Willis Reed

Willis Reed Jr. (born June 25, 1942) is a retired American basketball player. He spent his entire professional playing career with the New York Knicks, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Reed was born in Hico, Louisiana. While Reed was growing up on a farm in nearby Bernice, the Knicks were floundering. New York managed only one winning season in the 12 campaigns between 1955–56 and 1966–67. From 1956 to 1966 the Knicks fi... more

Willis Reed Jr. (born June 25, 1942) is a retired American basketball player. He spent his entire professional playing career with the New York Knicks, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Reed was born in Hico, Louisiana. While Reed was growing up on a farm in nearby Bernice, the Knicks were floundering. New York managed only one winning season in the 12 campaigns between 1955–56 and 1966–67. From 1956 to 1966 the Knicks finished last nine times, and the club failed to make the playoffs in the seven seasons from 1959 to 1966. In 1963–64 the Knicks brought up the rear of the Eastern Division with a 22–58 record. At Grambling, where he played college basketball, Reed amassed 2,280 career points, averaged 26.6 points and 21.3 rebounds during his senior year, and led the school to one NAIA title and three Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships. He was eventually drafted 10th overall by the Knicks in 1964, where he quickly established himself as a fierce,... less