Lenny Wilkens, a three-time Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA icon as both player and coach, has died at age 88. The Seattle SuperSonics' only championship coach passed away Sunday after battling a health issue. Wilkens left a lasting legacy on and off the court, including community service in Seattle.
Lenny Wilkens, renowned for his exceptional career as a point guard and coach, died Sunday at 88, surrounded by loved ones. He had been struggling with a health issue for the past couple of months.
Wilkens played 15 NBA seasons starting in 1960, including four with the Seattle SuperSonics, earning nine All-Star selections. His No. 19 jersey was retired by the Sonics. As a coach, he led 2,487 games, amassing 1,332 wins—a league record at the time—and guided the SuperSonics to their lone 1979 championship.
Internationally, Wilkens served as assistant coach for the 1992 Dream Team and head coach for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, both securing gold medals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player, coach, and 1992 Olympic contributor.
Beyond basketball, Wilkens championed youth and community causes through the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, supporting Make-A-Wish and the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic. He was involved for a decade with the Rise Above program, aiding Native youth via sports for mental health and prevention.
Brad Meyer, co-founder of Rise Above, said, “Obviously, it's a very difficult time for the family but on the other hand, what an extraordinary life. He served thousands of people.” Meyer added, “He had a heart and passion for families or children or young people who couldn't afford health care and needed health care, and that was at the heart of who he was.”
Earlier this year, Wilkens received a statue outside Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, with a nearby street renamed Lenny Wilkens Way.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated, “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. 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.”
The Atlanta Hawks, whom he coached from 1993 to 2000 and named 1994 Coach of the Year, called him “a winner and a leader not just in Atlanta but every community in which he played and coached.” Family members have not yet decided on a public memorial.
