NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in New York Knicks history: Willis Reed

Deep thigh bruise

Willis Reed’s comeback story only took place over the course of the playoffs, but it inspired the New York Knicks to their first ever NBA title. Reed had been a force to reckoned with in the 1970 NBA Finals, putting up games of 37, 29, 38 and 23 points before suffering a thigh bruise and missing Game 5.

Reed and Los Angeles Lakers big man Wilt Chamberlain had quite the duel in the Finals. In Game 6, Chamberlain put up 45 points and 27 rebounds with Reed sitting out to tie the series at 3-3.

With their fate in the balance, it was unknown if Reed would play in Game 7, but when he jogged out for warmups, things changed for the better.

He scored the team’s first two baskets, his only ones of the game, but it marked his ability to inspire those around him as his team’s fearless leader. Reed would take home the NBA Finals MVP award, adding to the 1969-70 All-Star MVP award and regular season MVP award he won already. His presence overshadowed the performance of Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, who put up 36 points and 19 assists, but it spoke on his ability to lead by example and play through injury.

Reed would go on to win another title with the New York Knicks during the 1973 NBA Finals as well. He took home the NBA Finals MVP award once again, producing 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. After compiling 12,183 points and 8,414 rebounds in his career, he retired in 1974 due to his knee injuries.