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New York Knicks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Knicks

By Phil Watson

Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view as the New York Knicks are introduced before the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view as the New York Knicks are introduced before the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1970: Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks shoots over Wes Unseld #41 of the Baltimore Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1970 at the Baltimore Coliseum in Baltimore, Maryland. Reed played for the Knicks from 1964-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willis Reed; Wes Unseld
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1970: Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks shoots over Wes Unseld #41 of the Baltimore Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1970 at the Baltimore Coliseum in Baltimore, Maryland. Reed played for the Knicks from 1964-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willis Reed; Wes Unseld /

27. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Second-round pick (8th overall) from Grambling State, 1964 NBA Draft.. C-PF. . Willis Reed. 2. player

Willis Reed was a monster at Grambling, averaging almost 27 points and more than 21 rebounds per game as a senior, and the New York Knicks opened the second round of the 1964 NBA Draft by selecting the big man.

Good call.

NYK_02_REED
NYK_02_REED /

Reed is most famous for his Game 7 heroics in the 1970 NBA Finals against the

Los Angeles Lakers

, when he came out of the tunnel despite a torn thigh muscle and scored the first two baskets of the game for the Knicks on his first two shots.

But he was so much more than just that one moment. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1964-65 and the league MVP in 1969-70 and was picked for seven All-Star Games, winning MVP honors in 1970, as well as earning five All-NBA selections and an All-Defensive nod in 1969-70.

Reed was second in the MVP voting in 1968-69 and fourth in 1970-71.

He was third in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1968-69 and fifth in 1966-67 and fifth in rebounding in 1964-65.

He played in six of the seven games of the 1970 NBA Finals, still averaging 23 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 37.7 minutes per game, shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 58.8 percent at the line while earning Finals MVP honors.

Reed was injured and did not play in the 1972 NBA Finals, won by the Lakers in five games.

But in the 1973 NBA Finals, Reed averaged 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 30 minutes per game, shooting 49.3 percent from the floor and 8-for-9 at the line en route to his second Finals MVP award in a five-game victory over Los Angeles.

Injuries, however, forced Reed into retirement after the 1973-74 season.

In 10 seasons with the Knicks, Reed averaged 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks in 35.5 minutes per game, shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 74.7 percent from the foul line.

Reed later coached the Knicks from 1977 through November 1978, going 49-47 in parts of two seasons and posting a 2-4 playoff record.

In February 1988, he was named coach of the New Jersey Nets, stepping down after the 1988-89 season after going 33-77. He was later GM in New Jersey from May 1990 through June 1996.

Reed also coached at Creighton for four seasons from 1981-85, going 52-65.

He is 11th in NBA history with an average of 12.9 rebounds per game.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, Reed was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

Next: Big Pat Lived Up To His Billing

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