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Lenny Wilkens

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Lenny Wilkens
Wilkens with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1968
Personal information
Born(1937-10-28)October 28, 1937
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 2025(2025-11-09) (aged 88)
Medina, Washington, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolBoys (Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeProvidence (1957–1960)
NBA draft1960: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Drafted bySt. Louis Hawks
Playing career1960–1975
PositionPoint guard
Number32, 15, 14, 19, 17
Coaching career1969–2005
Career history
Playing
1960–1968St. Louis Hawks
1968–1972Seattle SuperSonics
1972–1974Cleveland Cavaliers
1974–1975Portland Trail Blazers
Coaching
1969–1972Seattle SuperSonics
1974–1976Portland Trail Blazers
1977–1985Seattle SuperSonics
1986–1993Cleveland Cavaliers
1993–2000Atlanta Hawks
2000–2003Toronto Raptors
2004–2005New York Knicks
Career highlights
As player:

As coach:

Career playing statistics
Points17,772 (16.5 ppg)
Rebounds5,030 (4.7 rpg)
Assists7,211 (6.7 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Career coaching record
NBA1332–1155 (.536)
Record at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame (playing)
Basketball Hall of Fame (coaching)
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Head coach for  United States
men's national basketball team
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team
Assistant coach for  United States
men's national basketball team
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Team

Leonard Randolph Wilkens (October 28, 1937 – November 9, 2025) was an American professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been inducted three times into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first in 1989 as a player, as a coach in 1998, and in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States Olympic "Dream Team" for which he was an assistant coach. In 1996, Wilkens was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, and in 2021 he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[1][2] In addition, in 2022 he was also named to the list of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History, being the only person to be in both NBA 75th anniversary lists as a player and as a coach.[3] He is also a 2006 inductee into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wilkens made a combined 13 NBA All-Star Game appearances as a player (nine times) and as a head coach (four times), was the 1994 NBA Coach of the Year, won the 1979 NBA championship as the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, and was the head coach of the Olympic gold medal–winning 1996 U.S. men's basketball team.

During the 1994–95 season, Wilkens set the record for most regular season coaching wins in NBA history, a record he held when he retired with 1,332 victories.[4] As of February 2022, he is in third place on the list, behind Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich.[5] Wilkens won the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2010–11 NBA season.[6] Wilkens is also the most prolific coach in NBA history, at 2,487 regular-season games, 89 more games than Nelson, and over 400 more than any other coach, and has more losses than any other coach in NBA history, at 1,155.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Leonard Randolph Wilkens was born on October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York.[7] Wilkens grew up in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.[8] His father was African-American and his mother was Irish American.[9] Wilkens was raised in the Catholic faith.[9]

At Boys High School, Wilkens was a basketball teammate of longtime Major League Baseball star Tommy Davis,[10] and played for coach Mickey Fisher.[11]

College career

[edit]

Wilkens was a two-time All-America (1959 and 1960) at Providence College.[12] He led the team to their first NIT appearance in 1959, and to the NIT finals in 1960. When he graduated, Wilkens was, with 1,193 points, the second-ranked scorer in Friar history (he has since dropped to 26th as of 2011).[13] In 1996, Wilkens's No. 14 jersey was retired by the college, the first alumnus to receive such an honor.[14] In honor of his collegiate accomplishments, Wilkens was one of the inaugural inductees into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.[15]

Professional playing career

[edit]

St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968)

[edit]

Wilkens was drafted sixth overall by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1960 NBA draft. He began his career with eight seasons with the St. Louis Hawks, who lost the finals to the Boston Celtics in his rookie season.[16] The Hawks made the playoffs consistently with Wilkens but never again reached the finals. Wilkens placed second to Wilt Chamberlain in the 1967–1968 MVP balloting, his last with the Hawks.[17]

Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)

[edit]

Wilkens was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics for Walt Hazzard and spent four seasons there. He averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game in his first season for the SuperSonics, and was an All-Star in three of his seasons for them. He was named head coach in his second season with the team. Although the SuperSonics did not reach the playoffs while Wilkens simultaneously coached and started at point guard, their record improved each season and they won 47 games during the 1971–72 NBA season. Wilkens was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the start of the next season in a highly unpopular trade, and the SuperSonics fell to 26–56 without his leadership on the court.[18]

Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)

[edit]

Wilkens played two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1972 to 1974 and was named an All-Star in 1973, the final selection of his playing career.[4][19] He averaged 20.5 point per game that season, the last of three seasons in which he averaged over 20+ points per game.[4]

Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975)

[edit]

Wilkens played one season with the Portland Trail Blazers, his final season playing, when he averaged career lows in points (6.5), rebounds (1.8), shots (4.7) and minutes per game (17.9).[19][20]

Legacy

[edit]

Wilkens scored 17,772 points during the regular season, was a nine-time NBA All-Star, and was named the 1971 NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1971. With Seattle, he led the league in assists in the 1969–70 season, and at the time of his retirement was the NBA's second all-time leader in that category, behind only Oscar Robertson. In 2021, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Wilkens as the 75th greatest player in NBA history.[20]

Coaching career

[edit]

Seattle SuperSonics (1969–1972)

[edit]

Wilkens became a player-coach in the closing stages of his playing career,[21] serving both roles for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1969 to 1972.[16] Al Bianchi had resigned as their head coach in the middle of the 1969 offseason when general manager Dick Vertlieb presented the idea to Wilkens. "I told him he was crazy", said Wilkens. “And he said 'Well, you run the show anyway'.[16] He became the second Black coach in NBA history, joining Bill Russell, who had also been a player-coach.[16]

Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1976)

[edit]

In his one season as a player with the Portland Trail Blazers, Wilkens was a player-coach. He had been considering retiring from playing when Trail Blazers owner Herman Sarkowsky convinced him to coach the team. To Wilkens's surprise, Portland also acquried his playing rights from Cleveland. He retired from playing in 1975 and was the full-time coach of the Trail Blazers for one more season.[16]

Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1985)

[edit]
Basketball commemorating Wilkens's 500th career coaching victory

After a season off from coaching, he again became coach of the SuperSonics when he replaced Bob Hopkins who was fired 22 games into the 1977–78 season after a dismal 5–17 start.[22] The SuperSonics won 11 of their first 12 games under Wilkens. They made the playoffs in back-to-back years, losing in seven games to the Washington Bullets in the 1978 NBA Finals before returning to the 1979 NBA Finals and defeating the Washington Bullets in five games for their only NBA title.[23]

He coached in Seattle for eight seasons (1977–1985), winning his (and Seattle's) only NBA championship in 1979.[21]

Wilkens with Wayne Embry on the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1993)

[edit]

Wilkens coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1986 to 1993. His tenure with Cleveland was highlighted by three 50-win seasons, including a then-franchise record 57 victories in both the 1988–89 and 1991–92 seasons. In the second of those seasons, the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals for only the second time in franchise history. Cleveland qualified for the playoffs in five of Wilkens's seven seasons.[4] Despite those successes, the Cavaliers failed to make deeper playoff runs under Wilkens, with four of their playoff defeats coming against the Michael Jordan–led Chicago Bulls.[4] In 1993, following their defeat to the Bulls in the second round of the playoffs, Wilkens resigned as coach.[24] His 316 career wins with the Cavaliers are a franchise record.[4]

Atlanta Hawks (1993–2000)

[edit]

On June 2, 1993, Wilkens was hired as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.[25] In Wilkens's first season, the Hawks tied a then-franchise record with 57 wins, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the Hawks traded their superstar Dominique Wilkins midway through the season for Danny Manning, leading to a second-round defeat to the Indiana Pacers. On January 6, 1995, Wilkens won his 939th career regular season game to surpass Red Auerbach as the all-time winningest coach in NBA history, a record he would hold for nearly 15 seasons.[26] In 1997, his contract was extended to two years and $10.4 million dollars. The Hawks never advanced past the second round during the Wilkens era despite six consecutive playoff berths and three 50-win seasons. On April 24, 2000, he resigned as head coach following a 28–54 record.[27]

Toronto Raptors (2000–2003)

[edit]

In June 2000, Wilkens signed a four-year, $20 million dollar contract to become head coach of the Toronto Raptors, replacing Butch Carter.[28] In his first season at the helm, he led the Raptors franchise to their first playoff series win, defeating the New York Knicks in the first round. Wilkens and the team parted ways after a disappointing and injury riddled 2002–03 season where they finished with a 24–58 record.[29]

New York Knicks (2004–2005)

[edit]

The Hall of Famer was named head coach of the New York Knicks on January 15, 2004, after the team started 15–24 under Don Chaney.[30] After the Knicks' slow start to the 2004–05 season, Wilkens resigned from the team on January 22, 2005.[31]

