The Metropolitan King County Council on Wednesday was joined by NBA Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens in recognizing Jack Sikma for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Wilkens and Sikma shared stories of the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics, who celebrate the 40th anniversary of their NBA Championship this Saturday.
Sikma was born in Illinois and played at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was a three-time NAIA All-American, as well as two-time Academic All-American. He was a first-round pick, drafted eighth overall in the 1977 NBA draft. As a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, Sikma was selected to seven consecutive All-Star Games, from 1979 to 1985, averaging a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, and shooting 47 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line.
After retiring from the NBA, Sikma worked in real estate development for 12 years in the Seattle area before becoming an assistant coach with the Sonics, Rockets and Timberwolves. Outside of his professional life, Sikma has been involved with a variety of philanthropies, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and King County, NBA Basketball Without Borders, the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation and the Seattle Children’s Golf Tournament Fundraiser.
It was announced earlier this year that Sikma will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 class. The ceremony is Sept. 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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