Gene Wiley, Former Lakers Center, Dies at 88

Center Gene Wiley, who played four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and reached the NBA Finals three times, passed away on June 21 at the age of 88. His NBA career offered him proximity to a championship, yet coincided with the dominance of Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics. During the 1963, 1964, and 1966 Finals, the Celtics defeated the Lakers, extending their streak to eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966.

Wiley, hailing from Amarillo, Texas, excelled at Wichita State University from 1959 to 1962. Standing 6-foot-11, he was recognized for his rebounding and shot-blocking prowess, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1961 and 1962. Wichita State later inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1981.

The Lakers selected Wiley as the 17th overall pick in the 1962 NBA draft. Although not a leading star among the likes of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Wiley excelled in the playoffs. In 27 games, he averaged 26.3 minutes per game, achieved a .505 field-goal shooting percentage, and secured 10.1 rebounds per game, surpassing his regular-season performance.

Wiley retired after the 1965-66 season, concluding with career averages of 4.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His record of 14 rebounds in one quarter against the New York Knicks on November 5, 1962, remains a Lakers team record.

In the 1967-68 season, Wiley attempted a comeback in the American Basketball Association, playing eight games for the Oakland Oaks and one for the Dallas Chaparrals before ending his professional basketball journey.

Wiley had begun a second career while still at Wichita State, pursuing a passion for painted illustrative art. His artwork was showcased in gallery exhibits throughout his life.

Former Wichita State coach Ralph Miller wrote in his 1990 memoir, “Spanning the Game,” that “Gene was a classy young man. Next to Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, he was probably the best shot-blocker in America. He was a great defensive player.”