Lenny Wilkens, the former St. Louis Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics star who is the only person named to both the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and the NBA's 15 Greatest Coaches list, died on Sunday. He was 88 years old.
"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," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Sunday. "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.
A Brooklyn native who grew up in Beforrd-Stuyvesant, Wilkens emerged as hoops maven at Providence, where he was twice named an All-American. Selected No. 6 overall by the Hawks, Wilkens quickly became a star, earning three-straight All-Star appearances from 1963-1965. In 1968, he was dealt to Seattle in exchange for Walt Hazzard. Wilkens enjoyed his best seasons in the Emerald City, leading the league in assists in 1970 and taking home All-Star Game MVP honors in 1971.
Wilkens served as a player-coach in his final four years in Seattle and one season with the Portland Trailblazers. Upon retirement, he transitioned fully into coaching, immediately finding success. In 1979, he led his beloved SuperSonics to their first championship. He stewarded some of the most memorable sides of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, including the Mark Price and Brad Daugherty-led Cleveland Cavaliers and the Steve Smith and Dikembe Mutombo-anchored Atlanta Hawks. Wilkens was named Coach of the Year in 1994 and coached four All-Star Games across his glistening career.
Wilkens coached the U.S. Men's national team to Olympic gold in the 1996 Atlanta Games. He finished his coaching career as the winningest tactician in league history.
LENNY WILKENS IN HIS OWN WORDS:
- Lenny Wilkens reminisces on breaking Red Auerbach's record
- Lenny Wilkens reflects on leading Raptors to first-ever postseason series win in 2001
Wilkens is survived by his wife, Marilyn, three children (Leesha, Randy and Jamee) and seven grandchildren.
Lenny Wilkens career stats
Here's a look at Wilkens' per-game numbers over the course of his 15-year playing career.
| Year | Team | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| 1960-61 | Hawks | 75 | 11.7 | 4.5 | 2.8 |
| 1961-62 | Hawks | 20 | 18.2 | 6.6 | 5.8 |
| 1962-63 | Hawks | 75 | 11.8 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| 1963-64 | Hawks | 78 | 12.0 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| 1964-65 | Hawks | 78 | 16.5 | 4.7 | 5.5 |
| 1965-66 | Hawks | 69 | 18.0 | 4.7 | 6.2 |
| 1966-67 | Hawks | 78 | 18.0 | 4.7 | 6.2 |
| 1967-68 | Hawks | 82 | 20.0 | 5.3 | 8.3 |
| 1968-69 | SuperSonics | 82 | 22.4 | 6.2 | 8.2 |
| 1969-70 | SuperSonics | 75 | 17.8 | 5.0 | 9.1 |
| 1970-71 | SuperSonics | 71 | 19.8 | 4.5 | 9.2 |
| 1971-72 | SuperSoncis | 80 | 18.0 | 4.2 | 9.6 |
| 1972-73 | Cavaliers | 75 | 20.5 | 4.6 | 8.4 |
| 1973-74 | Cavaliers | 74 | 16.4 | 3.7 | 7.1 |
| 1974-75 | Cavaliers | 65 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.6 |
Lenny Wilkens tributes
Seattle didn’t just lose a basketball icon.
— Seattle Supersonics (@SeattleSonics) November 9, 2025
We lost a man who believed in people — on the court and in the community.
Thank you, Lenny Wilkens, for everything you gave this city. 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/Hw94AZjStq
No athlete has been so loved, by so many, from so many quarters of our community, as Lenny Wilkens. What a gift to us, on and off the court.
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) November 9, 2025
Steve Kerr reacts to the passing of Lenny Wilkens: “He was an unbelievable man. Just an incredible man.”
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) November 10, 2025
Kerr played 3+ seasons for Wilkens in Cleveland at the start of his career and didn’t know about his former coach’s death until we broke it to him. Sad day for basketball pic.twitter.com/x9pWD77jqk
Kings head coach Doug Christie, who was born and raised in Seattle, is overcome with emotion speaking about the memory of former Supersonics championship coach Lenny Wilkens, who passed away at the age of 88 pic.twitter.com/NLJ5gEkV1f
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) November 10, 2025
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seattle basketball legend Lenny Wilkens. His legacy and impact, both on the court and throughout our community, will continue to inspire for generations.
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) November 10, 2025
Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones at this time 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/h8LIlufP9D
Our condolences to the family and friends of all-time Friar great Lenny Wilkens. Pic.twitter.com/y2BuvlTqEI
— Providence Friars (@PCAthletics) November 10, 2025
Today we lost a giant and a Seattle legend. Lenny Wilkens was a 3x hall of famer, player, coach. But more than that he was a humanitarian who gave so much to our community. Rest in peace, Coach. Pic.twitter.com/8KKwE4QFkG
— Climate Pledge Arena (@ClimateArena) November 10, 2025