By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER
Published: 19:08 EST, 9 November 2025 | Updated: 19:09 EST, 9 November 2025
Lenny Wilkens, one of the winningest coaches in NBA history and a two-time Basketball Hall-of-Famer, has died at the age of 88.
Wilkens passed away peacefully at his home in Washington state on Sunday, according to his family.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Wilkens was a star player at Providence College before a playing career with the St. Louis Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers.
Wilkens would then embark on a coaching career that spanned from 1969-2005 - winning the 1979 NBA title with the Sonics.
He still stands third on the all-time wins list by a coach - behind only Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich.
Wilkens is also the longest-tenured coach in the history of the NBA - with 2,487 games on a bench - the most of anyone in the league.
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