NBA: The 30 best trios in league history
Best trios in NBA history: 16. Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Dave DeBusschere
- Frazier: 20.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, 6.6 rpg
- Reed: 16.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg
- DeBusschere: 16 ppg, 10.7 rpg
- Finals record: 2-1
- Time together: 1969-1974
New York Knicks fans have always been a proud bunch. What’s deemed a success in this era, is completely different than what the standard was almost 50 years ago.
It was all about championships, not deep playoff runs that ultimately ended in heartbreak. And from 1969-1974, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Dave DeBusschere made sure that the Knicks were always in the mix. During that six-year stretch, the Knicks always locked in a playoff spot. Only twice did they finish the regular season with less than 50 wins.
With Reed playing three seasons in which he was an All-Star, while averaging over 21 points per game, he was met in those midseason classics by the flamboyant Walt Frazier who poured in 20.8 points a night during their six years together.
For as good as both Frazier and Reed were, the pair didn’t start winning championships until DeBusschere came onboard. He was selected to five All-Star games as a member of the Knicks and never averaged anything less than 10 rebounds a night.
For the Knicks, it was all about defense. DeBusschere made the All-Defensive squad all six years, so did Frazier. Even Reed, who wasn’t known for locking up players, made an All-Defensive team as well. With all three players guarding their man as good as anyone in the league, it accentuated the Knicks as a whole on the defensive end.
During those six seasons, the Knicks never finished any lower than sixth in terms of defensive rankings in the entire league. That Knicks trio never bowed out of the playoffs before the Eastern Conference Finals and made three Finals appearances with two title wins.
New Yorkers would do anything to see another championship parade.