Willis Reed
June 25, 1942 – March 21, 2023
1961 NAIA Champions, Grambling
(CONT’D)
to three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles and an NAIA championship in 1961.
As a second-round pick of the New York Knicks in 1964, Reed parlayed his success into a great National Basketball Association career helping the Knicks win two championships in 1970 and ’72.
He accumulated numerous pro awards in a ten-year run that ended too soon, hobbled by knee injuries. In his post-NBA career, he coached the Knicks in the 1977-78 season before taking coaching positions at St. John’s and Creighton. His other pro coaching jobs were with the Sacramento Kings, the Atlanta Hawks, and as head coach of the New Jersey Nets. He later became the general manager of the Nets and vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Hornets.
He retired from basketball in 2007.
Two-time NBA champion with the New Knicks.
Lincoln Parish, LA
West Side HS, Lillie, LA
Grambling College 1960-64
The Reed Legacy
Legacy
1961, NAIA championship, Grambling College
1963, Pan American Games Gold medal
1963, 1964, NAIA All-American
1964 NBA Draft, 2nd Round, NY Knicks
1970, Inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame
1982, Enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1994, SWAC Hall of Fame
1997, Elected to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team
2006, Inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame
2009, Grambling State Hall of Fame
2021, Elected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team|
2022 March 16, The Basketball Classic game between Kent State and Southern Utah was designated the Willis Reed Game.
2021–22 Inaugural Willis Reed Trophy award to the NBA Southwest Division champion.
Honors
NBA All-Rookie First Team, 1965
NBA Rookie of the Year, 1965
2-x NBA Champions, 1970, 1973
2- x NBA Finals MVP, 1970, 1973
7- x NBA All-Star, 1965–71
4- x All-NBA Second Team, 1967–69, 1971
NBA Most Valuable Player, 1970
NBA All-Star Game MVP, 1970
NBA All-Defensive First Team, 1970
All-NBA First Team, 1970
#19 Retired by the New York Knicks
Career stats
12,183 Points (18.7 ppg)
8,414 Rebounds (12.9 rpg)
1,186 Assists (1.8 apg)
Played 650 games
Post NBA Career
Head Coach, New York Knicks, 1977-78
Volunteer Assistant Coach, St. John’s University
Head Coach, Creighton University, 1981-85
Assistant Coach, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach, New Jersey Nets, 1987-88
General Manager & Vice President of Basketball Operations, New Jersey Nets, 1989- 96
Vice President of Basketball Operations, New Orleans Hornets