Knicks’ champion big man Reed dies

Willis Reed, who dramatically emerged from the locker room before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to spark the New York Knicks to their first championship and create one of sports’ most enduring examples of playing through pain, died Tuesday. He was 80.

Nicknamed “The Captain,” Reed was the undersized center and emotional leader on the Knicks’ two championship teams, with a soft shooting touch from the outside and a toughness to tussle with the big men on the inside.

Reed’s accomplishments — seven All-Star selections, two NBA Finals MVP awards — were Hall of Fame worthy alone. During the 1969-70 season, he became the first player to sweep the MVP awards for the regular season, All-Star game and Finals.

But his spot in history was secured simply by walking onto the floor on the final night that season.

Reed had injured a thigh muscle in Game 5 of the series against the Lakers, tumbling to the court in pain. He sat out Game 6 as counterpart Wilt Chamberlain had 45 points and 27 rebounds in a Lakers romp that forced a deciding game at Madison Square Garden.

Reed’s status was unknown even to his Knicks teammates as he continued getting treatment until shortly before Game 7. Both teams were warming up when Reed came out of the tunnel, fans rising.

“And here comes Willis and the crowd is going wild,” radio announcer Mar v Albert said.

Reed made two quick jump shots early on, running down the court with a noticeable limp.

He didn’t score again, but the Knicks didn’t need it, with their captain’s return and Walt Frazier’s 36 points and 19 assists energizing them to a 113-99 romp and their first title.

Reed was limited to 11 games in 1971-72 but came back strong the next season to spark the Knicks to a second title in his last full season. He retired after averaging 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds in 10 seasons, totaling more than 12,000 points and 8,400 rebounds, both of which still rank in the top three on the Knicks’ career lists.

His number was the first the Knicks retired. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.