Iconic appearance against Lakers
NBA mourns legend Willis Reed
03/22/2023 09:52 am
US basketball mourns the loss of former “MVP” Willis Reed. The longtime New York Knicks captain has died at the age of 80. Reed played ten seasons for the Knicks, was selected to the All-Star team seven times and won two championships.
The NBA mourns the passing of basketball legend Willis Reed. The former professional, nicknamed “The Captain,” has died at the age of 80, the former players’ association said, citing Reed’s family. He led the New York Knicks to two championships in 1970 and 1973, the club’s only two titles. Reed played ten seasons for New York from 1964 to 1974 and was selected to the All-Star team seven times. In the 1969/70 season he was also awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Season (MVP).
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and a consummate leader,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “My earliest and fondest memory of NBA basketball is watching Willis define the winning spirit of the winning team the New York Knicks in the early 1970s.” Reed was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. He is also included in the list of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time.
The NBA mourns the loss of a legend.
(Photo: AP)
Reed provided one of the most iconic moments in NBA history when he emerged from the dressing room a few minutes before the start of the crucial final game in 1970 and, despite the injury, inspired his team to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Although he “only” hit his first two throws, he infected his team with his irrepressible fighting spirit. In New York he is revered as the “beloved captain”. In 650 games, the power forward has an outstanding 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds in a career step.
“As we mourn, we will strive to uphold the standards he left behind – his unparalleled leadership, dedication and work ethic that personify him as a champion among champions,” the Knicks wrote of Reed’s death. “His legacy will live on forever.”