Lenny Wilkens, Hall Of Fame Nba Player And Coach, Dies At 88

3 jam yang lalu

Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA fable Lenny Wilkens died Sunday astatine nan property of 88.

“Lenny Wilkens represented nan very champion of nan NBA—as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and 1 of nan game’s astir respected ambassadors,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said successful a statement. “He influenced nan lives of countless young group arsenic good arsenic generations of players and coaches who considered Lenny not only a awesome teammate aliases coach but besides an bonzer mentor who led pinch integrity and existent class.”

Wilkens had an illustrious playing profession that spanned 15 seasons from 1960 to ‘75. He played for nan Hawks, SuperSonics, Cavaliers and Trail Blazers. Wilkens, a talented playmaking guard, was a nine-time All-Star and led nan convention successful assists successful some nan 1969-70 and 1971-72 seasons.

During nan later stages of his career, Wilkens became a player-coach successful Seattle and Portland. He would later go a full-time NBA coach, and won a title pinch nan Sonics successful 1979.

His coaching profession lasted moreover longer than his playing career, arsenic he coached a full of 32 seasons successful nan NBA. In summation to nan title successful 1979, Wilkens was named Coach of nan Year successful 1994, erstwhile he led nan Hawks to a 57–25 grounds arsenic nan No. 1 seed successful nan East. No coach successful NBA history has overseen much games than Wilkens (2,487), and he’s 3rd all-time successful wins pinch 1,332, down only Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich.

Wilkens is 1 of 5 players ever to beryllium inducted into nan Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame arsenic some a subordinate and a coach, having been portion of elite institution that includes John Wooden, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Russell. Wilkens was inducted arsenic a subordinate successful 1989, and later arsenic a coach successful 1998. He was inducted for a 3rd clip successful 2010 arsenic an adjunct coach for his activity pinch nan 1992 U.S. Olympic team, nan iconic “Dream Team.”