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Lenny Wilkens was named Sonics color analyst by FSN on June 13, 2006, continuing his association with the Sonics that has spanned four decades.
Wilkens first came to Seattle in 1968 when he was traded from the St. Louis Hawks, where he had spent his first eight seasons and made five All-Star appearances. The expansion Sonics were entering their second season in 1968-69, and Wilkens helped them to a 30-52 record by averaging 22.4 ppg and 8.2 apg. Prior to the 1969-70 season, Wilkens was asked to become player-coach. After two seasons as player-coach, Wilkens was forced by management to choose between the two roles. When he chose to remain on the roster as a player, he was subsequently dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 1977 Wilkens returned to Seattle as the Director of Player Personnel, but shortly thereafter was back at the helm and coaching the Sonics to a playoff berth. In his first full season as the Head Coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, Wilkens led the franchise to the 1979 NBA Championship.
In 32 seasons as an NBA head coach, Wilkens is the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with a career coaching record of 1,315-1,133 (.537). The Brooklyn native’s career has been filled with honors. Wilkens has been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1988) and coach (1998), sharing that unique double honor with John Wooden and Bill Sharman. During the NBA’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 1996, Wilkens was not only named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA History, but one of the League’s 50 Greatest Players as well. He earned a pair of Olympic gold medals as an assistant coach with the original 1992 “Dream Team” in Barcelona and as head coach of the American squad at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
One of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Wilkens averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists over a 15-year playing career with the St. Louis Hawks (1960-68), Sonics (1968-72), Cavaliers (1972-74) and Blazers (1974-75). A nine-time NBA All-Star and MVP of the 1971 Game at San Diego, he is ninth on the all-time NBA list with 7,211 career assists. His #19 jersey was retired by the Sonics in 1979.
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