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(New York, NY) – Knicks legend Willis Reed has passed away at the age of 80.
Perhaps best known to NBA fans for playing while injured during the 1970 NBA Finals, Reed helped lead the Knicks to championships that year, and later in 1973. Both times he was named NBA Finals MVP.
His death was confirmed by teammate Bill Bradley, also a former United States senator. He said Reed had congestive heart issues. It was not clear where Reed died, but he had been under treatment at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Bradley said.
A seven-time NBA All-Star, Reed was named MVP of the league in 1970. He eventually became head coach of the Knicks, as well as the New Jersey Nets, and Creighton University. In 1976, two years after he retired from the NBA, Reed’s #19 jersey was retired by the Knicks and now hangs from the MSG rafters.
His most famous moment came during Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. After a thigh injury had sidelined him in the previous game, Reed stunned a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd by walking onto the court during warmups. He went on the win finals MVP.
Reed’s career was cut short by injuries and he retired shortly after the second title run. In total, the two-time NBA champion averaged 18.9 PPG and 12.9 RPG across ten seasons with the Knicks.
