By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Lenny Wilkens died at the age of 88 on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones in Seattle.
“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. 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,” wrote NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a league statement.
“But even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service – especially in his beloved community of Seattle where a statue stands in his honor. 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.
I send my heartfelt condolences to Lenny’s wife, Marilyn, their children, Leesha, Randy and Jamee, and those throughout the NBA community who were fortunate to be touched by Lenny’s leadership and generosity.”
A three-time enshrinee into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, Wilkens was the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics in their 1978-79 NBA championship run, and also won two Olympic gold medals with the United States, in 1996 as the head coach and in 1992 as an assistant coach.
His playing days went from eight years with the St. Louis Hawks to four years with the Sonics, two with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and one with the Portland Trail Blazers. Besides later returns to Seattle as a coach, he had similar reunions with the Cavaliers and Blazers, and also coached the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks. In addition, he served as the National Basketball Coaches Association president for 17 years.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1989, as a coach in 1998, and as a member of the Dream Team in 2010.