Legendary Knicks Hall of Famer Willis Reed Passes Away At 80
Willis Reed, the driving force behind the team that led the Knicks to their most recent NBA championship, has passed away.
The National Basketball Retired Players Association reported Reed’s passing after getting word from his family.
As the Knicks celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1973 NBA championship squad at their game against New Orleans on February 25, Reed could not attend because of recent health issues; however, his passing was kept a secret.
Reed, known by the moniker “The Captain,” was the undersized center and emotional captain for the Knicks’ two NBA championship teams. He had a soft outside shooting touch and the toughness to compete against the elite big men of the era on the inside.
On Tuesday, the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, stated that Willis Reed was “the quintessential team player and leader.”
One of my first and favorite memories of NBA basketball is watching Willis, who embodied the competitive spirit that defined the New York Knicks championship teams in the early 1970s. Silver sympathized with Reed’s wife, Gale, family, numerous friends, and admirers.
He would have qualified for the Hall of Fame with just seven All-Star selections and two MVP awards in the NBA Finals. He was the first athlete to receive MVP honors during the regular season, All-Star Game, and NBA Finals in 1969–70.
After Reed pulled a thigh muscle in Game 5 of the series between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, he collapsed on the field in pain.
In contrast, Wilt Chamberlain recorded 45 points and 27 rebounds in Game 6 of their series, which the Lakers dominated. This victory forced a decisive game at Madison Square Garden.
But simply stepping onto the court on the season’s last night was enough to cement his place in history.
Reed received treatment until just before Game 7, and even his Knicks teammates were unaware of his condition. Fans cheered and rose to their feet as they saw Reed emerge from the tunnel leading to the locker room as both teams were warming up.
The Lakers paused to observe Reed, who then made two fast jump jumpers in the early going of the game before limping noticeably as he ran off the court after each attempt.
Walt Frazier’s 36 points and 19 assists, together with the Knicks’ captain’s comeback, giving them the energy they needed to cruise to their first NBA championship with a score of 113-99.
He would not score again, but the team didn’t need him to do so.
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