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Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame Player and Coach, Dies at 88

Tributes emphasize a legacy that made him the face of Seattle basketball.

Overview

  • He died at home on Sunday at age 88, his family said, with no cause of death released.
  • He led the Seattle SuperSonics to the franchise’s only NBA championship in 1979 and later became a civic pillar honored with a statue and a foundation supporting local health services.
  • He retired with 1,332 regular-season coaching wins, now third all time, and still holds the NBA record with 2,487 games coached across six franchises.
  • A nine-time All-Star guard, he twice led the league in assists and served as a player-coach before moving full time to the bench.
  • He won Olympic gold with Team USA as an assistant in 1992 and as head coach in 1996, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement praising his impact on the game and community.