NBA Legend Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame Player and Coach, Dies at 88
Written by b87fm on 11/10/2025
Basketball has lost one of its greatest minds. Lenny Wilkens, a Hall of Famer both as a player and coach, has passed away at age 88.
According to The Athletic, Wilkens “passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones,” his family confirmed.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute in an emotional statement: “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.”
Born October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, Wilkens grew up idolizing baseball legend Jackie Robinson, even delivering groceries to him as a teenager. A standout athlete, he earned a scholarship to Providence College, where he became a two-time All-American before being drafted into the NBA.
Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, has died at 88.
Wilkens, who was known as the godfather of Seattle basketball, played for 15 seasons and his 1,332 wins as a head coach rank third all-time. pic.twitter.com/Rh7kGaKzbP
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 9, 2025
As a player, Wilkens was a nine-time NBA All-Star, 1971 All-Star Game MVP, and was named to both the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players (1996) and 75 Greatest Players (2021) lists. Over 15 seasons, he played for the St. Louis Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, and Cleveland Cavaliers, racking up 17,772 points and 7,211 assists — stats that reflected his cerebral approach to the game. A statue depicting his time with the SuperSonics was installed outside Climate Pledge Arena in June.
Transitioning seamlessly to coaching, Wilkens became one of the most accomplished sideline generals in NBA history. He still holds the record for most games coached (2,487) and retired with 1,332 career wins, ranking third all-time. His crowning achievement came in 1979, when he guided the Seattle SuperSonics to their first and only NBA Championship.
Wilkens was also NBA Coach of the Year (1994) and led Team USA to Olympic gold in 1996, after serving as an assistant coach on the historic 1992 Dream Team. He remains the only person named to both the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Teams as a player and a coach.
Beyond basketball, Wilkens was known for his commitment to community service through the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, which focused on youth development and education in Seattle.
A player, a coach, a mentor, and a pioneer — Lenny Wilkens’ legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of the NBA.