Executive career

[edit]
Wilkens in 2013

After Seattle finished 31–51 in 1984–85, team owner Barry Ackerley fired Wilkens as coach and moved him to general manager.[32] During his stint as GM, he drafted future All-Star Xavier McDaniel,[33] and hired head coach Bernie Bickerstaff.[32][34] Wilkens left Seattle in 1986 to become Cleveland's head coach.[35]

On November 29, 2006, Wilkens was hired as vice chairman of the SuperSonics' ownership group,[36] and was later named the Sonics' President of Basketball Operations on April 27, 2007.[37] On July 6, 2007, Wilkens resigned from the Sonics organization. "I feel that my position within the organization did not develop the way that I thought it would", he said.[38]

Broadcasting career

[edit]

Wilkens briefly worked at Fox Sports Northwest's studio as a college basketball analyst.[39]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Wilkens was married to Marilyn Reed from 1962 until his death in 2025; they had three children, Leesha, Randy and Jamee.[7] The Wilkens had seven grandchildren,[21] six girls and one boy.

Wilkens was the founder of the Lenny Wilkens Foundation for Children[40] and lived in Medina, Washington.[41] He was a practicing Catholic.[42] Wilkens died at his home on November 9, 2025, at the age of 88.[7][21]

Awards and honors

[edit]

NBA

USA Basketball

  • Two-time coach of Olympic gold medal winning team:
    • 1992 as an assistant coach with the "Dream Team"[7]
    • 1996 as head coach of the U.S. men's team[7]

Halls of Fame

State/Local

  • City of Seattle renamed Thomas Street to Lenny Wilkens Way.[50]
  • A statue outside Climate Pledge Arena was installed on Lenny Wilkens Way in 2025.[51]

Organizational

NBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

Source:[19]

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1960–61 St. Louis 74 — 25.3 .425 — .713 4.5 2.8 — — 11.7
1961–62 St. Louis 20 — 43.5 .385 — .764 6.6 5.8 — — 18.2
1962–63 St. Louis 75 — 34.3 .399 — .696 5.4 5.1 — — 11.8
1963–64 St. Louis 78 — 32.4 .413 — .740 4.3 4.6 — — 12.0
1964–65 St. Louis 78 — 36.6 .414 — .746 4.7 5.5 — — 16.5
1965–66 St. Louis 69 — 39.0 .431 — .793 4.7 6.2 — — 18.0
1966–67 St. Louis 78 — 38.1 .432 — .787 5.3 5.7 — — 17.4
1967–68 St. Louis 82 — 38.6 .438 — .768 5.3 8.3 — — 20.0
1968–69 Seattle 82 — 42.2 .440 — .770 6.2 8.2 — — 22.4
1969–70 Seattle 75 — 37.4 .420 — .788 5.0 9.1* — — 17.8
1970–71 Seattle 71 — 37.2 .419 — .803 4.5 9.2 — — 19.8
1971–72 Seattle 80 — 37.4 .466 — .774 4.2 9.6 — — 18.0
1972–73 Cleveland 75 — 39.6 .449 — .828 4.6 8.4 — — 20.5
1973–74 Cleveland 74 — 33.6 .465 — .801 3.7 7.1 1.3 0.2 16.4
1974–75 Portland 65 — 17.9 .439 — .768 1.8 3.6 1.2 0.1 6.5
Career 1,077 — 35.3 .432 — .774 4.7 6.7 1.3 0.2 16.5
All-Star 9 3 20.2 .400 — .781 2.4 2.9 — — 9.4

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1961 St. Louis 12 — 36.4 .380 — .759 6.0 3.5 — — 14.2
1963 St. Louis 11 — 36.4 .370 — .755 6.3 6.3 — — 13.7
1964 St. Louis 12 — 34.4 .448 — .759 5.0 5.3 — — 14.3
1965 St. Louis 4 — 36.8 .351 — .828 3.0 3.8 — — 16.0
1966 St. Louis 10 — 39.1 .399 — .687 5.4 7.0 — — 17.1
1967 St. Louis 9 — 42.0 .400 — .856 7.6 7.2 — — 21.4
1968 St. Louis 6 — 39.5 .440 — .750 6.3 7.8 — — 16.1
Career 64 — 37.5 .399 — .769 5.8 5.8 — — 16.1

