Last Updated on 3 days ago by Vijay Kumar
Lenny Wilkens passed away on November 9, 2025, at the age of 88, his family announced — he was surrounded by loved ones when he died.
RIP Coach Lenny ❤️… It was an absolute honor and privilege to play for and be mentored by a legend! He believed in me and gave me an opportunity when not many coaches would! I love you Coach and you will be missed 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/FrNTApeG7B
— Mark Price (@Mark25Price) November 10, 2025
Born on October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, Wilkens embarked on a stellar playing career in the NBA. He was drafted sixth overall in 1960 by the St. Louis Hawks and went on to play for the Hawks, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. During his 15-year playing career, he was selected to nine NBA All-Star games, averaged about 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game, and was renowned for his court vision and smooth style. Transitioning to coaching (and even player-coach roles early on), he became one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history.
He coached more NBA games than anyone else—2,487 regular-season games—and achieved 1,332 career coaching wins, which for a time stood as the record. His coaching résumé includes leading the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA championship in 1979. He was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame three times: as a player (1989), as a coach (1998), and as part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic “Dream Team” (2010). Beyond his numbers, the basketball world repeatedly praised his leadership, mentorship and “quiet-class” style.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Reed (married since 1962), their three children—Leesha, Randy and Jamee—and grandchildren. He also leaves behind a vast legacy in the sport and the community, especially in Seattle where he is considered “the godfather of Seattle basketball.”
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
