Willis Reed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willis Reed

Reed with the New York Knicks in 1972
Personal information
Born	(1942-06-25)June 25, 1942 Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	March 21, 2023(2023-03-21) (aged 80)
High school	West Side (Lillie, Louisiana)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Grambling State (1960–1964)
NBA Draft	1964 / Round: 2 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	1964–1974
Coaching career	1977–1989
Career history
As player:
1964–1974	New York Knicks
As coach:
1977–1978	New York Knicks
1981–1985	Creighton
1985–1987	Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
1987–1988	Sacramento Kings (assistant)
1988–1989	New Jersey Nets
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (1970, 1973) 2× NBA Finals MVP (1970, 1973) NBA Most Valuable Player (1970) 7× NBA All-Star (1965–1971) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1970) All-NBA First Team (1970) 4× All-NBA Second Team (1967–1969, 1971) NBA All-Defensive First Team (1970) NBA Rookie of the Year (1965) NBA All-Rookie Team (1965) NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th) No. 19 retired by New York Knicks
Career NBA statistics
Points	12,183 (18.7 ppg)
Rebounds	8,414 (12.9 rpg)
Assists	1,186 (1.8 apg)
Medals Representing  United States Basketball Pan American Games Gold 1963 São Paulo Team Competition

Willis Reed Jr. (born June 25, 1942 – died March 21, 2023) was a famous American basketball player, coach, and manager. He played his whole career (1964–1974) for the New York Knicks.

In 1982, Reed was put into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also named one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History" in 1996. Later, in 2021, he was again honored on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

After he stopped playing, Reed coached and managed several teams. As a senior vice president for the New Jersey Nets, he helped them reach the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Early Life and Education

Willis Reed was born on June 25, 1942, in Hico, Louisiana. This was a small town in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. He was the only child of Willis Sr. and Inell Reed. He grew up in Bernice, Louisiana. His parents worked hard to make sure he got a good education.

Reed showed great athletic skill early on. He played basketball at West Side High School in Lillie, Louisiana.

He went to Grambling State University, which is a college that was historically for Black students. While playing for the Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team, Reed scored 2,280 points. In his senior year, he averaged 26.6 points and 21.3 rebounds per game. He helped his team win one NAIA title and three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.

Playing Career Highlights

The New York Knicks picked Reed in the 1964 NBA draft. He quickly became known as a strong and powerful player. In March 1965, he scored 46 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. This was one of the highest scores ever by a Knicks rookie.

For the 1964–65 season, he was seventh in the NBA for scoring (19.5 points per game). He was also fifth in rebounding (14.7 rebounds per game). He was chosen for the All-Star team and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Reed played as a center. Even though he was not as tall as some other centers, he played a very physical game. He was great at blocking shots and getting rebounds. He was listed at 6 feet 10 inches tall. Other famous centers like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were taller, at 7 feet 1 inch and 7 feet 2 inches.

The Knicks team got better when Red Holzman became coach in 1967–68. They had their first winning season since 1958–59. Reed kept playing in the NBA All-Star Game every year.

In 1968–69, the Knicks traded for Dave DeBusschere. This allowed Reed to move back to playing center. With Reed in the middle, the Knicks became a top defensive team. They allowed opponents to score the fewest points in the league. Reed scored 21.1 points per game and got a team record of 1,191 rebounds that season.

First NBA Championship

In the 1969–70 season, the Knicks won a team record of 60 games. They also set an NBA record with an 18-game winning streak. In 1970, Reed made history. He was the first player to win the NBA All-Star Game MVP, the NBA regular season MVP, and the NBA Finals MVP all in the same year.

Reed's most famous moment was on May 8, 1970. This was during game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had a bad thigh injury and was not expected to play. But Reed surprised everyone by walking onto the court during warmups. The crowd cheered loudly. He scored the Knicks' first two baskets, which were his only points in the game. After the game, sportscaster Howard Cosell told Reed on TV, "You show the very best that the human spirit can offer."

Second NBA Championship

The Knicks won another NBA title in the 1972–73 season. Reed was not able to play as much because of injuries. He averaged 11.0 points in 69 games. In the playoffs, the Knicks beat the Bullets and the Boston Celtics. They faced the Lakers again in the NBA Finals.

