Basketball Hall of Famer and New York Knicks star Willis Reed passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. Reed played for the Knicks for his whole career, where he won two championships and one MVP award. Willis Reed was the imposing and motivating center of two Knicks championship teams that mesmerized New York City in the early 1970s with a shrewd, team-focused brand of basketball.
The National Basketball Retired Players Association made the announcement of Reed’s passing after getting family confirmation. Although the reason for their death was not made public, Reed had recently struggled with his health and was unable to attend the Knicks’ celebration of the 50th anniversary of their 1973 championship team in New York in February because of this. Also Read: Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks Final Injury Report date – 20/03/2023: Are Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Playing against Dallas Mavericks Tonight?
Willis Reed NBA Journey as a Player
The New York Knicks selected Willis Reed in the 1964 NBA Draft. He averaged 19.5 points per game on 43.2% shooting in his debut season, dominating the competition. At 14.7 per game, Reed ranked among the best rebounders in the league.
Because of his exceptional talent, they selected the Knicks great as an All-Star in each of his first seven seasons. As the Knicks defeated the LA Lakers in 1970, the big man captured his first title. The 1970 NBA Finals were a classic example of Willis Reed heart and soul-filled play.
Willis Reed’s name always comes to mind when someone mentions the New York Knicks. On both sides of the floor, Reed was a strong center who played with a lot of energy. During the 1969–70 season, he received the NBA MVP award. In 81 games, he had an average of 21.7 points on 50.7% shooting, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Also Read: Joel Embiid scores 38 points to lead the 76ers against the Hornets and to their seventh straight victory
Also, He was an executive and basketball coach
The legendary basketball player had a remarkable playing career and also dabbled in coaching. Naturally, the New York Knicks were the first club he led. In addition, Willis Reed worked as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Kings, and the New Jersey Nets for a single season.
In addition to his work as an NBA coach, Willis Reed led the Creighton Bluejays from 1981 to 1985. Eventually, the Nets hired him as their vice president of basketball operations and general manager for six seasons. In this role, Reed helped the Nets become a playoff challenger and made some outstanding player selections, including Derrick Coleman and Drazen Petrovic.
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