Lenny Wilkens
Inducted:
1989- As Player
1998- As Coach
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
Coach
College
Providence (1957–1960)
Lenny Wilkens stands among the most influential figures in NBA history, earning Hall of Fame recognition as both a player and a coach. Selected sixth overall by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1960 NBA Draft, he established himself as one of the league’s premier point guards, combining exceptional court vision, scoring ability, and leadership over a 15-season career.
A nine-time NBA All-Star and multiple-time All-NBA selection, Wilkens also served as a player-coach and retired among the NBA’s all-time leaders in assists, finishing with career averages of 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game. He later transitioned into one of basketball’s greatest coaches, leading teams such as the Seattle SuperSonics, Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
His finest coaching achievement came in 1979 when he guided Seattle to its only NBA Championship. Renowned for his integrity, player development, and strategic leadership, Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989 and as a coach in 1998.
Wilkens' Awards and Honors
As Player
- NBA champion (as coach-1979)
- NBA Coach of the Year (1994)
- Consensus second-team All-American (1960)
As Coach
- Top 10 Coaches in NBA History
- Top 15 Coaches in NBA History
NBA Records
As Player
- 9× NBA All-Star (1963–1965, 1967–1971, 1973)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1971)
- NBA assists leader (1970)
As Coach
- NBA champion (1979)
- NBA Coach of the Year (1994)
NBA Teams
As Player
St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975)
As Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1993)
Atlanta Hawks (1993–2000)
Toronto Raptors (2000–2003)
New York Knicks (2004–2005)
NBA Draft
1960: 1st round, 6th overall pick
St. Louis Hawks
Number Worn
32, 15, 14, 19, 17
NBA Stats
As Player
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)
As Coach
Season Coached:
32 (1969-2005)
Game:
2,487
Wins/lose:
1,332-1,155 (.536)
NBA Championships:
1 (1979)
NBA Coach of the Year:
1 (1994, Atlanta Hawks)
Olympic Gold Medals:
1 (Head Coach, 1996) / 1 (Asst, 1992)