TORONTO -- Twice enshrined Lenny Wilkens probably has no idea how close he came to being deported from Toronto less than two weeks ago. Yet, surely the Hall of Fame player and coach, the NBA's all-time winningest (1278) and runnerup losingest (10 behind Bill Fitch at 1106) coach, knows his history-making career is raggedly reaching its finale.
According to a Raptors operative, Wilkens survived a split decision by management multi-entities during a meeting to discuss whether to fire him a day or two after his team lost its 11th straight game on Jan. 6 in Detroit.
Certainly everyone understands Lenny has a valid excuse for not being competitive this season, the nameless face acknowledges, referring to protracted injuries to three-fifths (Vince Carter, Antonio Davis and Lamond Murray) of Toronto's early-season projected starting lineup.