Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

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Willis Reed, New York Knicks. Photo By Ross Lewis/Getty Images /

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 57 – Willis Reed

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1965 – 1974

Achievements: Two-time champion; 1970 MVP; All-NBA (5x); All-Star (7x); All-Defense (1x); Finals MVP (2x)

The heart and soul of the New York Knicks in the 1960s and ’70s, Willis Reed was a hard-working center from Louisiana who came one of the most beloved Knicks of all time. He played through multiple injuries throughout his career to bring the Knicks two titles, in 1970 and 1973.

The premier moment for Reed’s career was Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. After Reed suffered a leg injury in Game 5, he returned in Game 7 to start and hit the Knicks’ first two shots. They were his only points of the game, but Reed locked in defending Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers, and when he had to finally exit the game the Knicks had a 24 points lead, Wilt had made just two shots of his own and the Knicks were on their way to a title.

Reed was blessed with some great teammates, from Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier to Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and Jerry Lucas. Those Knicks teams are legendary, and Reed was at the center of their iconic run. He made five All-NBA teams despite the tough competition at the center position, and he won Finals MVP in both of their championship runs.