight seasons with St. Louis and making five All-Star appearances.
In 1968, he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, where he thrived—averaging 22.4 points and leading the league in assists during his early seasons. By 1969-70, he became the player-coach and guided the team to its first winning season. He later played with the Cleveland Cavaliers before wrapping up his career with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1975.
Wilkens ranks 17th all-time in NBA assists, totaling 7,211 in 1,077 games. He eventually transitioned into coaching full-time and returned to lead the SuperSonics, triumphing in the NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets for the franchise’s inaugural championship.
His coaching journey included managing the Cavaliers, Hawks, Raptors, and Knicks, achieving a record of 1,332 wins and 1,155 losses in regular season games, while his playoff tally stood at 80 wins and 98 losses.
