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\nBasketball Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens has died at the age of 88A nine-time NBA All-Star, Wilkens coached the Seattle Supersonics to their only NBA Championship in 1979\u201cLenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said after Wilkens’ death<\/p>\n
Lenny Wilkens, one of the NBA<\/a>\u2019s most thrilling playmakers and most successful coaches of all time, has died at the age of 88.\n<\/p>\n A nine-time NBA All-Star with the St. Louis Hawks, Seattle Supersonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers, Wilkens played 15 seasons in the NBA before retiring and becoming one of the league\u2019s most successful coaches.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n The Brooklyn native led the Supersonics to the franchise\u2019s only NBA Championship in 1979 and served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men\u2019s basketball team at the 1992 Olympics, otherwise known as \u201cThe Dream Team.\u201d He retired with 1,332 coaching wins \u2014 the most by an NBA coach at the time in 1994.\n<\/p>\n Wilkens\u2019 family announced the Basketball Hall of Famer\u2019s death on Sunday, Nov. 9, according to ESPN<\/a>, The Associated Press<\/a> and the NBA<\/a>, which later released a statement reflecting on his legacy.\n<\/p>\n \u201cLenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA \u2013 as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game\u2019s most respected ambassadors,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the league\u2019s statement, reflecting on Wilkens\u2019 impact on basketball.\n<\/p>\n Silver added, \u201cSo much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league\u2019s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n Silver said that \u201ceven more impressive than Lenny\u2019s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service \u2013 especially in his beloved community of Seattle where a statue stands in his honor.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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,\u201d the NBA Commissioner said.\n<\/p>\n Lenny Wilkens.<\/p>\n Matthew Stockman\/Allsport\/Getty<\/p>\n This past June, Wilkens was memorialized with a statue outside of Seattle\u2019s Climate Pledge Arena, where, according to the AP, he is considered the \u201cgodfather\u201d of Seattle basketball.\n<\/p>\n The Atlanta Hawks, for whom Wilkens last coached, said in a statement<\/a> that the basketball hall of famer \u201cwas an innovator, a trailblazer, a winner and a leader not just in Atlanta but every community in which he played and coached.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to his numerous achievements, Lenny always carried himself with a calm dignity and undeniable class and grace,\u201d the team said. \u201cHe leaves a tremendous legacy throughout the NBA, within our franchise and in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n Lenny Wilkens.<\/p>\n Andrew D. Bernstein\/NBAE via Getty<\/p>\n