NBA: Greatest head coach in each team’s franchise history

Greatest head coach in Oklahoma City Thunder history: Lenny Wilkens, 1969-72, 1977-85

Mentioning the Oklahoma City Thunder is likely to draw to mind the players who have recently played for the franchise, such as Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant or James Harden. Mentioning the Seattle SuperSonics may do something similar, drawing to mind Gary Payton or Jack Sikma.

What is unlikely to happen is for a head coach to come to mind because only in very rare circumstances does a coach become the most recognizable figure for a franchise. Yet without the accolades and the publicity, head coaches such as Lenny Wilkens still do their job and do it well.

From 1977 to 1985, Wilkens coached Seattle, taking them to two NBA Finals, including one victory. He won 402 total games with the team, plus an additional 37 postseason bouts. After losing to the then-Washington Bullets in a seven-game series in 1978, the Sonics returned and won the rematch in five games in 1979.

Interestingly enough, that was Wilkens’ second stint with the franchise, as he served as a player-coach for three seasons from 1969 to 1972. He returned five years later to lead the franchise to its highest heights.

Other talented coaches have overseen the franchise, from George Karl coaching the Sonics to the NBA Finals in the 1990s to Scott Brooks doing the same in the 2010s with the Thunder. It’s a close decision, but Wilkens’ combination of longevity and a title make him the greatest coach in the history of the SuperSonics/Thunder.