SEATTLE — Lenny Wilkens, a three-time inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 88, his family announced on Sunday. They reported that he died surrounded by loved ones, but did not disclose the cause of death.

Wilkens was celebrated as one of the finest point guards of his time. He later transitioned to coaching, where he became known for his calm demeanor and strategic acumen. He holds the record for the most games coached in NBA history, with 2,487 games under his belt. Wilkens was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player, a coach, and as a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, where he served as an assistant coach. He helped lead the U.S. team to gold medals at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

His coaching career included notable tenures with the Seattle SuperSonics, where he guided the team to its only NBA championship in 1979, and the Toronto Raptors, where he coached from 2000 to 2003. During his time with the Raptors, he led the team to two playoff appearances.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Wilkens, stating, "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." In 2021, Wilkens was honored as one of the league's 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.

As a player, Wilkens was a nine-time All-Star and the first coach to achieve 1,000 wins in the NBA. He was the second individual to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. His playing career spanned 15 seasons with the St. Louis Hawks, SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers. He was an All-Star five times with the Hawks, three times with the SuperSonics, and once with the Cavaliers.

Wilkens was known for his leadership style, famously stating, "Leaders don’t yell and scream." He was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1994 while coaching the Atlanta Hawks. He retired with 1,332 coaching wins, a record that was later surpassed by Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich.

Born on October 28, 1937, in New York, Wilkens honed his basketball skills on the playgrounds of Brooklyn and at Boys High School. He went on to play at Providence College and was drafted by the Hawks as the sixth overall pick in 1960. His contributions to basketball extended beyond the court; he was also recognized for his commitment to community service, particularly in Seattle, where a statue honoring him was unveiled outside Climate Pledge Arena in June.

Wilkens is survived by his wife, Marilyn, their three children, Leesha, Randy, and Jamee, and seven grandchildren. His legacy as a player, coach, and humanitarian will be remembered by many in the basketball community and beyond.