Knicks Legend Willis Reed, Hall of Famer, Dead At 80

Knicks legend Willis Reed, arguably the best participant within the historical past of the group, has died on the age of 80, in line with a number of studies.

Reed had been ailing … battling congestive coronary heart failure, longtime NYC columnist Peter Vescey reported on Tuesday.

The Knicks haven’t but commented on his passing.

Simply put, Willis was one of the very best hoopers to ever step foot on the hardwood.

Reed, a 6’10” heart, was drafted by the Knicks with the tenth general choose within the 1964 NBA Draft. Over his 10-season profession, he averaged almost 19 factors and 13 rebounds. Willis was a 7x All-Star, 2x NBA Finals MVP and the 1970 NBA MVP.

Willis’ most well-known second got here throughout Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. The Knicks and Lakers have been knotted at three video games apiece, with the title on the road. Reed missed Game 6 with a extreme thigh harm, and nearly nobody anticipated the large man to play within the deciding sport.

But, to the amazement of hundreds of followers at Madison Square Garden, Reed limped onto the court docket throughout warmups, prompting the group to erupt. Willis hit the primary two photographs for the Knicks, and it was the one time he scored within the sport.

However, Reed’s presence gave his Knicks teammates the raise they wanted to down Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West‘s Lakers squad, 113-99. It was the Knickerbockers’ first title.

NYK then received one other championship three years later in 1973.

After retiring from the NBA in ’74, Reed was employed by the Knicks as head coach in ’77. His teaching stint in NY did not final very lengthy. In 1981, Willis went again to varsity, the place he coached Creighton. He then had stints as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.

In 1988, Reed was once more named an NBA head coach when he was employed because the New Jersey Nets’ headman.

The Knicks’ final title was in 1973 … and the franchise not too long ago celebrated the 50-year anniversary, welcoming again stars from the crew like Walt Frazier. Sadly, Reed, as a result of of well being points, wasn’t in a position to make it to NYC for the occasion.

The Garden performed a pretaped message from the legendary hooper … and the group cherished it.

He might now be gone … however Reed’s #19 will without end dangle within the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Arena.