RIP Lenny Wilkens

[jr/shotglass]

Seattle mourns. One of the greater NBA players in history.

 

[Starman]

His playing career kinda got forgotten because of his long long coaching career, plus most of his playing career came when NBA teams other than the Celtics, Lakers and whatever team Wilt was on rarely appeared on TV.

But he was a great player and was very good coaching when he had players.

 

[BTExpress]

I first heard the name Lenny Wilkens when I got this NBA All-Star edition for Christmas.

 

[dixiehack]

Nobody appreciated how consistently good his Hawks teams were until they regarded the parade of suck that came out of ATL afterwards.

 

[Bubbler]

He was so low key that his accomplishments were often forgotten while he was still active.

When he was coaching the Hawks, I remember watching a playoff game with a friend, very much the NBA didn’t exist before the 80s type of fan, and he said something like, “What the **** has Lenny Wilkens ever done as a coach?”

I said, “Uh, he won a title with the Sonics?”

“He did? Oh. When did the Sonics win a title?”

Sigh. Maybe more so than any league, the NBA and its fans have a short memory when it comes to anyone but the brightest stars.

When I covered the NBA in the 90s, I seemed to have him a lot as the opposing head coach in playoff series, and while he could be feisty, he was always classy. RIP.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Not that I'm old, but one of my memories as a little kid is seeing him on TV when he played for Providence. Even a child of seven could see how he dominated at that level.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Loved watching his Cavs teams of the late 1980s. Felt he was underrated as a coach and player.

 

[DanOregon]

Player-coach for the Blazers as well. Inducted into the Naismith as a player and a coach. How many others have done both?

John Wooden, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Russell

 

[Liut]

A gentleman ... and former St. Louis Hawk.
Read "48 Minutes" by Terry Pluto and Bob Ryan.
RIP, sir.

 

[nietsroob17]

Nobody appreciated how consistently good his Hawks teams were until they regarded the parade of suck that came out of ATL afterwards.

That Isaiah Rider trade (unloading NBA Citizen of the Year Steve Smith) was a war crime by the front office.

 

[Liut]

That Isaiah Rider trade (unloading NBA Citizen of the Year Steve Smith) was a war crime by the front office.

+1
Pete Babcock was helter/skelter. Hired Lenny, signed Dikembe (RIP) but ...

I smiled upon hearing a Steve Holman radio clip the other day. He's been with the Hawks for decades.

 

[Bubbler]

Was listening to Termine & Johnson today and they accidentally informed Bob Pettit on-air that Wilkens had died. They thought he knew, but he didn’t. Handled as gracefully as possible by all concerned.

Me? I had no idea Bob Pettit was still with us.

 

[nietsroob17]

+1
Pete Babcock was helter/skelter. Hired Lenny, signed Dikembe (RIP) but ...

I smiled upon hearing a Steve Holman radio clip the other day. He's been with the Hawks for decades.

Can't be too many teams in any sport with so much broadcast longevity between Holman and Bob Rathbun, who's been the main PBP guy since the mid-'90s on the various regional networks.

I was at the arena for Dominique's jersey retirement in 2000/01. I can't remember if Babcock was there or if he had already moved on, but the crowd eviscerated president Stan Kasten at the very least that night.

 

[Songbird]

Lenny had a nice muted smile.

 

[nietsroob17]

Was listening to Termine & Johnson today and they accidentally informed Bob Pettit on-air that Wilkens had died. They thought he knew, but he didn’t. Handled as gracefully as possible by all concerned.

Me? I had no idea Bob Pettit was still with us.

I believe Cousy and Pettit are the only HOFers left from the 1950s NBA.

 

[Liut]

Can't be too many teams in any sport with so much broadcast longevity between Holman and Bob Rathbun, who's been the main PBP guy since the mid-'90s on the various regional networks.

I was at the arena for Dominique's jersey retirement in 2000/01. I can't remember if Babcock was there or if he had already moved on, but the crowd eviscerated president Stan Kasten at the very least that night.

Ran into Holman once in a coffee shop. Wilkens was there, too, and it was terrific, informal conversation.
Holman freely admits he wants to break the great Chick's consecutive games record.
I hope he accomplish's it.

 

[No Phonies]

A great player, a great coach, a great man

 

[dixiehack]

I believe Cousy and Pettit are the only HOFers left from the 1950s NBA.

Last night I learned that not only is Cousy kicking around at the ripe old age of 97 but still attends the occasional Holy Cross game. Sister Jean with a no-look pass.

 

[ChrisLong]

Cousy was the commissioner of a pro soccer league (American Soccer League) for five years (yep, I had to look it up). One year, I covered the championship game. The L.A. team was in it. Don't remember who it played -- might have been Kansas City or New England. The game was at Birmingham High School in the San Fernando Valley. I cornered Cousy in the press box and asked him what they were playing for (like, money??). He looked stunned that I would ask that, as though he had never been asked that before. He stammered and said, "I don't know" and scurried away. When the game ended (L.A. lost, I think), during the trophy presentation, one of the players grabbed the trophy and made a run for it. Players from both teams were chasing him. He hopped a fence and kept running through the parking lot. I think they were playing for the trophy, nothing else, no money, no nothing except a trophy.

I just read this in Wiki:
He was relieved of his duties on December 1, 1979. Pennsylvania Stoners club owner Willie Ehrlich explained the dismissal by stating, "After five years as commissioner, Cousy still goes around telling people he knows nothing about soccer."

 

[BTExpress]

I'm so old that on our Boys' Club basketball team, after I claimed Gail Goodrich's number, one of my teammates wanted Cousy's. I'm like, "Hey, hasn't he been retired for like six years?"

Apparently not. He kinda un-retired and played seven games that year for the Royals, whom he also coached. Comeback was quite unsuccessful.