Knicks & More in the NBA Pay Tribute to Late Legend Willis Reed
Numerous tributes have risen throughout the basketball world to pay tribute to Willis Reed, the New York Knicks legend and two-time NBA Finals champion and MVP who passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday morning.
The Knicks released a statement in the wake of Reed's passing, one bearing the headline "Our Captain." alongside an image of the injured center taking the floor for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, where his unexpected prescience served as the spark for a win over the Los Angeles Lakers that clinched the team's first-ever NBA title.
"The Knicks organization is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Captain, Willis Reed. As we mourn, we will always strive to uphold the standards he left behind - the unmatched leadership, sacrifice, and work ethic that personified him as a champion among champions. His is a legacy that will live forever. We ask everyone to please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time."
Reed's alma mater Grambling State, whom he guided to a national NAIA title before he join the Knicks as the eighth overall pick in the 1964 NBA Draft, likewise released a statement, as did the NBA Players Association and NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
"Willis will always be a legend of our game, leaving an incredible legacy of achievement as the backbone and Captain of the New York Knicks during his 10-year playing career. While his contributions on the court generated great success on an individual and team basis, his work ethic, commitment, and dedication to his craft were a model for future generations of players. He was a true professional in every sense of the word. We send our condolences to Willis' family, friends, and the entire Knicks organization during this time.”-NBAPA STATEMENT
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader. My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s. He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports. As a league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, Willis was a decorated player who took great pride in his consistency. Following his playing career, Willis mentored the next generation as a coach, team executive, and proud HBCU alumnus. We send our deepest condolences to Willis’ wife, Gail, his family, and his many friends and fans.”-ADAM SILVER
Further tributes from the basketball world and beyond flooded in memory of Reed, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA in 1982.
Though the current Knicks (42-31) are off on a quick Floridian road trip beginning on Wednesday night in Miami (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG), Madison Square Garden observed a moment of silence in Reed's memory prior to the NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes.
The Knicks return to MSG on Monday for the Houston Rockets' visit.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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