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Reactions: Lenny Wilkens CNNSI.com users discuss Hawks coach's resignationPosted: Tuesday April 25, 2000 05:36 PM
Lenny Wilkens, the NBA's all-time winningest coach, resigned on Monday. He left Atlanta after the worst season of a 27-year career in which he won more games than any coach in NBA history. The decision was not unexpected after the Hawks struggled to a 28-54 record, their worst mark since moving to Atlanta in 1968. The team missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992, losing 25 of its final 31 games. Do you think Wilkens' resignation is the answer to the Hawks' problems? Who should the Hawks name as their next head coach? Here are some reactions from CNNSI.com users to Wilkens' resignation: The real problem with the Hawks is Pete Babcock. Who acquired JR Rider? Who gave a $40 million contract to a backup for the Clippers (L. Wright)? Who signed Chris Crawford to a six-year contract? He has NEVER made a good draft pick - Rumeal Robinson, Adam Keefe, Priest Lauderdale, Ed Gray, etc. The only arguably good pick he made, Alan Henderson, should have been used to draft the best prospect coming out of the Big 10 that year - Michael Finley. Babcock has been in Atlanta too long. He needs to be fired before makes another mistake like drafting Mike Miller.
It is a shame he had to retire. He will greatly be missed. An outstanding man that was good for the community. May God continue to work and use you Coach Wilkens.
Lenny Wilkens' resignation is a classy end to a class act and it's wrong to single him out for blame for this past season. He did the honorable thing, which is more than I can say for GM Pete Babcock. This fish is rotting from the head down and if Stan Kasten doesn't have the guts to tell Babcock to take a hike then someone needs to clean house of both Kasten AND Babcock. They both ultimately have to take the blame for taking an improving team and tanking it completely. This past season was a disgrace and so are Kasten and Babcock.
I had the utmost respect for Lenny Wilkins, not only as a coach, but as a player as well. Considering that Coach Wilkins had to deal with the likes of Isaiah Rider for most of the season, it's amazing that Coach Wilkins didn't walk away sooner!
I think Lenny will end up in Jersey just for the simple fact that the new owners will pursue a new front office with Dr. J as President, Isaiah as GM or someone else, and with all their knowledge about basketball it would be wise to sign this coach to a five-year deal worth about $8 million. Looking at his rap sheet can't shun anybody away from this coach. Stephon Starbury will love Lenny's style of coaching. Please for the Nets owners DON'T SCREW THIS UP! We never really had a good coach with the exception of Chuck Daly. Hint, hint. Please send help fast!
The Hawks made Wilkens the fall guy for bad personnel moves during the off season. He can still coach and will be successful elsewhere. The Hawks seemed so close last year and the front office blew the core team away. We'll miss you Lenny. Best Wishes. Does John Shuerholz know anything about basketball?
I think Wilkens would be a perfect fit for the Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers have exactly the kind of veteran savvy team that Wilkens excels with. Judging from their record, there is something not right in Oregon, and judging from their roster it's not a lack of talent. This one is a no-brainer for me.
The guy is a living monument to mediocrity. He has barely won half of his games (54%) in a long coaching career. With one title in 27 years in a league with 29 teams, he's as good as a coin flip. He is often referred to as 'the winningest' coach in NBA history, but with 1179 wins and 981 losses, he's also the 'losingest.' Give me Phil Jackson or Pat Riley any day.
Mr. Wilkins is a great coach and has proven it. The players provided to him this year are below par. Mr. Pete Babcock and Mr. Stan Kasten should be faulted for the season. Bringing Mr. Rider into the organization was probably the worst move a GM could make. Mr. Babcock and Mr. Kasten are not publicly putting blame on Mr. Wilkins because they know the blame is all theirs. It will take five years for the Hawks to get back to the level Mr. Wilkins got them to last year. Mr. Babcock - good luck. Mr. Wilkins will get hired by another team and will come back to Atlanta and beat the Hawks.
Lenny Wilkens should not shoulder the blame for the Hawks performance this season. Pete Babcock and Stan Kasten gave Lenny this team to coach. I haven't heard Stan nor Pete take responsibility for the Hawks demise. Time Warner needs to clean the slate and bring in an upper-tier General Manager to run this program. We will continue to see draft choices fizzle and attendance soar if Pete and Stan run the show.
It was time for a changing of the guard. It should have been in management though. They had building blocks - solid ones. Wilkens can coach, but needs a change of venue to re-energize himself. He does have a weak playoff record, but never has had the core of players needed to dominate.
Atlanta management traded their legitimate star and very good shooter in Smith in favor of a lesser star with an attitude problem in Rider just because of contract renegotiation. Lenny Wilkens is a very good coach but did not have enough good players to make a good core for the Hawks. They keep on trading players instead of adding new ones. Management should give a free hand to its new coach to select and retain players he wants to coach. Look at Don Nelson of Dallas. He got players he wanted and patiently developed their skills. Don Nelson is a perfect coach for Atlanta should Dallas waive him because he commands respect from its players.
Living in the suburbs of Atlanta, one must make a great effort to go downtown to see the Atlanta Hawks play. They are a team with NO stars and little if any motivation. Unlike the Atlanta Braves, the Hawks have a GM that has a proven track record of disaster. Pete Babcock is not only a person who cannot judge NBA talent; he also cannot judge the character of persons. We went to see the Hawks play when they had a "star" such as Steve Smith, one who gave to the community and worked hard on the basketball court. To trade this man for a boy like Isaiah Rider is unfathomable. I do agree that Lenny could not do much to motivate the players, however, at their salaries, they should not need much motivation. Compare Babcock and John Schuerholz of the Braves and you will know that the GM does make a big difference. Let's get a new coach, let Schuerholz be the GM, and send Stan Kasten away for a long vacation!
I most definitely think Lenny Wilkens is being used as a fall guy for the mistakes of the Hawks President and GM. They were very much aware of his coaching style. It has worked for him and should work for other coaches who are coaching adults. They is no way they could have (or should have) expected him to coach Isaiah Rider. It is my understanding that they went against his wishes in dismantling the '98-'99 team and bringing Rider in. No other coach has been able to deal with him. He is, in my opinion, uncoachable. Talent is not the only prerequisite to making it in the NBA. If anybody should have resigned it should have been the GM. Better yet, he should have been let go the same time Rider was.
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