Summary

As a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, Jack was selected to seven consecutive All-Star Games, from 1979 to 1985, averaging a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds

Story

Jack Sikma joined by Councilmembers and his Hall of Fame Coach Lenny Wilkens after the Council recognized Sikma’s Hall of Fame career

Today the Metropolitan King County Council was joined by 3-time Basketball Hall of Fame Player and Coach Lenny Wilkens in recognizing Jack Sikma for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Lenny and Jack 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 collegiately 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 with the eighth overall selection in the 1977 NBA draft. As a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, Jack 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% from the field and 83% 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.

WHEREAS, Jack Wayne Sikma was born in Illinois and played collegiately at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, and was a three-time NAIA All-American, as well as a two-time Academic All-American; and

WHEREAS, Jack was a first-round pick, drafted with the eighth overall selection in the 1977 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics; and

WHEREAS, during his rookie season, Jack averaged 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds and was named to the 1977-1978 NBA All-Rookie Team; and

WHEREAS, with the SuperSonics, Jack 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% from the field and 83% from the line; and

WHEREAS, during his 14 years in the NBA, Jack won a World Championship with the SuperSonics in 1979 and became known as one of the most accurate shooting centers in NBA history; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from the NBA, Jack worked in real estate development for 12 years in the Seattle area before becoming an assistant coach with the Sonics, Rockets, and Timberwolves over the next 11 years; and

WHEREAS, outside of his professional life, Jack 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;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize

for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame and for his distinguished career and service in King County.

DATED this twenty-ninth day of May, 2019.