They say point guards make great coaches, and Lenny Wilkens was a prime example. The New York native molded his cerebral skill set on the Brooklyn playgrounds before becoming an All-American at Providence College and an early first round draft pick by the St. Louis Hawks in 1960. The 9-time All-Star finished 2nd to Wilt Chamberlain in the 1968 MVP voting and later became a player-coach in Seattle before transitioning full-time to the sidelines. Wilkens would guide the SuperSonics to back-to-back Finals appearances, including the franchise’s only NBA title in 1979. From 1969 to 2005, he coached an NBA-record 2,487 games (plus four All-Star Games) with six teams – the Blazers, Sonics, Cavs, Hawks, Raptors and Knicks, in that order – and sits second all-time in wins with 1,332 (just three behind Don Nelson). He was voted to the NBA’s Top 10 Coaches in History list in 1996, but only Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame three separate times: as a player, coach, and member of the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.”
During his 1959-60 senior season, Lenny earned his second straight NCAA All-America selection while leading Providence to a 24-5 record and Runners-Up in the National Invitation Tournament. From 1938 until the 1960s, the N.I.T. was college basketball's preeminent postseason tournament from which the National Champion was often recognized. The 1960 N.I.T. involved 12 teams, whereas the '60 "NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament" invited 25 teams to compete. The Friars, led by their star point guard Wilkens' 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game (assists not yet tracked), lost to champion Bradley in the N.I.T. Finals held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Offered here is Wilkens' personally issued 1960 N.I.T. cufflinks and tie clip set made by Dieges & Clust. The raised 10-karat gold-filled basketball designed face (18 mm diameter) has "N.I.T." and "1959" in blue enameled letters and numbers, with the Providence College Seal ("Sigillum Collegii Providentiensis") at center. Lenny's initials "LRW" are engraved on the reverse of each piece along with maker "Dieges & Clust" and "1/10 10KT GF". The tie clip is 5.5 cm long. The set presents NM/MT condition and comes with its original black case. Includes LOA from Wilkens.