Lenny Wilkens Era
Lenny Wilkens closed his playing career and began his head coaching tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lenny Wilkens served as a player-coach for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1974–75 season, his final season as a player, and then as full-time head coach for the 1975–76 season.
Quick Facts
- First appears
- 1977-78 Season
- Last appears
- 1984-85 Season
Lore & Background
Wilkens was a player-coach for the Trail Blazers in his one season as a player with the team. He had been considering retiring from playing when Trail Blazers owner Herman Sarkowsky convinced him to coach the team. To Wilkens's surprise, Portland also acquired his playing rights from Cleveland. He retired from playing in 1975 and was the full-time coach of the Trail Blazers for one more season.
Reader's Guide
Wilkens' tenure with the Trail Blazers was brief: one season as a player-coach (1974–75) and one additional season as full-time head coach (1975–76). During his playing season, he averaged career lows in points (6.5), rebounds (1.8), shots (4.7), and minutes per game (17.9).
Did You Know?
- Wilkens was a nine-time NBA All-Star as a player and was named the 1971 NBA All-Star Game MVP.
- Wilkens is the only person to be named to both NBA 75th anniversary lists as a player and as a coach.
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