After losing the first game, the Knicks won four games in a row. They won their second NBA championship with a 102–93 victory in game five. Reed scored 18 points, got 12 rebounds, and had 7 assists in that final game. After the win, Reed was named NBA Finals MVP again.

Reed's playing career ended early because of injuries. He retired after the 1973–74 season. In his career, he averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. He played in seven All-Star Games.

After Playing Basketball

After retiring as a player, Reed coached for several years. He coached the Knicks in 1977–1978. He was also the head coach at Creighton University from 1981 to 1985. He worked as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.

Reed became the head coach of the New Jersey Nets in 1988. In 1989, he became the Nets' general manager. He helped build the Nets into a playoff team in the early 1990s. He drafted players like Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson. He also brought in Dražen Petrović.

In 1996, Reed became the senior vice president of basketball operations for the Nets. He continued to work to make the Nets a championship team. The Nets reached the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Reed then worked for the New Orleans Hornets from 2004 until he retired in 2007.

Legacy and Honors

Willis Reed received many honors for his amazing career:

• In 1970, he was put into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame.
• In 1982, he was put into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• In 1997, he was chosen for the NBA 50th Anniversary Team.
• In 2021, he was chosen for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
• Starting in the 2021–22 NBA season, the champion of the NBA Southwest Division gets the Willis Reed Trophy.

In Popular Culture

Willis Reed has been mentioned in rap songs. These songs recognize his great athletic skills. For example, Kurtis Blow's 1984 song "Basketball" mentions him. The Beastie Boys also mentioned him in their song "Long Burn The Fire."

Reed's name is now used to describe someone who plays well even when injured. For example, a sportscaster once called an injured Aaron Rodgers' performance a "Willis Reed kind of night."

Personal Life

Willis Reed married his first wife, Geraldine, while they were in college. They had two children. Later, they divorced. In 1983, he married Gale Kennedy, who was a nurse.

Reed died on March 21, 2023, at the age of 80. He passed away from heart failure.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1964–65	New York	80*	—	38.0	.432	—	.742	14.7	1.7	—	—	19.5
1965–66	New York	76	—	33.4	.434	—	.757	11.6	1.2	—	—	15.5
1966–67	New York	78	—	36.2	.489	—	.735	14.6	1.6	—	—	20.9
1967–68	New York	81	—	35.5	.490	—	.721	13.2	2.0	—	—	20.8
1968–69	New York	82	—	37.9	.521	—	.747	14.5	2.3	—	—	21.1
1969–70	New York	81	—	38.1	.507	—	.756	13.9	2.0	—	—	21.7
1970–71	New York	73	—	39.1	.462	—	.785	13.7	2.0	—	—	20.9
1971–72	New York	11	—	33.0	.438	—	.692	8.7	2.0	—	—	13.4
1972–73	New York	69	—	27.2	.474	—	.742	8.6	1.8	—	—	11.0
1973–74	New York	19	—	26.3	.457	—	.792	7.4	1.6	.6	1.1	11.1
Career		650	—	35.5	.476	—	.747	12.9	1.8	.6	1.1	18.7
All-Star		7	4	23.0	.452	—	.750	8.3	1.0	—	—	12.6

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1967	New York	4	—	37.0	.538	—	.960	13.8	1.8	—	—	27.5
1968	New York	6	—	35.0	.541	—	.733	10.3	1.8	—	—	21.3
1969	New York	10	—	42.9	.510	—	.786	14.1	1.9	—	—	25.7
1970	New York	18	—	40.7	.471	—	.737	13.8	2.8	—	—	23.7
1971	New York	12	—	42.0	.413	—	.667	12.0	2.3	—	—	15.7
1973	New York	17	—	28.6	.466	—	.857	7.6	1.8	—	—	12.8
1974	New York	11	—	12.0	.378	—	.600	2.0	.4	.2	.0	3.4
Career		78	—	33.9	.474	—	.765	10.3	1.9	.2	.0	17.4

See also

In Spanish: Willis Reed para niños