Willis Reed was born in Louisiana, but he moved to New York when the Knicks drafted him in the 1964 draft. He would eventually stay there until the end of his career in 1974.
Reed won the title with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973. The 1970 title in particular – when he was voted MVP – established his fame and legend.
The decision against the LA Lakers came in the 7th and final game. It was highly uncertain, almost impossible, that the injury-prone Reed would be able to play. When he emerged from the Madison Square Garden tunnel, his teammates got such a boost that they won even with a Reed at half power.
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player,” NBA boss Adam Silver said in a statement. “He played the game with admirable passion and conviction. His inspiring comeback in the 1970 finals remains one of the most iconic moments in sporting history.”
In 1982 – 8 years after the end of his career – Reed was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In honor of the NBA’s 50th anniversary, he was included in the NBA’s top 50 in 1996 and 25 years later, in 2021, also in the top 75.