Head coaching record

[edit]
* Record
Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Seattle 1969–70 82 36 46 .439 5th in Western — — — — Missed playoffs
Seattle 1970–71 82 38 44 .463 4th in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Seattle 1971–72 82 47 35 .573 3rd in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Portland 1974–75 82 38 44 .463 3rd in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Portland 1975–76 82 37 45 .451 5th in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Seattle 1977–78 60 42 18 .700 3rd in Pacific 22 13 9 .591 Lost in NBA Finals
Seattle 1978–79 82 52 30 .634 1st in Pacific 17 12 5 .706 Won NBA Championship
Seattle 1979–80 82 56 26 .683 2nd in Pacific 15 7 8 .467 Lost in Conf. Finals
Seattle 1980–81 82 34 48 .415 6th in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Seattle 1981–82 82 52 30 .634 2nd in Pacific 8 3 5 .375 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Seattle 1982–83 82 48 34 .585 3rd in Pacific 2 0 2 .000 Lost in First Round
Seattle 1983–84 82 42 40 .512 3rd in Pacific 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First Round
Seattle 1984–85 82 31 51 .378 5th in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Cleveland 1986–87 82 31 51 .378 4th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Cleveland 1987–88 82 42 40 .512 4th in Central 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First Round
Cleveland 1988–89 82 57 25 .695 2nd in Central 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First Round
Cleveland 1989–90 82 42 40 .512 4th in Central 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First Round
Cleveland 1990–91 82 33 49 .402 6th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Cleveland 1991–92 82 57 25 .695 2nd in Central 17 9 8 .529 Lost in Conf. Finals
Cleveland 1992–93 82 54 28 .659 2nd in Central 9 3 6 .333 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Atlanta 1993–94 82 57 25 .695 1st in Central 11 5 6 .455 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Atlanta 1994–95 82 42 40 .512 5th in Central 3 0 3 .000 Lost in First Round
Atlanta 1995–96 82 46 36 .561 4th in Central 10 4 6 .400 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Atlanta 1996–97 82 56 26 .683 2nd in Central 10 4 6 .400 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Atlanta 1997–98 82 50 32 .610 4th in Central 4 1 3 .250 Lost in First Round
Atlanta 1998–99 50 31 19 .620 2nd in Central 9 3 6 .333 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Atlanta 1999–2000 82 28 54 .341 7th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Toronto 2000–01 82 47 35 .573 2nd in Central 12 6 6 .500 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Toronto 2001–02 82 42 40 .512 3rd in Central 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First Round
Toronto 2002–03 82 24 58 .293 7th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
New York 2003–04 42 23 19 .548 3rd in Atlantic 4 0 4 .000 Lost in First Round
New York 2004–05 39 17 22 .436 (resigned) — — — — —
Career 2,487* 1,332 1,155 .536 178 80 98 .449
Source:[53]

