Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Wilkens was a high school basketball star and a two-time All-American at Providence College, earning induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
With deep love and sadness, we announce that Lenny Wilkens passed away peacefully at home on November 9, 2025. Lenny was surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old," the Wilkens family said in a statement."
After being drafted sixth overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1960, he spent eight seasons with the team before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1968. Wilkens was a three-time All-Star with the Sonics and spent three seasons as a player-coach in Seattle.
"Lenny was a dedicated philanthropist, community advocate, and 3-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is survived by his devoted wife Marilyn, his three children and seven grandchildren."
Later in his career, he played for Cleveland and Portland, retiring as a player in 1975. However, his coaching career was just beginning.