The Toronto Raptors are paying tribute to the passing of one of their former coaches.
On Sunday, news broke that former Toronto head coach Lenny Wilkens had passed at age 88.
“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens — a pioneer whose leadership helped shape our foundation. His legacy will forever live on in the Raptors family,” the Raptors wrote on X.
He is the second former Raptors head coach to pass in recent years. The team’s first-ever head coach, Brendan Malone, passed away in 2023.
When did Lenny Wilkens coach the Raptors?
Wilkens spent 246 games on Toronto’s sidelines, coaching the team for three seasons from 2000 to 2003. It was his second-last stop in a legendary coaching career, as he then went on to the New York Knicks for two more seasons.
He led Toronto to its first-ever playoff series win in 2001, beating his future Knicks team in the first round. Among the players Wilkens coached were Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Alvin Williams, and Morris Peterson.
Wilkens also coached the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Portland Trail Blazers, starting his career at age 32 in 1969. He won one NBA title, leading the SuperSonics to their lone championship in 1979.
As a player, he had quite an exceptional career as well, making nine NBA All-Star teams while having his number retired by Seattle.
In 2021-22, the NBA honoured him as one of the 15 Greatest Head Coaches in league history, while also naming him as one of the top 75 players in league history. He is the only person on both lists.
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