A statue of Seattle Basketball legend Lenny Wilkens was unveiled Saturday morning outside of Climate Pledge Arena. A figure who helped shape the Seattle Basketball on and off the court and in the community for decades was given his flowers.The statue, located on the west side of the plaza near the street that bears his name, showcases Wilkens in his playing days. Coach Wilkens along with his 16-year-old grandson, Leo Wilkens, unveiled the statue in front of a large crowd of former players, officials, and fans.
EARLY LIFE
Early in his professional career, Wilkens stepped away from basketball to serve in the U.S. Army, fulfilling his ROTC commitment. He and his wife, Marilyn, established the Lenny Wilkens Foundation in 1971 to raise awareness for and invest in health and education programming for young people in the Seattle area, including a longstanding partnership with the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic.
This is an incredible honor,” said Wilkens. “Quite frankly, I am deeply humbled. For a kid who grew up in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, I could not have dreamed this would happen. My wife, Marilyn, and I have loved being a part of the Seattle community since I was traded here in 1968. We established our foundation here to contribute to health and education programs in the Seattle area, recognizing that young people are our future. I can only hope that when young people see the statue honoring me, and learn my story, they will be inspired to dream bigger dreams.”
Wilkens was the first person to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame three times: as a Player (1989), Coach (1998) and Olympian (2010).
IMAGES COURTESY OF CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
SUE BIRD WILL ALSO RECEIVE A STATUE
The statue of Wilkens will be joined by a statue of legendary Seattle Storm player Sue Bird. On August 17, the Storm will unveil the statue of Bird, who is a four-time WNBA Champion, 13-time WNBA All-Star, five-time Olympic gold medalist, 2025 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and soon-to-be Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
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