BREAKING: Knicks legend Willis Reed dies at 80 as fans and teammates remember ‘El Capitan,’ who overcame a leg injury to lead New York over the LA Lakers in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals
Willis Reed, the legendary captain of the New York Knicks, has passed away at the age of 80.
The cause of death has not been released, but veteran NBA reporter Peter Vescey reported on Twitter that the Louisiana native had been dealing with congestive heart problems “for the last year or so.” He had been in rehab to be able to walk, Vescey wrote.
A two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, the 6-foot-10 Reed was the centerpiece of Knicks coach Red Holzman’s memorable teams in the late 1960s and ’70s.
He is perhaps best remembered for his appearance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, when he overcame a serious leg injury in the Knicks’ 113-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers by Wilt Chamberlain.
The sight of downtown limping out of what later became known as the ‘Willis Reed Tunnel’, and the overwhelming response from the Madison Square Garden faithful, remains an indelible part of NBA history. Reed would only score four points, the Knicks’ first two baskets of the game, but the emotional edge he gave his teammates is often credited to the team’s first NBA title.
Willis Reed, the legendary captain of the New York Knicks, has passed away at the age of 80. The cause of death has not been released, but veteran NBA reporter Peter Vescey reported on Twitter that the Louisiana native had been dealing with congestive heart problems for the past year. more or less.’ He had been in rehab to be able to walk, Vescey wrote.
The only man to win a Finals MVP with the Knicks, Reed (No. 19) is pictured in this 1970 photo with the other members of New York’s first title-winning team, including Phil Jackson (No. 18), Walt Frazier ( No. 10), Cazzie Russell (No. 33), Dave DeBusschere (No. 22), future US Senator Bill Bradley (No. 24), Mike Riordan (No. 6), Dick Barnett (No. 9) and the coach Red Holzman (far left)
Although his playing days in New York lasted only 10 years, Reed’s Hall of Fame career was deeply impactful in a city where basketball is so revered.
He would later coach the Knicks and serve as general manager, before moving on to similar roles with the New Jersey Nets, but it’s his gritty and selfless play that made him an almost religious figure among New York fans.
While undeniably impressive, Reed’s stats are modest compared to some of his contemporaries, like Chamberlain or Milwaukee rival Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Reed averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, but blocking stats weren’t recorded on his day, so it can be hard to gauge his full defensive impact.
Regardless, Reed was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 1970, one of many accolades he earned at Madison Square Garden between 1964 and 1974.
The 1970 NBA Most Valuable Player, Reed was a seven-time All-Star, earned an All-NBA First Team nomination and four Second Team honors, in addition to his 1965 Rookie of the Year award. His No. 19 was retired by the Knicks, Reed was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, and was later named to the NBA’s list of the 50 Greatest Players in League History.