Wilt Chamberlain’s records of 100 points and 55 rebounds (each in one game), season average (30 points and 20 rebounds per game) and never fouling out of a game, have always put me in awe, and Julius Erving— the DOCTOR—always thrilled me with his soaring dunks and smooth plays…..and his last-second shot from mid-court to beat the Mavericks when I attended for my birthday present sent me home doubly happy as I watched my two favorite players at the time, Brad Davis and Julius Erving.
However, probably the MOST MEMORABLE sight that still floats across my mind at the mention of GREAT GAME is the sight of WILLIS REED, running out onto the court, almost on one leg, and giving his team such a great lift, that they went on to win the 7th game and the NBA Championship when Wilt was playing and all bets were on the Lakers—since Reed “just could not play with his badly injured leg!” **More about this at the conclusion of this article.
Willis Reed was born in 1942 in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, and went to West Side High School in Lillie, Louisiana. He moved on to play college ball at Grambling State University and as a Tiger scored 2280 college career points—around 27 points and 21 rebounds per game his senior season. He was an instrumental reason his team won three Southwestern Atlantic Conference titles and one NAIA title.
He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1964 and played all ten years of his career with them, mainly at the center position, but also as a power forward when it would most benefit the team. After his playing career ended, he coached at the college and professional levels from 1977 to 1989, finishing with the New Jersey Nets. Mr. Reed continued on as a front office basketball operations executive for many years after. He passed on recently of heart failure in Houston, Texas, and had been in failing health for a while. This 6’ 10” giant (in many ways) of a man won many awards and accolades (NBA All-Rookie and Rookie of the Year, two NBA titles, NBA Most Valuable Player, 7 times an NBA All-Star and MVP Player of the Game once, also All-NBA first and second Team Member several times and had his number “19” retired by the Knicks). For his professional career, he averaged nearly 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, and was voted into both the college and professional Basketball Halls of Fame and then selected for both the 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
Willis Reed amazed me and thousands, maybe millions, of basketball fans with his performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals, pitting the New York Knicks against the favored Los Angeles Lakers.
Reed had been “All-Everything” that NBA season—award after award—and he had led his team to 3 victories in the 1970 NBA finals. However, a severe thigh injury of a torn muscle and other leg damage had forced him to miss Game 6, and no one expected him to be able to even go onto the floor for the deciding Game 7. Most betters and observers from/for both teams considered the series as “OVER” with Los Angeles as the Champions.
BUT—Willis Reed walked onto the floor during the warm-ups, limping noticeably!—Loud applause erupted, not just from Knicks fans but also from admiring Lakers fans who appreciated all the opposing adversary player had accomplished.
I can still hear announcer, Marv Albert, announce loudly, “Here comes Willis!” The stunned crowd at Madison
Square Garden and those listening/watching on their radios/televisions couldn’t believe what they were hearing and seeing; neither could Don Themer!
And then the game start-ed— and so did a noticeably limping Reed, who scored the first two Knicks goals on his first two shots and injected life and hope into his adoring fans and teammates. He played 27 “gutsy” minutes on a bad leg, scored no more goals but did pull down 3 rebounds, and led his team to the victory and the NBA Championship through his example.
It should be noted that Walt Frazier posted 36 points and 19 assists, and it seemed that he was having an inspired game, maybe the best game he ever played— maybe because of the example and fortitude of #19!
I will admit that as much as I wanted the Lakers to win, and as much as I idolized Wilt Chamberlain, I was applauding at my home television set every time #19 did something good, and I winced every time he pivoted and tried to jump on that bad leg.
At 6’ 10” in height, he was not the biggest man on the court, but WILLIS REED had the biggest heart!
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.