King Awesome

On this day, November 9th, 2025, Sonics and NBA legend Lenny Wilkens passed away at his home in Medina, Washington. Lenny Wilkens was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics for Walt Hazzard and became one of the original and lasting superstars for the Sonics, playing there for four seasons. He even led the Sonics to a 47-win season in the 1971–1972 season. However, the Sonics controversially traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he later went on to play for them and the Portland Trail Blazers. He returned to be the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1977, taking over after a 5–17 start and leading the Sonics all the way to the NBA Finals. They nearly won it all but fell short to the Washington Wizards. The Sonics bounced back to win the very next season, securing the first and only championship in franchise history in 1979. He later coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks. Lenny was always a pillar of the Seattle community. In 1980, he founded the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, which helped raise money for children's healthcare and educational organizations. He remained a steadfast advocate for the Sonics to return to Seattle ever since they left in 2008. It remains heartbreaking that he never got to see that return; it is painful to watch so many Sonics legends and loyal fans pass away before getting to witness the team come back home. No matter what, his legacy will never be forgotten. We will always remember and love you, Lenny!