As Booth writes, Wilkens was one of only five people inducted to the Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.
A 6-foot-1 point guard, Wilkens made nine All-Star appearances in his 15 years as a player, holding career averages of 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 1077 games (35.3 minutes per contest). He finished second in MVP voting during the 1967-68 season, Booth notes.
Wilkens’ illustrious coaching career began while he was still an active player with Seattle, the city he called home for more than 50 years. He led the SuperSonics to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in the late 1970s, claiming the club’s lone championship in 1979.
“It lets people know Seattle has rich history,” Wilkens told the 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, who also coached Portland, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto and New York, compiled a 1,332-1,155 regular season record (.536 winning percentage) over 32 years on the bench. Wilkens holds the third-most coaching victories in league history, as well as the NBA record for most games coached (2,487). Wilkens’ clubs made the playoffs in 20 of his 32 seasons as a head coach, according to Booth.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement after learning of Wilkens’ death (Twitter link).
“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.
“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.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to Lenny’s wife Marilyn; their children, Leesha, Randy and Jamee; and all those throughout the NBA community who were fortunate to be touched by Lenny’s leadership and generosity.”
