Lenny Wilkens, a basketball legend who amassed a decorated playing career before transitioning into coaching, has died, according to reports.
Known as a savvy playmaker and one of the pioneering player-coach hybrids, Wilkens’ contributions to the sport were recognized by the NBA in both roles. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Wilkens didn’t start playing basketball until his senior year of high school, ESPN reports. While he was not described as a superhuman physical specimen, his deep knowledge and feel for the game propelled him to prominence, earning him nine NBA All-Star selections.
Wilkens attended Providence College, where he led the team to the NIT finals in 1960. He was drafted sixth overall in the 1960 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He spent eight seasons with the Hawks before moving to the Seattle Supersonics. During the 1969-70 season, Wilkens led the league in assists, showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities.
From 1969 to 1972, Wilkens served as a player-coach for the Supersonics. He later took on a similar role with the Portland Trail Blazers before becoming a full-time head coach for one season. He then returned to Seattle to coach the Supersonics for eight seasons, leading the team to an NBA championship in 1978.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver honored Wilkens with a statement, saying, “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.”
Wilkens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times: as a player in 1989, as a coach in 1998, and as a member of the 1992 “Dream Team” in 2010.
Lenny Wilkens passed away peacefully at his home in Medina, Washington. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Reed, their three children—Leesha, Randy, and Jamee—and a host of grandchildren.
[Photo: Getty]
https://hiphopwired.com/2901679/lenny-wilkens-basketball-obit/