The world lost two men of a similar Brain Type caliber last week in the persons of the NBA’s Lenny Wilkens (#2 BEAR) and Rodney Rogers (#6 BEIR).
Lenny Wilkens was known as “a smooth playmaker” who was both player and a coach. He played for 15 seasons in the NBA before moving into full time coaching where he led the Sonics to the 1979 NBA title and was Coach of the Year in 1994. Those well-acquainted with the BTI Blog know that #2 BEARs are commonly long-lasting individuals, both in age and in their professions. Wilkens won 1,332 games with the Sonics, Blazers, Cavaliers, Hawks, Raptors, and Knicks, third most all time, and coached 2,487 games, the most in NBA history! And yes, he was a man full of days, passing at the ripe age 88 years. Unsurprisingly, Lenny was known to have good relationships with his players, and when asked about it, he replied, , “I know what young players are going through. I understand their backgrounds. I didn’t come from anything either, so I’ve been there.” Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle (#16 BCIL) said recently of Wilkins, “The thing that I’ll always remember, he was such a great gentleman, and such an eloquent human being, along with being a super competitive coach.”
Meanwhile, Rodney Rogers passed last week at the young age of 54. Sadly, Rogers had been paralyzed from the shoulders down since a dirt bike accident in November 2008, and he reportedly died of natural causes linked to his spinal cord injury. “Through every moment, Rodney remained a light — positive, motivated, and full of the quiet strength that inspired everyone around him” read a statement from the National Basketball Players Association on behalf of Rogers’ family. Jon Niednagel can well-attest to the fact that Rogers was indeed a man of quiet strength, a characteristic often shared by #6 BEIRs. JN spent a good deal of time around Rodney during his tenure with the Phoenix Suns back in the mid-1990s, and Rodney played a pivotal role on the Suns roster at the time. He was incredibly built, tough as nails, both physically and mentally. He played for 12 seasons, averaging 11 points per game, and earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2000.
Written by: Staff
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