Willis Reed

Willis Reed ( born June 25, 1942 in Hico, Louisiana), known as The Captain, is a former American professional basketball player. Between 1964 and 1974 he played in the NBA for the team the New York Knicks on the position of the center. Reed is 2.07 m tall.

1965 Reed was elected as the first player the Knicks Rookie of the Year. This was accompanied by the appointment to the NBA All- Rookie Team. With the team he won the 1970 and 1973 championship. In 1970 he was the first player in NBA history who received both the award of the MVP of the regular season as well as the MVP of the Finals in one season. In the same year he was also elected into both the All- NBA First Team as well as in the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Also in the second NBA title the Knicks 1973 Reed got the prize awarded as Finals MVP. Overall, Willis Reed was elected seven times during his career in the NBA All-Star team.

Legendary is his appearance at the NBA Playoff Finals 1970. In the decisive seventh game of the New York Knicks against the Los Angeles Lakers Willis dragged despite a hamstring injury that caused him to miss this game 6 of the series, to thunderous applause to the field and turned his first two litters (which remained his only points of the whole game ). Through his efforts spurred the Knicks finally defeated the Lakers and took the title for the first time.

Reed was taken in 1982 in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.