Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has shared a heartfelt message following the death of basketball icon Lenny Wilkens. On Sunday, Nov. 9, the basketball world bid farewell to one of its most legendary figures, the three-time Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Wilkens. He died at the age of 88. The cause of his death was not revealed. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Reed, and their three children, Leesha, Randy, and Jamee.
This prompted James to repost an old post by @CuffsTheLegend on his X/Twitter account. The post shows a rare photo of both James and Wilkens, as they greet each other and even share a hug. James curated a brief but emotional caption on Wilkens’ death, one that he used several emojis with.
“RIP LEGEND!!!!! 🕊️🕊️🕊️🤎. You’ll be missed! Always was an honor to see you throughout the years,” he wrote.
RIP LEGEND!!!!! 🕊️🕊️🕊️🤎. You’ll be missed! Always was an honor to see you throughout the years https://t.co/Pfb7xTJCHo
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 11, 2025
Meanwhile, James is making steady progress with his recovery from sciatica injury. Late in the recently concluded offseason, it was announced that James will miss the first month of the 2025-26 season due to the injury. He is targeting a mid-November return to playing duties.
James will enter his 23rd campaign, the most in NBA history, when he plays his first game of the year with coach JJ Reddick’s Lakers. Without James and led by the likes of fellow superstar Luka Doncic, Los Angeles has churned out an 8-3 overall record so far. It is good for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Their next opponents are the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Also Read: “Betting at an All Time High”: Fans React As Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama’s Hype Breaks NBA Record Despite LeBron James’ Absence
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Also Issued A Statement Regarding The Death Of Lenny Wilkens
Apart from LeBron James and several notable figures in the sport of basketball, NBA commissioner Adam Silver himself released a statement regarding Lenny Wilkens’ death on the league’s official Instagram account.
This is because Wilkens was one of the most accomplished individuals in the game of basketball, both as a player and a coach. This is a fact that Silver acknowledged throughout his emotional statement, a portion of which read:
“Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors. So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league’s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.”
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