Lenny Wilkens
Inducted:
1989
Player Stats
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Born
October 28, 1937
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died
November 9, 2025
Medina, Washington, U.S.
Position
Point guard
College
Providence (1957–1960)
Lenny Wilkens was one of the premier point guards of his era and a model of leadership and consistency during a 15-season NBA playing career. Drafted sixth overall in 1960 by the St. Louis Hawks, Wilkens quickly developed into an elite floor general known for his scoring ability, court vision, and steady command of the offense.
He earned nine NBA All-Star selections and was named All-NBA multiple times, frequently ranking among the league leaders in assists. Wilkens later played for the Seattle SuperSonics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, serving as a player-coach during part of his career.
Wilkens finished with career averages of 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game and retired among the NBA’s all-time assist leaders. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989.
Wilkens's Awards and Records
- NBA champion (as coach-1979)
- NBA Coach of the Year (1994)
- Consensus second-team All-American (1960)
- 19 retired by Seattle SuperSonics
NBA Records
- 9× NBA All-Star (1963–1965, 1967–1971, 1973)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1971)
- NBA assists leader (1970)
- NBA anniversary teams (50th, 75th)
- Named to the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams
NBA Teams
St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975)
NBA Draft
1960: 1st round, 6th overall pick
St. Louis Hawks
Number Worn
32, 15, 14, 19, 17
NBA Stats
Seasons:
15 (1960-1975)
Game played:
1,077
Points:
17,772 (16.5 ppg)
Rebounds:
5,030 (4.7 rpg)
Assists:
7,211 (6.7 apg)
Steals:
174 (1.3 spg)
Blocks:
26 (0.2 bpg)
Field Goal(%):
43.2
Free Throw(%):
77.4