Top 5 Point Guards in OKC Thunder History
By David Ramil
Lenny Wilkens
While Williams’ was an incredibly productive player for Seattle, perhaps no player – or person – had a bigger impact on the franchise than the fourth-best point guard on our list, Lenny Wilkens.
When he joined the franchise in 1968, many of Wilkens’ best seasons were behind him, having spent eight years of his brilliant Hall-of-Fame career with the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks. He’d spend just four seasons with the SuperSonics, averaging 19.5 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds per game before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1972. And while he did make three All-Star teams during his short tenure, it’s what he did seven years later in 1979 (four years after his retirement as a player) that defined his time in Seattle.
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Wilkens became the team’s head coach during his playing days, serving in that dual capacity since the ’69-’70 season. He became the team’s full-time head coach in 1977 and two years later, guided the team to their first and only title.
Wilkens played (and coached) during a completely different era of the NBA. Racism deeply affected how African-Americans like Wilkens were perceived; the point guard, a position of leadership on a team, had almost exclusively been one held by white players. He persevered in spite of that ignorant prejudice, proving himself on the court and earning the respect of his peers by guiding them from the sidelines, as well. As the team’s coach, he instilled a tireless work ethic and dedication, and transformed the group into a cohesive unit that was a powerhouse in the league.
He became the team’s vice president and general manager in 1985 before taking other successful coaching stints with the Cavaliers, Hawks, Raptors and Knicks, amassing 1,332 victories during his tenure. His number was retired by the franchise in 1979 and he still remains active in the Seattle-area.
Next: Downtown Brings Home a Ring