CLEVELAND, Ohio – The year was 1987. Lenny Wilkens was in his first season coaching the Cavs .

One day, Barry Clemens and his son showed up at practice. This was a different NBA, when practices were open to the media.

I covered Lenny for the Akron Beacon Journal in all seven of his Cavs coaching seasons (1986-93). I also helped Lenny write his autobiography, “Unguarded,” which was published in 2000.

Clemens and Wilkens had played together in the NBA for five different seasons – three in Seattle, two in Cleveland. Clemens and Wilkens were traded together to the Cavs on Aug. 23, 1972.

Clemens lived in Cleveland and was working in the financial business. He also was an avid pickup basketball player. He wanted to face his good friend Lenny. I was recruited to be in a 2-on-2 game.

I fo

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