RIP: Lenny Wilkens

10 Nov
2025
Not in Hall of Fame

The world of Basketball lost one of its greatest legends when Lenny Wilkens passed away at 88.

Wilkens is one of five men to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and a coach. 

As a player, Wilkens played at Point Guard and was a nine-time All-Star, who played for St. Louis, Seattle, Cleveland, and Portland.  The leader in Assists per Game in 1969-70 was also the runner-up for the 1967-68 MVP.   Compiling 17,772 Points and 7,211 Assists, Wilkens was later named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

During the late stages of his playing career, Wilkens transitioned into a player-coach, and over his long run as a Head Coach, he coached Seattle to its only Championship in 1979 (when the franchise was in Seattle) and had a record of 1,332-1,155.  He was also the Head Coach in Portland, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto, and New York.  Wilkens won the Head Coach of the Year award in 1994.

We at Notinhalloffame extend our condolences to the family of Lenny Wilkens.

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