Wilkens Reaches New Coaching Plateau

L.A. Times Archives

March 2, 1996 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

ATLANTA — For most of the game, Lenny Wilkens stood in his usual pose: arms folded, face stoic, not even a hint of the emotions that must have been churning inside.

Finally, though, it bubbled to the surface. First a slight grin. Then a broad smile. And finally, a hand-shaking procession with the fans who ringed the court.

“Lenny, Lenny, Lenny,” they chanted.

Wilkens, already the winningest coach in NBA history, reached another milestone Friday night by getting his 1,000th victory as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 74-68.

“It’s just incredible,” Wilkens said after being doused with confetti at the horn. “It puts you on a plateau and nobody else is there. A lot of people are in triple figures, but not quadruple figures. I’m really happy.”

Of course, he didn’t show that happiness until Craig Ehlo hit a three-point shot with 42.1 seconds remaining to give Atlanta a 71-62 lead. The soft-spoken Wilkens isn’t one to dwell on personal achievements, especially when there was still a game to be won.

“We earned No. 1,000,” said Wilkens, who now has a coaching record of 1,000-838 in his 23-year career. “It was a struggle. Cleveland did all it could.”

In the waning seconds, cheerleaders handed out placards which showed Wilkens’ face inside a heart, accompanied by the words “Sweet 1000.” When the horn sounded, Hawk General Manager Pete Babcock came out to present Wilkens with the game ball.

As Wilkens was heading off to the locker room, a fan yelled, “Hey, Lenny, we want to shake your hand.” Wilkens obliged, strolling over to the courtside crowd to acknowledge the adulation.

“I’ll never shake this hand again,” one person swooned.

Wilkens became the winningest coach in NBA history last season with his 939th victory, passing Red Auerbach. On that night, Wilkens, a non-smoker, fired up a cigar and took a couple of puffs to honor Auerbach’s traditional victory routine.

“I choked on that thing the last time,” Wilkens joked. “I don’t know how to smoke it. So no way.”

Not that there was any need to acknowledge Auerbach this time. Wilkens is in a league by himself and shows no signs of slowing down.

“I really don’t think about 1,500 or any number,” Wilkens responded to the inevitable questions about his longevity. “As long as it’s still fun and I can be fiercely competitive, I’ll coach.”

The victory itself was ugly, but it was a thing of beauty to Wilkens, who has seven 50-win seasons and one championship even though he has never coached a team with a true superstar. His forte is pushing mediocre players and teams to victories.

After the game, several Cavaliers even walked over to shake his hand.

“He makes teams better,” said Danny Ferry, one of those players.

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Road to 1,000

Lenny Wilkens, in his 23rd season, became the first NBA coach to record 1,000 victories. A look at when some other active coaches are projected to reach the 1,000 mark at their current pace of victories: *--*

Coach Wins Year (Season) Dick Motta 912 1999 (27th) Don Nelson 849 2000 (23rd) Bill Fitch 881 2002 (29th) Cotton Fitzsimmons 819 2001 (25th) Pat Riley 783 2002 (20th) Larry Brown 570 2005 (22nd) Del Harris 416 2008 (23rd) Phil Jackson 393 2007 (18th) Rudy Tomjanovich 214 2015 (23rd) John Lucas 129 2039 (46th) Brian Winters 11 2046 (50th)

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Winningest Coaches

NBA

*--*

Coach W L PCT *Lenny Wilkens 1,000 838 .544 Red Auerbach 938 479 .662 Dick Motta 912 945 .491

*--*

*Not in top 20 by winning percentage.

BASEBALL

*--*

Manager W L PCT *Connie Mack 3,776 4,025 .484 John McGraw 2,840 1,984 .589 Sparky Anderson 2,194 1,834 .545

*--*