Publications

[edit]
  • Wilkens, Lenny (1974). The Lenny Wilkens Story. P. S. Eriksson. ISBN 9780839750321.
  • Wilkens, Lenny; Pluto, Terry (2000). Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the NBA. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780684873749.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NBA at 50: Top 50 Players". NBA.com. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "NBA 75". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "NBA unveils 15 best coaches in league history to celebrate 75th anniversary". Sportsnet.ca. February 8, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Ulrich, Nate (November 9, 2025). "Cavs icon Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame coach, player who loved Richfield days, dies at 88". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  5. ^ "Spurs coach Gregg Popovich passes Wilkens for No. 2 on all-time coaching wins list". NBA.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Wilkens presented Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award | NBA.com Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Goldstein, Richard (November 9, 2025). "Lenny Wilkens, N.B.A. Hall of Famer as Both Player and Coach, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Beck, Howard. "PRO BASKETBALL; Wilkens Denies He Was Asked to Go", The New York Times, September 28, 2005. Accessed November 20, 2007. "A native of Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Wilkens had added motivation to succeed in New York, which made leaving so quickly that much tougher."
  9. ^ a b Smith, Gary (December 5, 1994). "He Has Overcome". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  10. ^ Deford, Frank (November 24, 1969). "SWEETY CAKES RUNS THE SONICS". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  11. ^ "MICKEY FISHER, BROOKLYN COACH; Sports Director, Formerly of Boys High, Dies at 58". New York Times. April 17, 1963. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  12. ^ Vergun, David (December 21, 2021). "Sports Heroes Who Served: One of Basketball's Greatest Also Served in the Army". defense.gov. U.S. Department of Defense.
  13. ^ "Former Friar Great Lenny Wilkens '60 Receives NBA Lifetime Achievement Award". friars.com. June 10, 2011.
  14. ^ Rosenberg, I. J. (June 11, 2015). "Lenny Wilkens was exceptional as a player and as a coach". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  15. ^ a b "FOUNDING CLASS MEMBERS". The College Basketball Experience. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d e Broadnax, Nigel (January 24, 2025). "The Forgotten History of the NBA Player-Coach". The Ringer.
  17. ^ a b "Legends profile: Lenny Wilkens". NBA.com.
  18. ^ Gastineau, Mark; Thiel, Art; Rudman, Steve (2009). The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists. United States: Running Press. pp. 261–262. ISBN 9780762435227.
  19. ^ a b c "Lenny Wilkens Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Vardon, Joe (November 1, 2021). "NBA 75: At No. 75, Lenny Wilkens was the embodiment of the player as coach on the floor". The Athletic. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d Booth, Tim (November 9, 2025). "Lenny Wilkens, godfather of Seattle basketball, dies at 88". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  22. ^ Goldaper, Sam (December 1, 1977). "Wilkens Named Sonics' Coach Again". The New York Times.
  23. ^ Frandsen, Mike (February 1, 2014). "Seattle's Last Title: SuperSonics' 1979 NBA Finals Win over Washington Bullets". Bleacher Report.
  24. ^ "Wilkens resigns as Cavs coach". UPI Archives. May 24, 1993.
  25. ^ "Wilkens named coach of Hawks". Tampa Bay Times. June 2, 1993.
  26. ^ "This Day In Sports: The cigar was at the ready for Lenny". KTVB7 News. January 6, 2025.
  27. ^ "Wilkens steps down after 28-54 season". ESPN. April 25, 2000.
  28. ^ "Wilkens named Toronto's coach". ESPN. June 21, 2000.
  29. ^ "Raptors part ways with Wilkens". CBC. April 17, 2003.
  30. ^ "Chaney, Malone, Kruger fired; Wilkens hired". ESPN. January 14, 2004.
  31. ^ Beck, Howard (January 23, 2005). "Knicks' Downward Spiral Takes Down Wilkens". The New York Times.
  32. ^ a b "Bickerstaff to land Sonic job?". Kitsap Sun. June 19, 1985. p. 23. Retrieved November 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Graeff, Burt (January 2, 1991). "McDaniel bolsters Phoenix". The Plain-Dealer. p. 5-F. Retrieved November 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ DuPree, David (June 21, 1985). "Bickerstaff gets long-awaited chance at Seattle". USA Today. p. 9C. Retrieved November 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Wilkens accepts new challenge". Kitsap Sun. July 9, 1986. p. C1. Retrieved November 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Evans, Jayda (December 1, 2006). "Wilkens a Sonic again – as vice chairman". The Seattle Times.
  37. ^ "SONICS: Lenny Wilkens Confirmed as President of Basketball Operations". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
  38. ^ "Wilkens resigns as Sonics vice chair". The Daily Herald. Associated Press. July 7, 2007. p. C2. Retrieved November 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Washburn, Gary (June 15, 2007). "Wilkens' implication he was in charge led to demotion". Seatllepi.
  40. ^ "Lenny Wilkens Foundation". Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  41. ^ Sports | Where are they now? Championship Sonics remain near and far between Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  42. ^ Pluto, Terry (November 10, 2025). "When I played 2-on-2 basketball with Lenny Wilkens – Terry Pluto". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  43. ^ a b "Lenny Wilkens". Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  44. ^ "Oklahoma City Thunder Team Info and News". NBA.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  45. ^ a b "In Memory: Lenny Wilkens". Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  46. ^ Boggs, Justin (March 9, 2022). "Cavs add former players, owner, coach to Wall of Honor". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  47. ^ "Utah Jazz: Karl Malone, '92 Dream Team finalists for '10 Hall of Fame class". Deseret News. February 12, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  48. ^ "the Dream Team (USA)". FIBA. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  49. ^ "2018-19 Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). p. 97. Retrieved November 13, 2025. Selected to Providence College Hall of Fame (1972)
  50. ^ "Lenny Wilkens: City renames street after former Seattle SuperSonics coach, player". KOMO News. October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  51. ^ Pelton, Kevin (June 28, 2025). "Lenny Wilkens 1st to have statue outside Climate Pledge Arena". ESPN. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  52. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  53. ^ "Lenny Wilkens: Coachong Record, Awards". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
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