Sonics legend Lenny Wilkins dies at 88 Vaughan Jones November 10, 2025 / 5:00 pm

Seattle Supersonics legend and NBA Hall-of-Famer Lenny Wilkens died on Sunday at the age of 88.

Wilkins played 15 seasons in the NBA, including four with the Sonics. He was an All-Star in three of those four seasons, while also serving as the Sonics’ head coach.

Wilkins was the second ever Black head coach in NBA history. Bill Russell, a player-coach for the Boston Celtics in the mid-60s, was the first.

After his retirement as a player in 1975, Wilkens returned to coach the Sonics, and led the team to its sole championship in 1979.

Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie, a former player and Seattle native, credited Wilkins with his own career.

“Lenny probably doesn’t even know [but] without him

See Full Page