"Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach and one of the game's most respected ambassadors," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
As a player, Wilkens was selected to the All-Star team nine times and in 2021 he was named one of the league's 75 best players of all time.
After his playing career, he became the first ever manager to win over 1,000 games. He also holds the record for most games with 2,487 and was named one of the top 15 managers of all time in 2021.
“Even more impressive than Lenny’s athletic credentials, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his community involvement – especially in his beloved Seattle, where the statue now stands,” says Silver.
Wilkens ended his coaching career in 2005.
