Seattle, WA – November 10, 2025
Seattle is in mourning tonight after losing one of its greatest sports legends. Basketball Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, the godfather of Seattle basketball, passed away Sunday evening at the age of
88, shortly after returning home from attending the Seahawks vs. Cardinals game at Lumen Field.
According to family members, Wilkens spent the afternoon surrounded by friends and fans, cheering for his hometown Seahawks — a team he had passionately supported for decades. He returned home later that evening and passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Wilkens’ death marks the end of an era for Seattle sports. The Hall of Famer, who was enshrined three times — as a player, coach, and member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic “Dream Team” staff
— defined what it meant to lead with grace, humility, and integrity.
“Seattle has lost a legend,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Lenny Wilkens was more than a Hall of Famer — he was the soul of Seattle basketball and one of the NBA’s most respected ambassadors.”
Wilkens played 15 seasons in the NBA and later made history as a coach, becoming the first to reach 1,000 wins and leading the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA championship in 1979
. His statue outside Climate Pledge Arena stands as a lasting symbol of his impact on the city.
Even in his later years, Wilkens remained a constant presence at Seattle sporting events — from Sonics reunions to Seahawks home games — where fans often greeted him with standing ovations.
“Leaders don’t yell and scream,” Wilkens once said in a 2024 interview. “They listen, they guide, and they lift people up.”
Beyond basketball, Wilkens was celebrated for his philanthropy through the
Lenny Wilkens Foundation, which supported education, youth development, and healthcare in the Seattle community for over three decades.
Seattle now mourns not only the passing of a sports legend, but also a man whose leadership and kindness helped shape the city’s identity.
A public memorial service will be planned later this week at Climate Pledge Arena, where generations of fans will gather to say goodbye to the man who made Seattle believe.