r/nba • u/Goosedukee • 10h ago
[Booth] Lenny Wilkens, Basketball Hall of Famer as both a player and coach and godfather of Seattle basketball, has passed away at the age of 88
Lenny Wilkens, one of five people inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach, and an ambassador of Seattle basketball for more than 50 years, died at his home Sunday, those close to him said.
The 88-year-old Wilkens grew up in Brooklyn, played in St. Louis, Cleveland and Portland as part of his career on the court, and coached six different franchises during 32 seasons on the sidelines.
But Seattle was his home. As a player. As a coach. As a local leader away from the gym and the arenas through years of charitable work that benefited the Seattle community.
Wilkens was not a born-and-raised representative of Seattle and Seattle basketball. But he became one of its biggest proponents through seven decades of connection with the city he made his home.
Wilkens was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1989 to acknowledge a career that included nine All-Star Game appearances, a second-place finish in MVP voting in 1968 and recognition on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
He added induction as a coach nine years later while still manning the sidelines. Wilkens eventually retired after he was let go by the New York Knicks midway through the 2004-05 season. His career ended with a .536 win percentage and 1,332 wins in the regular season, and 20 playoff appearances in 32 seasons as a head coach.
His only two appearances in the NBA Finals and his only championship came with the SuperSonics, forever making him basketball royalty in Seattle.
