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.
Local perspective:
In 1977, Wilkens returned to Seattle as the full-time head coach, guiding the Sonics to the NBA Finals in his first season, where the team fell short against Washington.
In 1979, Seattle faced Washington again in the Finals, and this time, the Sonics triumphed, delivering Seattle its first professional championship—a watershed moment for the city.
Wilkens coached in the NBA until 2005, compiling 1,332 career wins and becoming the all-time leader at the time of his retirement. He called Seattle home until his death, raising a family and spearheading countless charity efforts in the city.
Wilkens' impact on Seattle is indelible, with a street and a statue bearing his name and likeness now in place outside Climate Pledge Arena. At the 2021 unveiling ceremony for Lenny Wilkens Way, he reminisced about his time as a player and coach in Seattle, expressing his fondness for the city and its people, and reflecting on the championship team's legacy.
"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," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named of the league's 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.
"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 Jaimee; and all those throughout the NBA community who were fortunate to be touched by Lenny's leadership and generosity,"