Former NBA star and New York Knicks legend Willis Reed passed away on Tuesday. He was 80.
Per ClutchPoints, the news was reported by veteran sports columnist, Peter Vecsey. “Just received word that Willis Reed, 80, passed this morning,” he wrote. It was added that he was ailing from congestive heart problems over the last year and was in rehabilitation to walk.
RIP TO THE LEGEND WILLIS REED pic.twitter.com/asKoe0d66s
— The Knicks Wall (@TheKnicksWall) March 21, 2023
The big man spent the entirety of his career playing for New York. The decade-long decorated career saw him being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
The defining moment in his career was during Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The center sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy after he walked onto the court despite suffering from a thigh injury that had sidelined him from the previous game.
He went on to play the game and win Finals MVP as the Knicks pipped the Lakers 4-3 in a hard-fought series. He ended the series averaging 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
Three years later, Reed led the Knicks to a second championship against the Lakers again. This time, it was a resounding 4-1 win where he averaged 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. His stellar efforts saw him win his second Finals MVP.
In all, he won two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and an MVP Award during his time with the Knicks. His stellar achievements see him ranked as the greatest in the New York Knicks GOAT pyramid.
A Quick Look At Willis Reed’s Meteoric Career
Reed was the 2nd round pick in the 1964 NBA Draft and quickly rose up the Knicks ranks as a center who could make an instant impact on both ends of the floor.
The two-time NBA champ averaged 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists during his time with the side. His illustrious career also saw him make seven All-Star appearances and made the list of the 50 greatest NBA players in the country.
His other major achievements include making the All-NBA First Team once and being picked four times for the All-NBA Second Team. Recently, he made the league’s 75th Anniversary team.
He forayed into coaching and managing once he hung up his boots. Reed served as an assistant and head coach for several teams, including the Knicks. He went on to become the New Jersey Nets’ General Manager in 1989. The former center also went on to become senior vice president of basketball operations.
The Louisiana man enjoyed a decorated career, and today the world lost one of the more dominant players to have played the sport. Our prayers are with the icon’s family and our heartfelt condolences.
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