NBA Legend Lenny Wilkens, who was inducted into the basketball hall of fame as both a player and coach, died Sunday at his home at the age of 88.
Lenny Wilkens made NBA history as a player, coach
Wilkens was one of only five men to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach, joining John Wooden, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Russell.
The 6-foot-1 point Gued, Wilkens was a nine-star star and assists Champion of his 15-year career. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 35.3 minutes in 1077 games.
The Brooklyn native finished second in MVP voting during the 1967-68 season.
Wilkens was also a player coach for four seasons, three with the Seattle Performics and one with the Portland Trail Blazers, before transitioning to a full-time coach.
– NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2025
He led the Sonics to the 1979 NBA title and was the coach of the year in 1994.
“It allows the people of Seattle to have a rich history,” Wilkens said Seattle Times 2022 on what has been declared “Lenny Wilkens Day.”
“I’m very happy to be a part of that history. This is the world of basketball [Williams]Fred [Brown]Jack [Sikma]and all those people became part of this community and most of them live here. It was a good time. “
Wilkens won the third-most games in NBA history as a coach
Wilkens Won 1,332 Games – third all time – as a coach for the Sonics, Cavaliers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Knicks, and York Knicks before retiring in 2005.
He holds the NBA record for most games confirmed (2,487). His teams made the playoffs in 20 of his 32 seasons as a head coach, per basketball reference.
In addition to serving as the head coach of the NBA All-Star Game four times, Wilkins also won an Olympic gold medal as the coach of the 1996 team.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement after learning of Wilkens’ death:
“Lenny Wilkens represents the 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 earned the unique distinction of being named one of the 75 greatest players and greatest coaches of all time.
“But what’s even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball is his two Olympic gold medals and his commitment to the community of the people he works with.
“I send my condolences to Lenny’s family, Marilyn; their children, Leesha, Randi and Jamele; and all those in the entire NBA community who were fortunate enough to have been touched by Lenny’s leadership and generosity.”
