The North American professional league NBA mourns the loss of basketball legend Willis Reed.
The former professional, nicknamed “The Captain,” has died at the age of 80, the former players’ association said, citing Reed’s family. He led the New York Knicks to two championships in 1970 and 1973, the club’s only two titles.
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and a consummate leader,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “My earliest and fondest memory of NBA basketball is watching Willis define the winning spirit of the winning team the New York Knicks in the early 1970s.”
Reed provided one of the most iconic moments in NBA history when he emerged from the dressing room a few minutes before the start of the crucial final game in 1970 and, despite the injury, inspired his team to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. “As we mourn, we will strive to uphold the standards he left behind – his unparalleled leadership, dedication and work ethic that personify him as a champion among champions,” the Knicks wrote of Reed’s death. “His legacy will live on forever.”
