Willis Reed

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Willis Reed

Willis Reed, Jr. (born June 25, 1942 in Bernice, Louisiana) is an American former basketball player, who played for the New York Knicks for his entire career. He was a second-round draft choice of the Knicks in 1964 and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 19.5 points per game and 14.7 rebounds per game. In his first seasons with the Knicks, he held the power forward position, and then he gained fame as the starting center.

Despite his average stature (he stood at a mere 6 ft 9 in, when, for instance, his contemporaries Wilt Chamberlain and Lew Alcindor stood at 7 ft 1 in and 7 ft 2 in respectively), Reed enjoyed a brilliant career with the Knicks, winning two championship rings, in 1970 and 1973. In 1970, he became the first player in NBA history to be named the NBA All-Star Game MVP, the NBA regular season MVP, and the NBA Playoff MVP in the same season. That same year, he was named to the All-NBA first team and NBA All-Defensive first team.

Reed's most famous performance took place on May 8, 1970, during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in Madison Square Garden. Despite a severe thigh injury, he started the game in front of a thrilled audience, and scored the first two Knicks field goals of the game on his first two shot attempts. The Knicks won the game 113-99, giving New York City its first ever NBA title.

Reed's career was cut short by injuries and he had to retire after the 1973-1974 season, his tenth. For his career, Reed averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, playing 650 games. He played in seven NBA All-Star Games.

For all his achievements, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He is widely considered as one of the greatest Knicks ever, with the likes of Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing.

Reed played college basketball at Grambling State University, where he scored 2,280 career points, averaged 26.6 points and 21.3 rebounds as a senior, and led Grambling to an NAIA title and three Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships.

He coached the Knicks from 1977–1978. He served as volunteer assistant coach for St. John's University and head coached Creighton University from 1981–1985. Also in the 1980s he served as an assistant coach for both the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks. He became the head coach of the New Jersey Nets from 1988–1989, compiling an 82-124 win-loss record. He became the Nets' General Manager & Vice President of Basketball Operations from 1988 to 1996. He is presently the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Hornets.

[edit] External links

New York Knicks 1972-73 NBA Champions

New York Knicks 1969-70 NBA Champions

[edit] Further reading

Heisler, Mark (2003). Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 1572435771.

National Basketball Association | NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

Preceded by: Red Holzman	New York Knicks Head Coach 1977–1978	Succeeded by: Red Holzman
Preceded by: Bob MacKinnon	New Jersey Nets Head Coach 1988–1989	Succeeded by: Bill Fitch

Persondata
NAME	Reed, Willis Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	American basketball player for the New York Knicks
DATE OF BIRTH	June 25, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH	Hico, Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH