Reed, Willis (1942-2023), was an outstanding American college and professional basketball player. Reed, a center and forward, was a star with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He stood 6 feet 10 inches (208 centimeters) tall. Reed was an outstanding scorer and rebounder as well as a team leader.
Willis Reed, Jr., was born in Hico, Louisiana, on June 25, 1942. He played for Grambling State University from 1960 to 1964. The Knicks drafted Reed in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft, and he was named the league’s Rookie of the Year, averaging 19.5 points and 14.7 rebounds a game. He played on the Knicks teams that won the NBA championship for the 1969-1970 and 1972-1973 seasons. He was voted the Most Valuable Player in both playoff series. Reed was also the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 1969-1970 regular season. Knee injuries forced Reed to retire after the 1973-1974 season.
Reed coached the Knicks in 1977 and 1978 and Creighton University from 1981 to 1985. From 1985 to 1988, Reed was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings of the NBA. From 1988 to 2007, Reed was an executive with three NBA teams. Reed was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Reed died on March 21, 2023.
