Mayor Harrell Celebrates New Lenny Wilkens Statue, Invites Community to Public Unveiling Saturday
- Marla Beaver
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Seattle – Tomorrow, community members, former Seattle SuperSonics, and civic leaders will celebrate the unveiling of a statue honoring basketball legend, coach and philanthropist Lenny Wilkens at Climate Pledge Arena. In honor of this milestone, Mayor Bruce Harrell declared June 28 “Lenny Wilkens Day.”
“Lenny Wilkens is a basketball icon and a community pillar – an embodiment of leadership and Seattle spirit. His legendary career as both a player and coach continues to leave an indelible mark on our city,” said Mayor Harrell. “More than his achievements on the court, Lenny has shown us how sports can inspire, uplift and unite. Honoring him with a statue outside of Climate Pledge Arena is a fitting honor for a man who has inspired generations and continues to exemplify the passion for unity and service we strive for in One Seattle.”
In partnership with Climate Pledge Arena and the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, Mayor Harrell has supported this tribute to Lenny Wilkens from conception to completion and he continues working with partners to celebrate the legacy of local legends.
The City of Seattle invites community members to join the public unveiling on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 11:45 AM near Entry 2 on the west side of Climate Pledge Arena, facing 1st Avenue N.
City of Seattle Proclamation:
WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens is a legendary figure in the history of basketball and one of the most accomplished and respected individuals in professional sports, having led the Seattle SuperSonics to their first and only NBA Championship in 1979, a seminal moment in Seattle sports history; and
WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens retired as the winningest coach in NBA history and is the first person to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame three times – as a Player (1989), a Coach (1998), and an Olympian (2010), and was named to the NBA’s lists of Top 50 and Top 75 Players as well as the Top 10 and Top 15 Coaches in NBA History; and
WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens enjoyed an extraordinary playing career, earning nine NBA All-Star selections, being named MVP of the 1971 All-Star Game, leading the league in assists in 1970, and earning All-America honors at Providence College, where he was also Co-MVP alongside Jerry West at the East-West All-Star Game; and
WHEREAS, after being drafted sixth overall in the 1960 NBA Draft, Lenny briefly left the league to fulfill his U.S. Army service as a Second Lieutenant before returning to shape not only the game of basketball, but also the structure of the sport by advocating for player and coach pensions through his leadership in the NBA Players Association and the Coaches Association; and
WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens has been a global ambassador for basketball, leading clinics across Africa, Asia, and Europe, and using his platform to advocate for healthcare and educational equity for youth, meeting with world leaders such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and U.S. Presidents from Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden; and
WHEREAS, Lenny and his wife Marilyn have made Seattle their home since 1968, raising their three children and becoming deeply rooted in the community through philanthropic work, including the founding of the Lenny Wilkens Foundation in 1971 – the first such foundation launched by a professional athlete – which has since raised over $10 million in support of youth health and education, most notably for Seattle Children’s Hospital and Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic; and
WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens has continued to be a steward for Seattle basketball – mentoring young talent, supporting youth through clinics and partnerships with organizations like Rise Above – having played and coached at the heart of Seattle basketball – from the Coliseum, to KeyArena, to what is now Climate Pledge Arena – helping showcase that Seattle is a basketball town ready for the return of the NBA; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle recognizes Lenny Wilkens as a true icon – not only for his athletic excellence and trailblazing leadership, but for his unwavering commitment to justice and youth empowerment – exemplifying our One Seattle vision for an equitable, thriving, and innovative city for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BRUCE A. HARRELL, MAYOR OF SEATTLE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 28, 2025 TO BE
Lenny Wilkens Day
