Lenny Wilkens - the man behind 15 seasons of NBA excellence and over three decades of coaching - has died. He was 88.
His family announced the news on Sunday, November 9, saying he was "surrounded by loved ones" in his final moments.
"With deep love and sadness, we announce that Lenny Wilkens passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 9, 2025," they said in a statement to KING 5. "Lenny was a dedicated philanthropist, community advocate and three-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is survived by his devoted wife Marilyn, his three children and seven grandchildren."
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/oZQpUiuHkT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 9, 2025
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Once word spread, tributes came fast.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Wilkens "the very best of the NBA," adding that he wasn't just a Hall of Fame player and coach, but one of the game's "most respected ambassadors." Silver pointed out that just a few years ago, Wilkens made the league's list of the 75 greatest players and the 15 greatest coaches. He praised his "commitment to service," especially in Seattle, where a statue of Wilkens was unveiled earlier this year. "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," Silver said.
Seattle didn't just lose a basketball icon.
We lost a man who believed in people - on the court and in the community.
Thank you, Lenny Wilkens, for everything you gave this city. 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/Hw94AZjStq
— Seattle Supersonics (@SeattleSonics) November 9, 2025
The tributes didn't stop there.
While speaking with reporters, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr called him "an incredible man" who shaped how coaches lead with respect. "I didn't watch him play, I wasn't old enough to see him play but reading about his game and how talented he was and that he ends up breaking the all-time wins record as a coach - what a career," he added.
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Steve Kerr reacts to the passing of Lenny Wilkens: "He was an unbelievable man. Just an incredible man."
Kerr played 3+ seasons for Wilkens in Cleveland at the start of his career and didn't know about his former coach's death until we broke it to him. Sad day for basketball pic.twitter.com/x9pWD77jqk
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) November 10, 2025
Rick Carlisle remembered him as "a great gentleman, and such an eloquent human being." The Indiana Pacers coach continued, "He is still way up there in all-time victories. Very, very special man. He'll be missed but he'll be remembered."
Teams across the league posted messages honoring the man who helped define modern basketball.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are deeply saddened by the passing of Lenny Wilkens, a celebrated and legendary figure whose impact on our franchise and the game of basketball will never be forgotten.
Wilkens' connection to the Cavaliers was felt on both sides of the court. As a player,… pic.twitter.com/29m9UdjtcL
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 10, 2025
Born in Brooklyn in 1937, Wilkens learned the game on city playgrounds before starring at Providence College. By 1960, he was the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft and began a 15-year playing career that made him one of the smartest point guards of his era. He earned nine All-Star nods, was named 1971 All-Star Game MVP, and retired with more than 17,000 points and 7,200 assists, according to the NBA.
But his real legacy started when he swapped his uniform for a clipboard. Wilkens became player-coach for the Seattle SuperSonics in 1969, then led them full-time to the city's first and only NBA title in 1979. He coached for more than three decades, racking up 1,332 wins - at one point the most in league history - and guiding teams in Seattle, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto, and New York. He also brought home two Olympic gold medals, once as assistant coach for the '92 "Dream Team" and again as head coach in '96.
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