Legendary Corridor of Fame participant, coach Lenny Wilkens dies at 88

Lenny Wilkens is one in every of solely 5 figures who had been enshrined within the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame as each a participant and coach and he ranks third in NBA all-time teaching wins

Legendary Lenny Wilkens, one of many few inductees into the Corridor of Fame as each a participant and coach, died on Sunday, November 9 (Monday, November 10, Manila time). He was 88.

Wilkens’ household introduced the information however didn’t disclose a reason behind dying.

A nine-time All-Star level guard from 1960-75, Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame as a participant in 1989. He was enshrined as a coach in 1998 after guiding the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1979 NBA title and held the NBA victories file of 1,332 when he retired after the 2004-05 season.

Wilkens additionally was a school star at Windfall. His No. 14 was retired by the varsity in 1996 and he was named to the Faculty Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2006.

Tom Heinsohn, Invoice Russell, Invoice Sharman, and John Picket are the opposite 4 who had been enshrined within the Naismith Corridor of Fame as each a participant and coach.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver paid his respects Sunday to Wilkens, who was named to the NBA’s seventy fifth anniversary crew in 2021.

“Lenny Wilkens represented the easiest of the NBA — as a Corridor of Fame participant, Corridor of Fame coach, and one of many recreation’s most revered ambassadors,” Silver stated in an announcement. “A lot in order that, 4 years in the past, Lenny obtained the distinctive distinction of being named one of many league’s 75 best gamers and 15 best coaches of all time.”

“However much more spectacular than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his dedication to service — particularly in his beloved group of Seattle the place a statue stands in his honor.”

“He influenced the lives of numerous younger folks in addition to generations of gamers and coaches who thought-about Lenny not solely a terrific teammate or coach but in addition a unprecedented mentor who led with integrity and true class.”

Wilkens had profession averages of 16.5 factors and 6.7 assists in 1,077 profession regular-season video games as a participant and compiled a 1,332-1,155 file as an NBA coach.

A New York native, Wilkens was chosen with the sixth general decide within the 1960 draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He spent eight seasons with the franchise and made the All-Star crew 5 groups and completed second behind Wilt Chamberlain in MVP voting for the 1967-68 season.

Wilkens was traded to the growth Seattle SuperSonics earlier than the 1968-69 season and averaged a career-best 22.4 factors in his first of 4 seasons with the crew. He made the All-Star crew 3 times and have become one of the crucial common figures in franchise historical past.

He grew to become player-coach of the SuperSonics and starred as a participant whereas teaching the crew for 3 seasons, together with a 47-35 file in 1971-72.

After the 1971-72 season, Wilkens was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and made his remaining All-Star squad that season. He performed yet another season with the Cavaliers earlier than being traded to Portland previous to the 1974-75 season.

He served as player-coach of the Path Blazers in what was his remaining season as a participant. He returned because the crew’s coach the next season.

Then he returned to Seattle and topped 50 wins 3 times in eight seasons. The SuperSonics reached the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons, dropping to Washington within the 1978 finals earlier than beating the Bullets the subsequent season for the title.

Wilkens additionally coached the Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks in his 32 seasons as a head coach.

Wilkens now ranks third in teaching victories, trailing all-time chief Gregg Popovich (1,390) and Don Nelson (1,335).

In June, a statue of Wilkens was unveiled exterior Local weather Pledge Area, the previous residence of the SuperSonics. The crew moved to Oklahoma Metropolis after the 2007-08 season. – Rappler.com