Episode XXXIV: Basketball Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens - a podcast by wheretheyat

The 34th edition of Whe're They At features Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer as a player AND coach, Lenny Wilkens. He was one of the greatest players to come out of the New York City area, graduating Boys High School in Brooklyn. He starred at Providence College, later being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a 9-time NBA All-Star as a player AND 4 times, he coached in the All-Star Game. Coach Wilkens led the Seattle Supersonics to their ONLY NBA championship in 1979. He was part of the coaching staff for the legendary 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team, aka the Dream Team and won another Gold medal leading the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. He is one of four individuals to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player AND coach. Last but not least, he is part of the NBA 50th Anniversary team and was recognized as one of Top-10 coaches in NBA history. Host Nabaté Isles had the honor to speak with Coach Wilkens on a cornucopia of topics including:                 

02:38-How are he and his family dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in Seattle (WA)?                    
 
03:30-Very proud of current NBA players taking a stance against racism as well as motivating people to vote.                 
06:13-Reflects on his challenging childhood in Brooklyn.                     
07:50-Discusses his interaction with Jackie Robinson and the impact he made on his life.                   
 
10:10-On his high school friendship with Dodgers' great, Tommy Davis.                       
 
10:40-Remembers Chadwick Bozeman's greatness.                    
12:12-Reflects on his interaction with John Lewis and Nelson Mandela.                    
 
13:22-The lessons that his mentor in Brooklyn, Father Tom Mannion instilled in him.                        
 
15:44-On how he was able to play for Providence College, not being heavily recruited.                      
 
21:08-The greats of the 1960's like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, in their prime, they would be able to excel in this current era.                      
 
24:27-The difficulty of his talented St. Louis Hawks teams always falling short vs. the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics.                         
 
25:20-Reminisces on the racism he encountered in St. Louis during the 1960's.                            
 
28:29-How he was able to balance being a star player AND head coach (w/Seattle Supersonics)?                         
 
33:17-Can't believe how underrated his Seattle Supersonics of the late-1970's were and reflects on how he led them to the NBA title in 1979.                            
 
38:38-Looks back on developing a talented Cleveland Cavaliers in the late-1980's and why he eventually left.                          
41:46-Doubles down on having Craig Ehlo defend Michael Jordan during MJ's classic buzzer-beater in 1989 NBA Playoffs.                       
 
43:40-How his tenure coaching the Toronto Raptors helped spark an ascension of basketball appreciation in Canada?                                  
 
44:59-When will Seattle have an NBA team once again?                       
46:46-Doesn't recall any players wanting Isiah Thomas off of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team (Dream Team), Coach Wilkens was on the coaching staff.                      
 
48:52-How has LeBron James continued to be at the pinnacle of greatness at Year 17?                           
 
50:30-Is talk warranted about LeBron or Michael Jordan being the Greatest ever, if LeBron wins the 2020 NBA title?                       
 
51:08-FAST BREAK segment of random questions for Coach Wilkens.             
                      

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Musical selections are from Nabaté Isles' album, 'Eclectic Excursions', available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Tidal, etc. Check out his website as well: www.nabateisles.com

 

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