Willis Reed, a New York Knicks standout and NBA champion, died at the age of 80.
One of the giants of 1970s basketball died on Tuesday due to health issues.
The basketball world is grieving the death of Willis Reed, a former NBA standout who won two championships with the famed 1970s New York Knicks teams.
Reed’s death was verified by his longtime comrade and former US senator, Bill Bradley.
The 6’10” center completed his entire ten-year NBA career with the New York Knicks, who picked him in the second round of the 1964 draft. He was voted Rookie of the Year in 1965 and appeared in the NBA All-Star Game each year from 1965 to 1971.
However, he will be most known for his championship-winning performances with the Knicks, when he played a key part in the team’s NBA championships in 1970 and 1973.
He established himself as a clutch player in key play-off games, competing with the era’s most prominent stars, including Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had a significant height advantage.
Who did Willis Reed coach?
After a successful playing career, Reed joined his former team’s coaching staff in 1974. He went on to coach the Kicks for the 1977-78 season, but quit after 14 games with a 49-47 record the following season.
He played collegiate basketball for Creighton University and St. John’s University before returning to the professional ranks. He served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings before retiring to coach the New Jersey Nets.
Willis Reed’s official cause of death has yet to be published, however he was known to be in terrible condition before to his death. In his statement confirming his friend’s death, Bill Bradley stated that Reed had congestive heart failure.
Bradley also stated that he had been having therapy from the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. In the coming days, the NBA will likely pay homage to Reed.
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