Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
NBA legend Lenny Wilkens, who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach, has died. He was 88 years old. Wilkens played in the NBA for 15 seasons, spending time with the St. Louis Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. He was named an NBA All-Star nine times, and his No. 19 jersey was retired by the Seattle SuperSonics. Lenny Wilkens also coached for the SuperSonics, Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks. He coached 2,487, which is the most in NBA history, across his 32 seasons. "The Cleveland Cavaliers are deeply saddened by the passing of Lenny Wilkens, a celebrated and legendary figure whose impact on our franchise and the game of basketball will never be forgotten," the Cavaliers said in a statement. "Wilkens embodied leadership, class, and a passion for the game. A true Cleveland sports icon, he inspired legions of players, coaches and fans across Northeast Ohio and he will forever be part of Cleveland Cavaliers history." Wilkens led the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1979 NBA title -- their only championship in franchise history. “Seattle didn’t just lose a basketball icon. We lost a man who believed in people — on the court and in the community,“ a popular SuperSonics fan account posted on X. ”Thank you, Lenny Wilkens, for everything you gave this city." In addition to his incredible playing and coaching career in the NBA, he was also an assistant coach on the 1992 United States Dream Team that won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics. Wilkens was also the head coach of the 1996 United States team that won the gold medal in Atlanta. According to the Associated Press, Wilkens was the first NBA coach to reach 1,000 wins and the second person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach. “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. 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," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “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.”
