STATUE UNVEILING: Lenny Wilkens Honored at Climate Pledge Arena
On Saturday, June 28th, Seattle honored basketball icon Lenny Wilkens with the unveiling of a statue outside Climate Pledge Arena, making it the first statue ever installed at the venue. As reported by ESPN, the tribute celebrates not only Wilkens’ storied basketball career but also his enduring impact on the Seattle community.
Wilkens, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1989) and coach (1998), is best remembered in Seattle as the guiding force behind the SuperSonics 1979 NBA Championship. A Brooklyn native who made Seattle his home, Wilkens also served on the legendary 1992 USA Olympic “Dream Team”.
At the ceremony, Washington Governors Bob Ferguson and Jay Inslee praised Wilkens not only for his achievements in the game but for his decades of service through the Lenny Wilkens Foundation. The Foundation supports health equity and education, most notably helping fund the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, which provides care to underserved youth in the region.
Sculpted by renowned artist Lou Cella, the six-foot-tall, 700-pound bronze statue depicts Wilkens in his playing days—an intentional nod to both his athleticism and his humility. Cella is known for his work honoring other Seattle sports legends like Ken Griffey Jr. and Don James.
Standing just outside the arena on the grounds where the Seattle Center Coliseum—home of the SuperSonics—once stood, the statue marks a full-circle moment for the city, the team, and the man who helped define them both.
Read More: For full coverage, check out ESPN’s article: Lenny Wilkens 1st to have statue outside Climate Pledge Arena en.wikipedia.org+9ESPN.com+9YouTube+9TSN.
Join Us in Celebrating Lenny’s Legacy
Make a donation: The Lenny Wilkens Foundation—100% goes directly to support children’s healthcare, education, and recreation.
This unveiling does more than honor a sports icon, it spotlights a lifetime devoted to uplifting youth and championing health equity in Seattle.
Lenny Wilkens stands beside his newly unveiled statue at Climate Pledge Arena, built on the very grounds where he once played as a Seattle SuperSonic.(Photo: Lindsey Wasson / AP)