LILBURN-- While he works to maximize their talents, Atlanta Hawks Basketball Coach Lenny Wilkens also strives to build character in his players through a consistent Christian example and meet the needs of his family.

The Hawks coach since 1993, a parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, shared his personal experiences the morning of June 20 at a breakfast with the Catholic Men's Fellowship of Northeast Atlanta. The event held at Killian Hall in Lilburn attracted over 200 men and wide-eyed adolescent boys thirsting to hear the words of the winningest coach in the NBA.

Wilkens, 61, shared with attendees stories and insights which reflect his love for the sport and for his family.

He described a moment in the fourth game of a championship series while coaching in Seattle where, with four minutes remaining, his 10-year-old son, a ball boy, tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a dollar for a hot-dog.

"I reached in my pocket and I gave him a dollar and went on with the game," he said. "We get so wrapped up in what we do sometimes that we think that it's so important that it won't hold, it won't last...and it will. To him I was just his dad. It's a moment that I treasure."

Wilkens, who was named the 1993-94 Coach of the Year and led the USA Basketball Dream Team to a gold medal during the 1996 Olympic Games, said that in coaching basketball he most enjoys helping players. "I feel very fortunate in my career...to work with young men because I feel that even though I try to help expand their talents, help them maximize their talents, I hope that them being around me will help them be better people so that they can take this back with them working with their families and in their neighborhoods."

"I think I'm consistent in who I am. They know that I'm not one that walks around with a shield and says I believe in God. The biggest thing I try to do is be consistent," he said. "They know that I'm Catholic and more importantly I'm Christian (and) I believe in God. Even if they're Baptist or Presbyterian there's common ground that can be created."

Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., the coach said basketball never came easy to him and described how, in playing the sport among friends, he rarely got picked for teams because he wasn't good enough. He said he often go upset when he was playing because he never was passed the ball. These things were his impetus to become a better player.

After only playing on his high school team a half season, Wilkens, through the assistance and encouragement of a Brooklyn priest, attended Providence College in Rhode Island where he played basketball and majored in economics.

Following graduation he was offered both a fellowship at Boston College to teach economics while he worked on a master's degree and a job with the Technical Tape Company. He was then chosen a 1960 first round draft pick of the St. Louis Hawks.

Although he never previously followed the NBA and was unsure of his interest in it, Wilkens joined the Hawks and eventually played a total of 15 years in the association, ranking among the all-time leaders in assists, number of and minutes played in games and free throws made. He has served 15 years as a head coach in the league and has coached 1618 regular season NBA games.

Wilkens was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1990 for his performance as a player with the St. Louis Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trail Blazers, and will be re-honored this October at the Hall of Fame for his coaching in Atlanta, Cleveland, Portland and Seattle. Throughout his coaching tenure he has won over 1,000 games.

Married with three children, the coach said that he spends quality time with his family when not traveling with the Hawks. Some of their activities include vacations before and after each basketball season and lunch outings with his daughters after Mass.

He loves to read biographies and historical novels and has particularly enjoyed books by Winston Churchill and "The Good Enough Catholic: A Guide for the Perplexed."

The coach advised his young players in attendance to "be accountable for who you are. Be responsible for what you do, what you say and what you become...It's too easy to put the blame on someone else. Young people have to be accountable and--not just young people--we have to be accountable. We have to set those examples for young people."

At the conclusion of Wilkens’ talk Rick Kohrumel, a founder of the men's fellowship, presented Wilkens with a papal cross blessed by Pope John Paul II.

Numerous people in attendance were impressed with Wilkens' message and the Christian example he continuously strives to set.

Tom Studer of St. John Neumann Church in Lilburn was impressed by Wilkens’ "teaching the kids about self-reliance and being responsible for yourself. Too many people are not (willing to)...take the blame and take responsibility for themselves."

As he has a 16-year-old nephew who aspires to play high school ball, he said, "What inspired me is that he (Wilkens) didn't play in high school. My nephew tried out and didn't make it. Hopefully I can bring that encouragement to him.”

Bob Wannemacher of St. John Neumann left the event wanting "to take my role as a dad more seriously, spend more quality time with my children. He (Wilkens) inspired me to spend good quality time with my children helping them become better people and better basketball players."